SOA Action at Southern Command : Miami IMC

SOA Watch Protest at the U.S. Southern Command
On Sunday, November 9, 90 people marched to the gates of the Headquarters of the United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida.

Ray, of SOA Watch: South Florida & Pax Christi: St. Maurice, opened the rally by linking the SOA & South Com (via the curriculum & training manuals), with attention to Posada Carilles & other "students" living in Miami. Linda, Miami for Peace & CODEPINK: Miami, addressed the Cleveland connection (Dorothy Kazel & Jean Donovan), with a second-hand witness from a Salvadoran refugee there. Orlando, Veterans for Peace & The Bolivarian Circle, talked of daily piles of bodies dumped throughout the city he visited (in Guatemala). Cruz, a native of Guatemala, currently with the CIW, pointed out that the oppression in Central American is what drove many to the tomato fields of Immokalee. Ken, of Veterans for Peace, spoke of six friends from Syracuse who crossed the line in Ft. Benning and served six months each for their efforts. Pedro, the southeastern coordinator for the SOA Watch, explained the role of the SOA & SouthCom in protecting corporate interests in Central & South America & connected our action to the SOA Watch national effort. Fathers Roger, Paul, and Frank, with the Reverend Lucy, transitioned from the rally to the march by offering up powerful prayer for justice in the Americas. Aylin took charge of garbing participants in shrouds & masks for the march, while some young Just Faith students assisted in application of fake blood.

The march itself, with coffins, shrouds, signs, crosses, chants & singing, was lively & determined. At the gates of SouthCom, the clergy, Pedro-Jesus, and Warren of the Miami Friends Meeting read the lists of names, as the rest of us responded "Presente!" It was very moving; that is a powerful piece of the SOA Watch action!

The participants were multi-ethnic, multi-racial, young and old, with the able-bodied and some who had to roll wheel-chairs uphill for the rally. Your e-mail to the Florida SOA list definitely brought out part of our crowd; we had people from St. Pete, Orlando, and Michigan! The CIW brought 2 vans of participants--25 people! Orlando's work with the Veterans for Peace & the Bolivarians brought diversity to participating activist groups. Dave's work with Pax Christi in Palm Beach County, along with Ray's involvement at St. Maurice, brought out the faith community.