School Of Americas Protest

Hey everyone. A graduate from my high school and friend, Donte Smith, was arrested a few weeks ago in a protest against the School of Americas. Here is a story that explains what happened:

http://www.thehoya.com/news/020306/news1.cfm

And here is a slide show of Donte's speech before entering court:

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/multimedia/ledger-enquirer/KRT_packages/archive/special_packages/flash/soa_trial_day/


And here is Donte's testimony:

http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=1255

I apologize in advance for the bombardment of links but I just felt this needed to be heard.

Updated On: 2/4/06 at 10:29 PM

What do you want to know?

I'm less than impressed with your buddy. There are many legal and far more effective ways to protest. Of course those legal options are usually used by those that are sincerely interested in affecting a change. Grandstanding is use by those who want center stage...for themself.

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Elphaba and etoile:
Civil disobedience on the order of the protests at the School of the Americas is a longstanding and proud tradition.
Sometimes the laws need to be broken in order to enact change.
Many people of faith and good concience protest there and are arrested, for most it is a matter of deep personal conviction and while you may disagree, should not be taken lightly.

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Which I am saying is for most who make it a choice that is based in principled dissent.

(I am from Columbus, GA Wonderwaiter!)

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I went to this protest a few years ago. I was only 17, and I don't think my parents would have enjoyed coming to get me (I'm from Montana) if I were arrested, so I didn't, as the motto goes, "cross the line." The tradition was that there was simply a property line and then if you crossed it, they'd arrest you. Now you have to physically get around it. I'm still not sure I'd cross the line, but I truly admire those who do. They're not grandstanding (at least most of them), they're willing to spend time in jail in order to bring awareness to an issue which needs it more than you'd think.
Like WonderWaiter said, you have a lot of training things, and they ask that anyone who will be at the protest go to one. If you plan on crossing the line, you have to go to a couple additional ones as well.
It was a very powerful experience for me, and an issue which really needs more attention. I'd be happy to answer questions if you want more information on the "school."

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Elphaba, you really don't know about this?
It is a pretty big thing.
Yes there is a large organized protest of the school of the Americas every year.

The school is a training group for foriegn soldiers, many of the graduates have gone on to be terrible tyrants and dictators in their home countries.
This is very unacceptable to a great number of people, so every year there is a large, organized, peaceful protest. Some of the participants "cross the line" as Jess said to engage in a form of Civil Disobedience, they are showing they are commited enough to justice to be willing to face the jail time. Pastors, Nuns and other religious leaders are often the ones who make this choice.

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Updated On: 2/18/06 at 10:40 PM