At the end of this month, ICPJ will be sending a delegation to Washington DC to lobby for justice and peace in Latin America.

Eight local activists have given up their weekend, taken days off work, and re-scheduled exams so that they can speak truth to power about human rights abuses in Latin America.

You can make their witness even more powerful.

Call your member of Congress now and ask them to support H.R. 1217, the Latin America Military Training Review Act of 2005. You can reach your member of Congress through the capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121. Here’s a sample script.

“I am a constituent from (city/zip code) calling Congressman/woman ________ to urge him/her to cosponsor HR 1217, The Latin America Military Training Review Act of 2005. This bill would suspend operations at, and investigate, the School of the Americas, which is now using the acronym WHINSEC. I urge the Congressman/woman to contact Rep. McGovern’s office to become a cosponsor of this bipartisan bill. This would be one very concrete step to support human rights and promote peace and justice for the people of Latin America. As my elected official in Washington D.C., I hope you will represent me and support HR 1217

Background

The School of the Americas (SOA), in 2001 renamed the “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation,” is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Initially established in Panama in 1946, it was kicked out of that country in 1984 under the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty. Former Panamanian President, Jorge Illueca, stated that the School of the Americas was the “biggest base for destabilization in Latin America.” The SOA, frequently dubbed the “School of Assassins,” has left a trail of blood and suffering in every country where its graduates have returned.

Over its 59 years, the SOA has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the School of Assassins.

You can call Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 to reach your Representative and Senators.

Tips for Making Effective Phone Calls

1. Ask to speak with the staff person responsible for the issue. Give your name and tell her or him that you are a constituent.

2. Be specific about what you want the member to do.

3. Ask what the member’s position is on the issue. If the staff person is uncertain, ask the staffer what he/she would recommend to her/his boss.

4. Thank them for their time.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to call the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice office at 734-663-1870, or you can email info@icpj.net.

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