Latin America

Latin America Task Force

This group devotes itself to education and action on Latin America concerns, especially U.S. policy in that region. It stands in solidarity with the movement to close the U.S. Army’s Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly the School of Americas), as it’s graduates have committed atrocities across Latin America, leading many to consider it to be a “School of Assassins.” The task force also organizes educational programs about the U.S. military presence in Colombia and Honduras and how corporate globalization affects the poor in Latin America.

Latin America Task Force meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month, at First Baptist Church, 512 E. Huron, Ann Arbor. Please call 734-663-1870 in advance before each meeting to ensure that we are meeting at our normal time and place.

2011 Support Human Rights and Democracy in Honduras, End US Military support!

Learn about the coup in Honduras, repression of the Honduran people, and US military aid here.
News update: Fr. Milla, Commission of Truth activist, flees Honduras for safety concerns
Take action for justice in Honduras: sign an advocacy letter for Julio Benitez
Palmerola/Soto Cano: information on Palmerola Military Base coming soon!
Learn more about the Bridges Not Bases Campaign here.

2011 Join the ICPJ bus to Ft. Benning to Close the SOA!

The School of the Americas/SOA (renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in 2001) has trained some of the worst human rights abusers in Latin America. On November 18-20, 2011, thousands will gather at the gates of Ft. Benning to stand up for justice, to shut down the School of the Americas/SOA and to end the oppressive U.S. foreign policy that the school represents. Join us as we take a delegation to the annual vigil in Ft. Benning, GA to say no to militarism in Latin America and Yes to human rights and justice.

You’re invited to get on the bus with ICPJ to attend the School of the Americas Watch annual vigil to close the SOA/WHINSEC! Read more…

Why you should attend the School of the Americas Watch vigil

The History of SOA/WHINSEC

The School of the Americas was established in 1946 in Panama as a combat training school for Latin American soldiers. It has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. Graduates of SOA have consistently used their training to wage war on their own people. Common targets include, educators, union leaders, religious workers, student organizers, and others working for the rights of the poor.

Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared”, massacred, or forced to become refugees by those trained at the School of the Americas.

In 1984 it was kicked out of Panama under terms of the Panama Canal Treaty. Former President of Panama, Jorge Illueca, stated that the SOA was the “biggest base for destabilization in Latin America.” Since being removed from Panama, the SOA has been relocated to Fort Benning, Georgia.In 2001, the SOA was renamed “The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation”, but it largely remains the same organization.