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.

2012 Focus Areas:

  • Honduras
  • Colombia
  • Close the School of the Americas (April Lobby Days in D.C. and SOAW Vigil at Ft. Benning, GA in November)
  • Fair Food and Immigration
Upcoming events:

SOA Watch Days of Action in D.C. - Each year, ICPJ sends some delegates to Washington, D.C. for the SOA Watch April Days of Action, this year taking place from April 14-17. During the Days of Action, we lobby for the closing of the SOA/WHINSEC and an end to US militarization in the Americas. Activists from across the country take to the streets of D.C., ready to train, lobby, engage in civil disobedience and celebrate the resistance! This year’s schedule includes Direct Action Training Camp (Apr 11-13), Conference and Strategy Sessions (Apr 14-15), and lobbying on Capitol Hill and street actions (Apr 16-17). A few ICPJ members plan to attend this year. If you’re interested in joining us, please contact Gracek@icpj.net so we can discuss shared transportation and lodging.

  • In preparation for the event, whether or not you plan to attend, please contact your Congressional representative and urge him/her to sign on to HR 3368, the bill to close the SOA/WHINSEC and review military training. Learn more at www.soaw.org/take-action/april.

Economic Root Causes Movie Series: Abused: The Postville Raid  –  Thursday, April 26, 6:30pm refreshments, 7:00 film followed by discussion. Join us as we investigate the ways that our economic system could be the root cause of war, poverty, and environmental destruction, by using film as a medium for exploration and discussion. Abusedpresents the devastating effects of US Enforcement Immigration Policies on communities, families and children. The film tells the gripping personal stories of the individuals, the families and the town that survived the most brutal, most expensive and largest immigration raid in the history of the United States. Location: First United Methodist Church, Wesley Foundation Lounge, 602 East Huron, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Details: info@icpj.net, 734-663-1870. Open to the public. Hosted by ICPJ’s Latin America Task Force.

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

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.

School of the Americas/WHINSEC Lobby Days in D.C.

ICPJ sent delegates to lobby our elected officials in Washington, D.C. in April 2010 on Colombia and the School of the Americas.  Read more…

Join the Latin America Task Force Discussion List

Read recent Latin America notices from ICPJ

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