News

School of the Americas protestors return

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

"We haven't closed it yet, but we will," said Sr. Caryl Hartjes, CSA, referring to the School of the Americas (SOA). "It will happen."

Sr. Hartjes, Sr. Kathy Long, OP, and William Slattery, all with ties to the Green Bay Diocese and all convicted of trespassing at the 2002 SOA protest, will take part in this weekend's vigil and nonviolent direct action (Nov. 21-23) at Fort Benning located outside Columbus, Ga. Last year, the three were among 96 arrested for walking around a 12-foot-high, chain-link fence separating protestors from fort property. Srs. Hartjes and Long, both Appleton natives, served three-month sentences, while Slattery, a 2002 graduate of Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay, served six months.

The annual protest marks the Nov. 19, 1989, killings of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador. The School of the Americas, now officially known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, trained soldiers linked to torturing and killing thousands of civilians in Latin American countries.

As ex-prisoners of conscience, Sr. Hartjes, Sr. Long and Slattery will play active roles in this year's protest.

Slattery, whose family lives in Maribel, is attending the protest with a group from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., where he is a student. This weekend, he will be speaking at a large venue sponsored by the Ignatian Family, a Jesuit solidarity group. He hopes to help as many people as possible.

"I will try to assist at some of the affinity group sessions, answering questions and just being able to tell people a little bit of what to expect," said Slattery, who served his sentence at the federal prison in Oxford, Wis. "I can't really share any advice or knowledge, but I can simply share with them what my experience was, what it entailed and what happened, essentially trying to help people make a calm decision on what they want to do."

Srs. Hartjes and Long will also assist protestors planning acts of civil disobedience.

"If they feel the call to do it in the name of justice, they should follow that call," said Sr. Hartjes, who resides in Fond du Lac. "In a sense, they should be fearless, but it's not something to take lightly. They have to be prepared psychologically and physically. If they have any health problems, they shouldn't do it. Senior citizens will lose social security during the time they are in prison, so they must consider that. You have to be able to handle a lot of uncertainty."

Sr. Long, a staff member for the 8th Day Center for Justice in Chicago, will be working with the national organization, Peacekeepers, at this year's protest. While she has no plans to cross this year, she will encourage others to take that form of action if they are prepared.

"It's important to make sure they have thought it through," said Sr. Long, who served her sentence at Pekin Federal Prison Camp in Illinois. "They need to have their medications with them. They need to contact people to let them know what they are doing. While it's important that they understand the commitment, they also need support and the positive energy that comes from it."

Sr. Long, who plans to stay in Columbus after the protest to assist those arrested, has no regrets about her prison sentence.

"It was a positive experience," she said. "I was glad I was able to learn about the prison system from the inside. It was not a violent place, but there was a lot of day-to-day oppression. It's very militaristic, but it was a great experience to meet the women there."

Sr. Hartjes, who served her sentence in Danbury, Conn., also found federal prison a valuable learning experience.

"I got acquainted with the criminal justice system and discovered many of the injustices," she said. "I learned a great deal about mandatory sentences and conspiracy laws. There need to be alternative methods of serving what they owe society rather than going to prison. I met many wonderful women and it's so sad to see them separated from their children. It's hard when they try to parent, to activate that concern when they are in prison. The reason they are in prison is only one piece of their lives. They truly are wonderful people."

The annual protest, which has never been violent on the part of the activists, is designed to increase awareness.

Sr. Long encourages those who cannot attend the rally at Fort Benning to pray for those involved and to write their politicians.

"We are trying to get more co-sponsors in Wisconsin," she said. "Keep writing your senators and congressmen. We continue to move forward and lobby publicly."

Sr. Hartjes continues to speak to groups about the School of the Americas whenever possible. Reminders of the school's promotion of violence continue, she said.

"I received an e-mail from a woman in Bolivia telling me about 80 people who were killed for participating in nonviolent hunger strikes," she said. "We need to be in touch with our representatives. We can also bring awareness by writing letters to the editor in the newspaper."

"The good news is that there are a lot of people doing high risk for arrest," she added. "This brings the awareness we need. It's grown every year and I expect even more people this year."

Slattery will be joined by his mother, Nancy, and sister, Mary, who will be attending the 2003 protest with a group from St. Norbert College in De Pere. He does not plan to cross this year, but has no regrets about his actions from a year ago.

"A lot of positive things I have taken away from this experience are ones that are not tangible," he said, "the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, the opportunity to act on my beliefs and the chance to simply try to be a light in a dark place."

For more information on the School of the Americas movement, go to: www.SOAW.org.