Trial of the SOA 10
March 10 2000 - Columbus Georgia

SOAWatch members and supporters marched in a solemn funeral procession from Veterans Parkway to the Federal Courthouse in Columbus before the trial on Friday morning.

Judy Bierbaum, SOA 10, Albuquerque, NM

Kathleen Fisher, SOA 10, Portland, OR

Sister Megan Rice, SOA 10 & 23, Baltimore, MA

Gerhard Fischer, SOA 10, Brookfield, WI

Chuck Butler, SOA 10, Rochester, MN

John Honeck, SOA 10, Hamlin, NY

Margaret Knapke, SOA 10, Dayton, OH

Tom Bottolene, SOA 10, St. Paul, MN

Chuck Butler and Charlie Liteky, SOA 10 with Brooks Anderson, SOA 10, Duluth, MN

The SOA 10 receive the blessing of supporters prior to the trial.

Supporters on the steps of the Federal Courthouse in Columbus.

Chuck Butler, John Honeck and Margaret Knapke.

Charles Carney, Chicago, IL, Cliff Wilmeng, Chicago, IL, Steve Jacobs, Columbia, MO, John Honeck and Ken Kennon (class of '97, the SOA 23), Tucson, AZ.

Kathleen Fisher and Sister Megan Rice. Megan is also part of the SOA 23 and served six months in federal prison for the 1997 SOA action.

Sister Mary Kay Flanigan, class of '97, the SOA 23.

<<<The SOA 6:
1. Sr. Kathleen McCabe, Newtown Sq., PA
2. Sr. Kathleen Desautels, Chicago, IL
3. Ann Huntwork, Portland, OR
4. Sr. Mary Dennis Lentsch, Apison, TN
5. Bruce Triggs, Tacoma, WA
6. Joyce Ellwanger, Milwaukee, WI
plus
7. Roy Bourgeois
8. Carol Richardson

The SOA 6 finalize the action for that afternoon with Carol Richardson and Roy Bourgeois while waiting for the Judges decision. This group becomes the first Gandhian Wave, digging a grave and planting crosses on the front lawn of the School of the Americas Friday afternoon.

Seven of the SOA 10 (missing: Brooks Anderson, Charlie Liteky and Megan Rice).
A reporter from Georgia Public Radio commented, after listening to the testimonies, she "felt like she was in a room filled with angels".

Department of Defense security officers were brought in from Atlanta to "guard" the front steps of the courthouse. Arriving at 8:00 AM, the officers stayed until 5:30 PM, at which time they were debriefed before returning home to Atlanta. The lamp pole remained safe throughout the day.

Inside the court room six plainclothes US Marshals were on hand to keep order.

Strange scenes for a group with a history of nonviolence.

NOTE: The following photos were taken while waiting for the release of the SOA 6 on Friday evening.

Margaret Knapke and SOAWatch founder Roy Bourgeois.

Alison Snow, SOAWatch Washington DC office with Tom Bottolene.

Sister Dorothy Pagosa, Chicago, IL and Ken Kennon. Dorothy is with the Eighth Day Center for Justice in Chicago. Ken co-coordinated media for the SOA 9 trial.

SOAWatch Co-Director Carol Richardson with Ann Tiffany, Syracuse, NY. Ann is currently coordinating the Gandhian Wave.

Gerhard Fischer with Charlie Liteky.