The US Army School of Americas (SOA), based in Fort Benning, Georgia, trains Latin American soldiers in combat,  counter-insurgency, and counter-narcotics. Graduates of the SOA are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America. Among the SOA's nearly 60,000 graduates are notorious dictators Manuel Noriega and Omar Torrijos of Panama, Leopoldo Galtieri and Roberto Viola of Argentina, Juan Velasco Alvarado of Peru, Guillermo Rodriguez of Ecuador, and Hugo Banzer Suarez of Bolivia. Lower-level SOA graduates have participated in human rights abuses that include the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the El Mozote Massacre of 900 civilians.

On January 17, 2001 the SOA was replaced by the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHISC).

The result of a Depa

rtment of Defense proposal included in the Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal 2001, the name-change measure passed when the House of Representatives defeated a bipartisan amendment to close the SOA and conduct a congressional investigation by a narrow ten vote margin. (See Talking Points)

In a media interview, Georgia Senator and SOA supporter, the late Paul Coverdell, characterized the DoD proposal as "cosmetic" changes that would ensure that the SOA could continue its mission and operation. Critics of the SOA concur. The new military training school is the continuation of the SOA under a new name. It is a new name, but the same shame.

Minnesota is home to one of the largest groups of supporters to Close the SOA and the need to effectively communicate locally is important as the movement continues to grow.

The School of the Americas Watch has evolved into more than the Vigil in Georgia and lobby days in Washington. This growth has spurred the formation of local SOAW chapters to effectively communicate and coordinate our efforts, both locally and nationally.

In Minnesota we will...
• Prepare individuals with nonviolent training and guides to affinity group actions for the November Vigil.
• Stage local nonviolent actions to educate the general public about WHISC.
• Organize Minnesotans for the Gandhian Waves at Fort Benning which will occur throughout the year.
• Offer support for Minnesota's Prisoners of Conscience and all those serving time due to an act of conscience.
• In conjunction with Minnesota Veterans for Peace, schedule busses to Fort Benning in November.
• Offer speakers as resources for classrooms, churches and gatherings.
• Attend national meetings and trainings with SOAW.

We plan to collect and maintain an email / phone list of Minnesota-Midwest supporters. These lists will be used exclusively for information regarding the SOA and will not be used for any other purpose.

MnSOAW is a Minnesota based independent organization seeking to close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation through all nonviolent means.
We are affiliated with and will follow the lead of SOA Watch in Washington DC.