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TIMELINE OF AN SOA PROTEST

marc frucht | 22.11.2000 20:04

Commandant Glenn Weidner said the military has "lost the
information war, which is discouraging, but just when I
tired of dealing with the protests, something here would
lift me up. This is the best assignment in the U.S. Army."

TIMELINE OF A SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS DIRECT ACTION PROTEST

| FRI | SAT | SUN | MON-THU | FRI | SAT | SUN | MON-? |

Friday Nov. 10th - A Giant skeleton puppet leads 2 dozen Atlantans on a march from
Ponce DeLeon Ave to the Georgia State Capitol, bringing attention to the upcoming
protests to close the School of the Americas in Fort Benning.
Fri - Buddhist monks and nuns begin walk from Atlanta to Columbus arriving about
noon the 18th. Press covers them fairly well.
11:35am Tue Nov 14 - Indymedia.org reporters Liz Guy and
Josh Raisler Cohn publish "Climber Stages Symbolic Hanging
at Fort Benning, Demanding Closure of SOA." Story gets
reprinted and/or paraphrased in news organs around the world
almost instantaneously.
Wed - Demonstrators continue constructing "parade puppets" at Koinonia Farm in
Americus.
Thu/Fri - People begin pouring more heavily into Columbus, GA filling hotels and
restaurants, campgrounds and parking garages.
Saturday - Colonel Weidner tells Columbus reporter his SOA has lost the information
war.
[ http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/content/columbus/2000/11/19/news/1119weidner.htm]

Sun Morning. - US Army launches psychological warfare mission (which was likely
begun even earlier.)
Noonish - activists plant corn seeds all over military institution. People in Chiapas plant
corn there at the same time to show and act in solidarity.
Afternoon - 2 star general spends 45 minutes arguing politely with 70 year old protester
while other direct action continues.
Monday - Columbus daily newspaper gives SOA Watch eighteen
positive reviews and only two negative ones. A small handful are neutral including one
which discusses the economic impact the protest will have on the surrounding town.
"SOA PROTEST A BOON FOR ECONOMY: City, businesses could experience $2
million bonanza as thousands visit," the headline reads.
Tuesday - Venceremos!

[somewhere in this timeline I should have put that Black Bloc got almost complete
consensus to show up in total solidarity with the non-violent spirit of the event. But much
like you, gentle-reader, I don't quite know where to "place" it. When even our most
violent friends vow temporary non-violence for one profound event you know that
everybody wins. Compare this with Bill Clinton announcing to the whole world "Well, it's
clear that the people have spoken but we just don't know what they've said yet." -ed.]

 http://come.to/thesoaprotest

marc frucht
- e-mail: ati@etext.org
- Homepage: http://marcocapelli.iuma.com

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  1. wayback machine has the quote — marco