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."
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
| 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
Comments
Hide the following comment
wayback machine has the quote
03.04.2004 13:53
-- Ledger Enquirer Online
Commandant to retire from Army
By Richard Hyatt
Staff Writer
Glenn Weidner will be the last commandant of the School of the Americas.
Not only is the controversial U.S. Army school getting a new name and a renewed mission early next year, but the 51-year-old Army colonel is retiring from active duty this June.
"It's time for a change," Weidner said Saturday as protesters milled around Fort Benning's main gate speaking against the school he has commanded since 1998. Known as the School of the Americas since its founding in 1946, it has been at Fort Benning since 1984. It will close next month and reopen in January as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. Weidner expects a search for his successor to begin soon.
Weidner, a West Point graduate, expects to devote his time to academia while teaching and writing. "And of course, I will continue to support this school in every way."
A graduate of the SOA himself, Weidner has spent much of time dealing with Father Roy Bourgeois and the SOA Watch's annual rally against the school. Not long ago, the two adversaries ran into each other in an airport.
"I told Roy that I was surprised we hadn't done that more often. We're like those two old dogs in the cartoons who fight all day then go off together," Weidner said.
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."
marco