I just got back from the send off for Cathy Webster here in Chico as she heads to federal prison to start her two month sentence for crossing the fence at the School of the Americas last November. There were fifty people present (mostly seniors-as it is a workday for most).
Songs were sung, including: "A Thousand Grandmothers", by Holly Near and "We Shall Overcome". Blessings were given and many people spoke to give Cathy encouragement, hope and thanks for her efforts to get SOA shut down for good.
Since prisoners are NOT allowed to bring anything with them when they go to prison Cathy's daughter and granddaughter painted her toenails as a reminder of those that will be thinking of her and sending love and good thoughts her way as she does her time.
Never underestimate the power of ONE. Cathy is not only a local hero, but a national and global hero as well. Her willingness to sacrifice a few months of her time in prison because of an act of civil disobedience has caused the local newspaper to do a few articles on the School of the Americas. The local newspaper AND television station were also at the sendoff this morning! Because of her arrest Democracy Now did a short piece on SOA. I haven't looked, but I am sure there are also global news outlets covering this issue thanks to the efforts of the activists that go tarrested.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/21/1339253&mode=thread&tid=25Six Activists Head to Prison For School of the Americas Protest
And six human rights activists are heading to prison today for engaging in civil disobedience outside the military training facility once known as the School of the Americas at Fort Benning in Georgia. Last November 22,000 people gathered outside the base calling for the closure of the school which has been used to train many Latin American and Caribbean military officials accused of abusing human rights. A total of 16 activists were arrested for crossing the fence and illegally entering the base. Heading to prison today are Melissa Helman, Cathy Webster, Alice Gerard, Philip Gates, Joshua Harris and Graymon Ward. They received sentences ranging from one to six months in federal prison.
There is a link on the middle, left hand side of 1000grandmother's website for those that may want to "Fund a Granny".
http://www.1000grandmothers.net/Cathy Webster's Statement to Judge Faircloth and the Court:
http://www.1000grandmothers.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=74Your Honor...
JANUARY 29, 2007
Columbus, Georgia
Your Honor, I acknowledge the time taken by the government to try my case and the money spent by the people of the United States for the prosecution of my plea and stipulation regarding trespassing onto Ft. Benning to protest its continuance of the School of the Americas. I do want to say, that I possess the firm conviction that it is my duty as a citizen of the United States, a free and open democracy, to hold my nation – particularly its government and administration – accountable for its actions in the world community.
Especially as an elder citizen – a grandmother – do I speak with this conviction. I have experienced a long enough life to have lived the recent history of our country, certainly through my own observations and participation, but also through my parents and grandparents observations and participations. I have raised the next generation of leaders and workforce. I have a special influence and a deep and unique concern for the third generation now coming forward.
If you pay attention you will notice that increasingly, it is the elders who are speaking out and acting boldly and authoritatively to bring understanding of what justice, kindness, generosity and compassion means in a world weary of the endless conquest and dominance mindset of nations.
This last fall, 1000 Grandmothers – more, actually – came to the gates of Ft. Benning to demand the closing of the notorious school within, which hones the skills of thousands of Latin American soldiers, enabling their terrorist actions upon returning to their own countries. The atrocities committed by the graduates of the US Army’s School of the Americas/ Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation upon the people of Latin Americas are well documented. These soldiers are not “fighting terrorists”, nor are they in combat with drug traffickers. These soldiers are torturing and killing families, teachers, religious workers, their priests and leaders and farmers. They are ridding the land of anyone in the way of corporate greed, and political dominance.
The Grandmothers identified ourselves in the same way as the mothers and grandmothers of Argentina have continued to do for 30 years as they demand in their capitol city at the steps of their government, accountability for their tortured and disappeared children and grandchildren, husbands and others. Their loved ones were victims of soldiers and officials many of which were graduates and students of the SOA. Our white kerchiefs signaled the world that we are one voice in the call for justice and accountability. Just as the White Rose Society signaled during the Nazi reign of terror: we will not be silent.
This action for which we 16 are only the latest to face trial and the predictable conviction and prison term, in all due respect, is part of an unstoppable movement. Grandmothers, grandfathers, children, brothers, sisters, friends, coworkers of the millions of victims of the wanton injustice which the US taxpayer-supported training facility perpetuates will continue undeterred to protest this school. When a person actually experiences a terror or even the threat of terror, or is touched by someone they know who has experienced this, his/her vision becomes crystal clear. Here is anger, yes, but this completely justified anger is transformed into the resolve you witness in the defendants you sentence to prison year after year. And this is the resolve which is maintained and is the inspiration to those who follow year after year.
The soulforce of the grandmother’s heart – of the human heart – is stronger than a triple cyclone fence with razor wire, stronger than a law which prohibits the common citizen to enter a certain public property for political speech, while our current official president, the executor of this same law is permitted to make political speech on the same said property.
This soulforce continues to grow in momentum, your honor. This school of assassins will be closed. The American spirit of true democracy and passion for justice will prevail. I am proud to be among those who trespass those barriers of silence and secrecy. This is the American spirit of true democracy. This is the passion for justice which will prevail in the end.
(Cathy was subsequently sentenced to 60 days in federal prison.)
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