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SOA demonstrators get maximum prison sentence

Stefanie Tiso

Story Created: Jan 25, 2010 at 4:58 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jan 25, 2010 at 9:08 PM CDT

Three protesters with the School of the Americas watch received the maximum sentence for trespassing onto Fort Benning. They will serve six months in federal prison.

The march to the federal courthouse seemed a small-scale version of the annual SOA Watch at the Fort Benning gates. But for three, nerves replaced the excitement they felt as they held vigil on November 22.

"This is the first time at the courthouse. I've been to every vigil since '97," said one defendant, Ken Hayes.

"I would hope that many others who learn about this school will say, "Oh I did not know about this'' will say it's time to get involved,'' said Nancy Gwin.

While protesting to close what is now the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, 63-year-old Nancy Gwin, 77-year-old Father Louie Vitale, 60-year-old Ken Hayes and 61-year-old Michael Walli were arrested for trespassing onto Fort Benning, through the Interstate 185 entrance. There they sang and prayed for those they say were tortured at the hands of Latin American soldiers trained at the school.

On Monday, three were given the maximum prison sentence.

Michael Walli refused to appear for trial. U.S. Magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth issued a warrant for his arrest.

"He believes, and I think we all believe that there's no reason for us to be here. What we did is really free speech," said Father Vitale.

Many of those who wen to the courthouse to support the defendants on Monday say that six months in prison is just too much. Some say they even thing think the sentences serves a political agenda.

"Of the court and what the court's feeling is, possibly about the School of Americas," said Gwin’s attorney Brooks Franklin.

"Judge Faircloth gave me a three month sentence, which I served in 2007. And I'm absolutely devastated that he would revert to 6 month sentences," said Julienne Oldfield who was down to Columbus from Syracuse, New York to support Gwin.

SOA Watch began nineteen years ago. With each day, these advocates say they get closer to their goal. More than 240 people have served sentences, up to two years, for non-violent civil disobedience in connection to the protest.

Father Roy Bourgeois, a Roman Catholic priest and the founder of SOA Watch, the organization that works to close the School of the Americas made a statement regarding the sentences:

"Judge Faircloth has sentenced our sister and brothers to 6 months in federal prison for speaking the truth about the SOA/WHINSEC. We are saddened by the court's continued blindness and hardness of heart, but we are stronger than ever in solidarity. These sentences are symbolic of our nation's misdirection, but they are also great steps forward for our resistance movement. It is truer today, than ever before, that although they jail the resisters they have not, and cannot, jail the resistance," he wrote.