School of the Americas Vigil 2005

School of the Americas Vigil 2005
This year’s Vigil at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia was the largest gathering to close the School of Americas to date. Around 20,000 people walked the solemn procession on Sunday as names and ages of those who have died at the hands of SOA / WHINSEC graduates were chanted. It took almost two hours for all to place their tokens on the fence.

As always there was a variety of venues in which to participate over the weekend. The Pax Christi USA panel on Friday was well attended. The prophetic presence of women religious was honored and the 25th Anniversary of the four Church women killed in El Salvador was commemorated. The annual non-violence orientation was given at the Convention Center in a huge plenary session. More than 3,000 participated in the spirited Jesuit-celebrated Liturgy in the tent by the river. Both Saturday’s rally and Sunday’s somber program were powerful.

Sister Helen Prejean urged us to be non-violent in our lives as well as with the systems in which we cooperate. Father Roy Bourgeois encouraged us to keep returning until the SOA is closed. Messages from Susan Sarandon and Martin Sheen were read. Many victims of the horrors of the human rights violations shared their stories.

The Dominican Family was well represented. There were representatives from many Dominican Congregations, including the Alliance Communities of Akron, Great Bend, Grand Rapids, Sinsinawa, and Springfield. Students from Dominican University, Aquinas, Siena Heights, Barry and more participated in the weekend. Father Jim Barnett, OP and various Dominican Associates were present.

May we continue to stand in solidarity with those across the Americas who and struggling for adequate health care, for government and military accountability, and for basic human rights and justice.


Judith Hilbing, OP
Alliance Justice Promoter