A group from St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Camden, join a recent protest at the U.S. Army’s Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. Pictured are Franciscan Volunteer Chris McNabb, St. Anthony staff members Chris Calderone and Kristen Nalen, Franciscan Volunteer Tom Firme, Brother Karl Koenig, OFM, and Franciscan Volunteer Celia Bogan.
Last weekend, a group of seven from St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Camden traveled to the gates of the U.S. military base Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga., to join a group of protesters calling for the closure of the U.S. Army’s Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly known as the School of the Americas.
Several of the protesters, including two priests — but no one from Diocese of Camden — were arrested and charged with federal trespassing, according to Father Jud Weiksnar, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Camden.
The former School of the Americas has come under fire due to the acts of violence committed by graduates of the military base. Every year, an annual protest is organized in November, by SOA Watch.
As it has done since 2005, St. Anthony of Padua in Camden has sent a group to Georgia “to stand in solidarity with victims who suffered assassination, disappearance, torture and intimidation at the hands of military personnel trained at the School of the Americas,” said Father Weiksnar, who made the 14-hour drive on Friday, Nov. 19, with Brother Karl Koenig, OFM; the parish justice, peace, and integrity of creation and Hispanic Ministry coordinator Kristen Nalen; music and youth minister Chris Calderone; and Franciscan Volunteers Tom Firme, Chris McNabb and Celia Brogan.
St. Anthony members also travel to the base “to learn more about how we can replace militarization with nonviolent peacemaking,” and the fact that “so many our parishioners are from countries affected by graduates of the SOA,” said Father Weiksnar.
According to SOA Watch’s website, www.soaw.org, thousands of human rights activists, torture survivors, veterans, faith-based communities, students and others from across the Americas gathered at the gates of Fort Benning last weekend for the 20th anniversary of the November vigil calling for its closure.
The website reports that 10-12 people were arrested, including Father Louis Vitale, OFM, and Father Bill Brennan, SJ, and others who were engaged in nonviolent direct action. As well, bystanders exiting the vigil on a sidewalk near Fort Benning were also arrested, along with journalists. Those arrested are currently being held in the Muscogee County Jail, for up to a $5,500 bond, soaw.org reported.
Father Weiksnar said St. Anthony’s will fight for as long as it takes to close down the base. “We hope (the base) will be closed down by next year, but if not, we will go again next November.”
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