Nationwide April Fast to Shut Down the SOA/WHINSEC

April 23-26, 2008

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The SOAW 11
of the SOAW 11 Report to Jail
“I crossed the line at WHINSEC and prayed on the grounds to bring attention to the teaching of torture and assassination. When enough people learn the truth about this school and act to end these practices, the healing can begin.”
– Diane Lopez Hughes, one of the SOAW 11

The 11 courageous souls that willingly put their freedom and bodies at risk to stand in witness against the SOA/WHINSEC during the November 2007 Vigil are now serving, or have completed serving, jail sentences ranging from 30 to 90 days. Show them your support today! Check out these actions to take in solidarity with prisoners and click on each prisoner's name below to get their address in jail.

The SOAW 11, ranging in ages from 25 to 78 and from very diverse walks of life, testified before magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth. Ed Lewinson, a 78-year old History professor who in November crossed the line for the fourth time, was sentenced to 90 days in federal prison and a $500 fine. This is his first conviction since in previous years the government refused to prosecute due to his blindness. Tiel Rainelli, a 25-year-old activist from Canton, OH who was arrested this past November after climbing over the barbed wire fence blocking the main gate of Fort Benning, announced that in spite of the court's decision to sentence her to 90 days in prison, she would return to protest at the gates of Fort Benning in November.

The SOAW 11 are:

- Joan Anderson, 65, Casper, WY - 30 days and a $500 fine
- Ozone Bhaguan, 33, Duluth, MN - 90 days
- Le Anne Clausen, 29, Chicago, IL - 30 days
- Art Landis, 74, Perkasie, PA - 30 days
- Ed Lewinson, 78, Newark NJ - 90 days and a $500 fine
- Chris Lieberman, 54, Albuquerque, NM - 60 days
- Diane Lopez Hughes, 58, Springfield, IL - 45 days and a $500 fine
- Tiel Rainelli, 25, Canton, OH. – 90 days and a $500 fine
- Gus Roddy, 45, Chicago, IL – 30 days and a $500 fine
- Stephen Schweitzer, 45, Binghamtom, NY – 60 days and a $500 fine
- Michelle Yipé, 45, of Argonia, KS - 30 days and a $500 fine

Before entering the court, the SOAW 11 held a press conference for the media on the courthouse steps on January 28, 2008 with Diane Lopez Hughes and Ed Lewinson speaking on behalf of the group.