It may have rained on the parade, but that didn’t silence the voices of protesters.
More than 185 students, alumni and faculty of Saint Louis University traveled to Columbus, Ga. to protest the School of the Americas on Thursday, Nov. 16.
After a 12-hour bus ride, protesters were greeted with a weekend filled with bad weather. Friday night, protesters from all over the world gathered for a “teach-in” sheltered only by a tent to protect participants from the cold and constant rains. The teach-in served as a sort of celebration for the cause of closing down the School of the Americas and and education about why exactly the school should be closed.
Fr. Roy Bourgeouis, the founder of the protest who spoke at SLU last spring, spoke at the teach-in. “We discovered a school, through its graduates, that’s connected with a whole lot of violence,” he said.
“I do not ever want to come down here again,” said senior Paul Woody who spoke to inspire other students at the teach-in. Woody said that he is more optimistic every time he travels for the protest. “I’m not only optimistic that this school of death will close. I’m optimistic for the next 10, 15 and 50 years,” he said.
Bourgeouis ended his speech with a plea to protesters: “Close down that damned school now!”
Most of the protesters stayed in the Hilton. However, all the SLU students resided in another hotel, The Riverton Inn. One of the speakers, Bob Holstein, commented on the different hotels. “Everyone staying at the Riverton Inn . that’s where Jesus would be staying, not the Hilton,” Holstein said, evoking laughter from the crowd.
Saturday morning began with a continuation of the teach-in. Later in the day, protesters went down to Fort Benning where the SOA resides. There, protesters gathered to share stories, sing songs and learn more about the cause.
Saturday night was concluded with a mass where Martin Sheen, star of the television program The West Wing, shared some reflections after communion.
“Like the weather, you’re stuck with me,” he said, eliciting a smile from the cold, wet participants.
Sheen said that he was absolutely certain of nothing, except that everyone there would make a profound impact on each other.
The mass was ended with protesters singing, “I will go Lord, if you lead me.” On Sunday, thousands of people recited the pledge for nonviolence: “We will continue to struggle nonviolently until there is freedom for all.”
From a stage next to the entrance of the school, speakers Bourgeouis, Sheen and University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., evoked cheers from thousands of participants.
After the speakers, the procession began. Protesters entered the grounds of Fort Benning as an act of civil disobedience. This act is commonly referred to as “crossing the line.”
At 3:10 p.m., the final group of protesters crossed back over the line as the audience sang “This Little Light of Mine.” The protesters walked out backwards in order to “continuously walk forward” toward the closing of the School of the Americas.
The SLU buses left Georgia soon after the protest ended. Members of the SLU community returned at 5:30 a.m. on Monday. Bourgeouis summed up the protest as a whole: “A weekend never to be forgotten.”
