Occupy: [Any space In Reality]

Crosses at the gates of Ft. Benning. 

Memorializing those who have 

passed at the hands of SOA graduates.

The passed two years I have adventured to the beautiful state of Georgia to voice my opinion and to let people know, that I will stand against the existence of the School of the Americas. In the last several months, other people among my generation have stood up and said, “We won’t support... We won’t stand for...”

The freedom of speech growth has quite frankly scared some of us off. Last year’s close encounter with the Columbus (Georgia) police for what most perceived as crossing the street will forever be ingrained in my head. Believing in human rights enough to know not to stand still and run a risk of arrest.

As this year’s Fort Benning protest grew closer and closer, a friend of mine and I decided not to adventure to the annual School of the Americas (SOA) protest. The SOA is a program that is run by the U.S. government and military which has been directly linked to the death of hundreds of individuals in Latin America, including Archbishop Oscar Romero, the 6 Jesuit martyrs in El Salvador and countless other men, women and children.

A part of me is sad, that I too have been silenced. With my to-do list overwhelming me, I find myself not reaching out to local churches to get the word out, to get the prayers flowing or to get the knowledge out about the SOA.

But why have I been silenced? Why is my friend who has attended the last three years, choosing this year to stay home and pray silently? The fear of federal lock-up for minimum six months? The fear of learning what the inside of the Columbus, Georgia jail really looks like? The fear of being confused as a threatening protester?

With the Occupy protests going on, many peaceful protesters are finding themselves in a place they never thought they would be - in the hands of a police officer forced along with zip ties around their wrists.

Protesters at the gates of Fort Benning, November 2010.

We had finally become a people comfortable saying “enough is enough.” We finally found the spirit that founded America, that brings countless individuals to these United States each year and this is how we are greeted - with arrests?

In no way did I expect open arms, listening ears and love; but I did expect to know what is truthful and honest. Most arrests are made because officers truly believe they are protecting the masses by arresting this individual; however I am saddened by the reality that fear is suppressing the people.

However, what does not help is that many organizations are jumping on the Occupy bandwagon and renaming their annual protest Occupy: [space where protest is held]. There are many issues with this marketing technique. Foremost, if a protest is linked in any way to the Occupy movement, the police force to protect and counter the protest will double if not triple. The environment around the protest will be completely different, resulting in more hostility than usual.

Secondly, Occupy Protests are asking for a change in the financial situation for Americans, in financial policies and in the way our government is involved in our daily lives. If a protest not focusing on these areas of American life, puts Occupy as part of their annual activities, they are participating in false advertising.

Most importantly, when organizations use the Occupy slogan as part of their protest they loose the real meaning in why they are fighting for change, where they want to see the changes and how they see a different future.

As this weekend continues, please pray for those who feel called to be the voice for the voiceless, who feel trapped by our developing nation and by those effected in the past, present and future by the graduates of the School of Americas.

For more information on the School of the Americas please check out, www.soawatch.org.