 More than 16,000 people marched at the gates of Fort Benning in a moving and massive funeral procession that included Martin Sheen, Rev. Hagler, Dr. Davida Cody, the Indigo Girls, Joe Cosgrove, John Dear, Father Roy Bourgeois, Neris Gonzalez, torture survivors and others, including our own beloved Gary Ashbeck.. The march stretched the length of Fort Benning Road, with thousands holding crosses, stars of David and other symbols of hope and resistance. As musicians sang out the names of victims of the School of the Americas (SOA/ WHINSEC), the crowd responded, “Presente!” |
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A large Puppet of Mourning accompanied the marchers. Inside the puppet was Alice Gerard, who later crossed the line. |
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| Sr. Maureen McDonnell, O.P. with Gary Ashbeck. "She is totally responsible, with her good teachings, for me being an ex-con." says Gary. Sr. Mo was head of campus ministry at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. | Lisa Guido and son Gabe at the SOA |
 Looking though this outer fence, you can see the new inner fence that was just put up this year, after Gary Ashbeck, Ben Jimenez, S.J. and Mike O'Grady, S.J. climbed over this outer fence last year. |
The gate to the SOA was transformed with |
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 Base personnel carry "Democracy" away. Democracy was the largest puppet folks had made, and was left leaning against the flag pole in front of the base. They pulled democracy down, and hauled it away in a truck. (see video) |
