Caravan for Peace Heads to Fort Benning Friday Ben Wright - Ledger-Enquirer
go to original August 29, 2012

The crosses placed at the fences of Fort Benning represent people who are missing or who are believed to have been killed by death squads. (Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times)

"This is about them, their experience of losing sons and daughters and brothers and sisters in this struggle," said the Rev. Roy Bourgeois, School of the Americas Watch founder and host of the caravan.

Columbus is among 25 cities on the caravan's list since the group left Mexico on Aug. 12. Traveling 6,000 miles from coast to coast, the caravan will stop in Los Angeles, Santa Fe., Houston, El Paso, New Orleans, New York, Chicago and other cities.

At 10:45 a.m. at the post entrance, Bourgeois said Sicilia and other families from Mexico will tell their stories about the human toll of the drug war, gun trafficking, U.S. security and foreign aid issues. Just as SOA Watch supporters gather at the gate each year in November to seek closure of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Corporation, the former School of the Americas, members of the caravan claim the institute has trained Latin American soldiers and police involved in the drug war.

"We saw that firsthand when we were in Mexico, hearing the testimony of men and women," said Bourgeois, a visitor to the region two months ago.

Lee Rials, a public affairs spokesman for the institute, disputed the claim. "Even our own friends didn't accept that as being true," he said.

Rials said post officials won't be involved in the gathering. "It's really kind of interesting. It's a training holiday," he said. "There won't be anybody around."

To express their support to the group, Bourgeois said activists from Atlanta, Columbus and LaGrange will join members of the caravan.

Sicilia started the Movement for Peace and Justice with Dignity after his son was killed. The movement has mobilized hundreds of thousands across Mexico. The caravan ends Sept. 10-12 in Washington, D.C., with a call for an International Day of Action for Peace in Mexico.

Bourgeois said about 140 to 150 people will be in Columbus for the caravan.

"Friends have called me from San Diego, Oakland and Arizona and they are going to give their testimony," he said. "They are going to speak from their parents in the drug war experience in Mexico."

benw@ledger-enquirer.com

Related: Visit the Caravan for Peace With Justice and Dignity website

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