Feb 2012 Banner

Saturday, November 17, 2012

 Greetings!,   

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CodePink, addresses 400 people at last night's Pax Christi USA's gathering at the SOA.

 

Last night, over 400 people joined us in Center Hall at the Columbus Convention Center for Pax Christi USA's annual gathering at the SOA. This year's event was entitled, "The Danger of Drones and Remote Control Warfare," with presentations from Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace Bill Quigley and CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin. Also joining us as a special guest for the evening was Fr. Melo, a Jesuit priest and radio host, who condemned the SOA graduate led military coup against the democratically-elected Honduran government in 2009 and was a friend to Celina and Elba Ramos, two of the 8 killed by SOA graduates at the University of Central America in 1989.

 

The evening started with a welcome from Sr. Josie Chrosniak, HM, chair of the Pax Christi USA National Council.

 

"Pax Christi USA members have been coming to the vigil and action here at the School of the Americas from the very beginning, and for 12 years now, we've been gathering like this, on Friday evening, to deepen our witness to peace, to celebrate the gifts of our movement, and to encourage each other for the challenges that lie ahead," stated Sr. Josie. "Tonight is the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Salvadoran Jesuits, their co-worker and her daughter. In 1989, graduates of the School of the Americas entered the grounds of the University of Central America and executed these brave men and women. We invoke their spirit to be present with us tonight..."

 

Click here to read the rest of this report, with links to photos and a PDF of the program handout with the prayer service for last night's event.

Quigley at SOA
Bill Quigley, Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace and human rights lawyer, speaks in front of "crime scene tape" about the illegality of drones at last night's event.

In Christ's peace,

 

Johnny Zokovitch

Director of Communications, Pax Christi USA