For Immediate Release: January 28, 2004
Contact: Kristine Werthwein, 202.903.7257
Nuns, Priests, Divinity School Student, a Former New York City Firefighter, and a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Sentenced
for Nonviolent Protest of the School of the Americas/WHISC
Twenty- two human rights activists received three to six month sentences in federal prison for nonviolent actions to
close the SOA/WHISC
Columbus, GA – Twenty-seven human rights advocates from across the country were tried this week in federal court on
misdemeanor federal trespass charges for acts of civil disobedience to close what they call a terrorist training camp on
U.S. soil: the School of the Americas renamed Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/WHISC).
Graduates of the controversial combat training school for Latin American soldiers continue to be implicated in human
rights atrocities throughout Latin America. The 27 defendants were among 10,000 who gathered in November to call for the
closure of the SOA/WHISC.
The defendants included one Catholic nun, three Jesuit priests and one Jesuit brother, a Presbyterian minister, a
Diocesan priest, a Franciscan priest, two Quakers, a divinity school student, a former New York City Firefighter, a
Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, and various human rights activists.
”I just felt a need, a calling, to commit an intentional act of civil disobedience, especially because of what is going
on in Iraq when the United States is involved in a pre-emptive, aggressive war”, stated defendant Dave Corcoran, a
hospital chaplain.
The defendants testified in court against a double standard in the “war on terrorism”, offering evidence to put the
SOA/WHISC and U.S. foreign policy on trial. Defense Attorney Edward Osowski argued that first amendment rights of
defendants were violated when the military blasted patriotic music toward the permitted demonstration site on Saturday,
November 22nd.
The trial Magistrate, G. Mallon Faircloth, adhered to his previous sentencing record, and gave sentences ranging from 12
months probation to six months in federal prison, with fines ranging from 500 to 1,500 dollars. Nearly 175 people have
served a total of over 75 years in prison, and 17 people have served a total of 22 years of probation for nonviolent
resistance in a broad-based campaign to close the school.
The SOA/WHISC is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers. Its graduates are consistently involved in human
rights atrocities and coups, including the El Mozote Massacre of over 900 civilians and last year's failed coup in
Venezuela. In 1996 the Pentagon was forced to release training manuals used at the school that advocated the use of
torture, extortion and execution. SOA Watch founder Fr. Roy Bourgeois traveled to Venezuela to ask president Hugo Chavez
to stop sending Venezuelan military personnel to the SOA/WHISC. Chavez, who continues to be popular amongst the
overwhelmingly poor population of Venezuela, is taking Fr. Bourgeois request under serious consideration.
Adjudicated SOA Defendants (listed in order of state)
Elizabeth Bradley, 49, of Sacramento, CA- 12 months probation, $500 fine Leisa Faulkner Barnes, 49, of Sacramento, CA-
three months federal prison, $500 fine Louise Lynch, of Fremont, CA- 12 months probation, $500 fine Faith Fippinger, 63,
of Sarasota, Fl- three months federal prison David Corcoran, 69, of Des Plaines, Ill- six months federal prison Scott P.
Diehl, 40, of Burlington, IA- three months federal prison, $500 fine Kathy Kelly, 51, of Chicago, Ill- three months
federal prison Craig Adams, 52, of Glenwood, WI- three months federal prison Rich Wekerle, 67, of Moscow, ID- six months
federal prison Cynthia Brinkman, SSND, 67, Ellington, MN-six months federal prison Ozone O’Leary, currently residing in
Duluth, MN- three months in federal prison Mary Vaughan, of White Bear, MN- 24 months probation, $500 fine Michael
Walli, 55, of Duluth, MN- three months federal prison, $500 fine Gregory Poferl, 57, of St. Paul, MN- three months
federal prison, $1,000 fine Gary Ashbeck, of Baltimore, MD- six months federal prison, 67 days credited for time served
Betsy Lamb, 65, of Columbia, MD- six months federal prison, $500 fine Shirley Way, 42, of Stanley, NY- three months
federal prison Alice E. Gerard, 47, of Buffalo, NY- three months federal prison, $500 fine Fr. Joseph E. Mulligan, S.J.,
60, of Nicaragua- three months federal prison Brother Mike O’Grady, S.J., 41, of Cincinnati, OH- 32 days Muscogee County
Jail Fr. Ben Jimenez, S.J., of Cleveland, OH- released on time served Peg Morton, 73, of Eugene, OR- three months
federal prison Fr. Bernie Survil, 63, of Greenburg, PA, three months federal prison Don Beisswenger, 73, of Nashville,
TN- six months federal prison, $1,000 fine Sarah Jobe, 22, of Nashville, TN- 12 months probation, $1,500 fine Eric
Robinson, 23, of Bellingham, WA- six months federal prison, $1,000 fine Fr. Jerry Zawada, 66, of Burlington, WI- six
months federal prison