SOAW–West News for March, 2005
School of the Americas Watch–West ~ SOAW–W
March 18, 2004
San Jose Website - http://teachers.bcp.org/llauro
Los Angeles Website - www.soaw-la.org
National Website - www.soaw.org******
Note: Items for SOAW–W e-mails (see format below should be sent to:
Dolores Perez Priem
(1) New legislative effort to close the SOA - H.R. 1217. A new bill to suspend operations of SOA/WHINSEC and establish an independent commission to investigate past atrocities at the school (including the use of torture manuals) was submitted to the House of Representative for this current session. Rep. Jim McGovern submitted the bill and co-sponsor list as of today (3/17) includes 88 co-sponsors (plus himself as sponsor), a number that already includes 6 Republican Reps. This is great news since it "ups the ante" from the prior bill which was introduced two years ago by McGovern with 50 original co-sponsors. H.R. 1217- a number we'll all come to know and love!!
Original co-sponsors from the greater Bay Area are: Lynn Woolsey, Tom Lantos, Zoe Lofgren, Sam Farr, Barbara Lee, George Miller, Anna Eshoo, Henry Waxman, Bob Filner and Mike Honda. The hope is now to take this initial list and use it to convince other Reps who had supported previous closure bills to sign-on as early co-sponsors. Reps to target include: Pete Stark, Joe Baca, Linda Sanchez - plus, the new Sacto area Reps Dan Lundgren and Mrs. Matsui. Ellen Tauscher may still be a tough-sell, but check out the new wording for HR 1217 which adds some provisions that the previous bills did not have; that may help get Mrs. Tauscher on board.
Congratulations to everyone who worked on lobbying efforts. We were very successful in a relatively short period of time to secure as many co-sponsors as we did. We will keep you informed as other Reps sign-on and as the bill makes its way into the Armed Services Committee and possibly into a sub-committee for discussion. Also, when an amendment to any future foreign appropriations bill seems immanent (to de-fund scholarships for students training at WHINSEC), we will let you know so you can do some appropriate lobbying. [Special thanks for this report to Theresa Cameranesi, our Legislative Coordinator, and David Mezzera, SOAWW Regional Rep to the national SOAW Council.]
(2) Guilty of Telling the Truth! Bay Area Prisoners of Conscience report to prison.
Aaron Shuman, Oakland activist and writer, reported to prison on March 15th, although his thoughts and hopes were that people continue working for educational rights and prison reform, with which he was also very involved. His address:
Aaron Shuman #92463-020
USP Atwater
P.O. Box 019001
Atwater, CA 95301
Brian DeRouen, a graduate student at the University of Dayton, reported to prison in California. His parents live in Fairfield and will keep us posted on his progress. Brian's mother said a film about SOAWatch protests is in the works and can be viewed at www.onthelinefilm.com Brian's address:
Brian DeRouen #92459-020CI
FCI Taft
Correction Institution
P.O. Box 7001
Taft, CA 93268
*FORMATS FOR SOAWW EMAILS:
Notices to be considered for SOAWW emails must be sent in following format:
1. Title of event or notice
2. Day, date and time
3. Place, Address, City
4. Contact person and phone number/email
3. BRIEF description of event and fee
CONTACTS:
SOAWW - East Bay: Robert Nixon - 510-533-3120 - robertnixon@mindspring.com
SOAWW - Contra Costa: Natalie Russell - 925-934-0759 - russell1626@juno.com
SOAWW - Sacramento: Janice Freeman - 916-812-7680 - janice@compudigital.com
SOAWW - Placer: Denise Sewart - 916-300-0482 - sewart@quiknet.com
SOAWW - San Jose: William O'Connell - 408-286-9341 - wocdoc@earthlink.net
SOAWW - San Francisco: Dolores Perez Priem - 415-387-2287 - doloresmp@aol.com
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[For archived news from previous posting,
click on: November-December.]
