Labor Action to Close SOA

Dear SOA Watch Labor Activists,

You are receiving this email because you are listed as a labor contact in the SOA Watch database. It is our hope that you will liaison to union workers in your networks to communicate that their help is needed to close

the School of the Americas, to stop the repression of union organizers throughout the hemisphere, and to bring about justice for the people of the Americas. Organized labor has been an essential force in the struggle

to close the SOA. Hundreds of unions across the country have passed resolutions against the SOA. Union workers have demonstrated and gone to prison for speaking out. This year we are asking for your help.

As you know, on November 21-23, thousands of people from across the country will converge on the SOA in Ft. Benning, Georgia to call for the closure of the School, where, according to documents released by the Pentagon, more than 60,000 soldiers have been trained to torture and murder those who do "union organizing and recruiting;" pass out "propaganda in favor of workers;" and "sympathize with demonstrations and strikes." 10,000 of these soldiers are from Colombia, home to one in every three unionists murdered today.

You can make an invaluable contribution to the movement while demonstrating that solidarity transcends borders. Please:

1) Distribute information about the SOA to your local union and labor council. Download and print: Labor Flier (front and back): http://www.soaw.org/new/docs/labor1.pdf, http://www.soaw.org/new/docs/labor2.pdf

General Information: http://www.soaw.org/new/docs/SOAWatchInfo.pdf

2) Raise the SOA issue at union meetings. Ask your union to:

a) Mobilize for the demonstration in Georgia. Featured speakers include Bob King, the International Vice-President of the United Auto Workers.

b) Send a representative to the Labor Caucus. Meet and strategize with other labor activists on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003, 5:30 pm in the Days Inn, 3170 Victory Dr., Columbus, GA.

c) Donate to SOA Watch. Financial contributions from unions and union members make the movement to close the SOA possible.

Together, we can put an end to the terror training that is taking place in our names and with our tax-money at the SOA/WHISC. We stand in solidarity with you in the struggle for the rights of workers around the world.

In Solidarity and Peace,

SOA Watch Staff Collective -

Roy, Hendrik, Jacqueline, Eric, Kristine, John and Ginger