Pleasant Hill Community Church

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Fellowship Hour at 10:00 AM

 

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Having been invited and encouraged by the persuasive and persistent duo of Walter Stark and Charlie Lord to participate in the protest at the School of the Americas, I joined them, Don Inglis and Joe Giddings to drive to Chattanooga to board the Knoxville bus for the weekend at Ft. Benning, from our Saturday noon arrival till late Sunday afternoon.

 

It was like a country fair, a large class reunion, and a big outdoor religious revival – all wrapped up together.  People from all over the country gathered to  protest the training of military leaders in Latin American countries by the School of the Americas – people of faith motivated by deep passion and concern for the many people who have been maligned and killed in those countries, due to our country’s sponsorship and complicity with puppet governments. The many speeches, music and dances, dozens of booths and banners, and especially the 2+ hour “funeral procession” with drums and chant, immersed us in an atmosphere of sober, heavy sorrow for what has been done and a burdened commitment that the mission of the School of Americas not continue. The estimated 17,000-22,000 crowd echoed the cry and pain to God by the Children of Israel in Egypt, or like a  throng at the Wailing Wall. Strong indications are that the SOA at Ft Benning will be closing. (Unfortunately, as I had heard in El Salvador last year, and now reiterated in a speech at the SOA, a “Center” is being built in ES where similar functions as at the SOA, will take place).

 

Several personal notes: how faithful are those in our Pleasant Hill Church who constantly keep us mindful of this important cause. I was impressed that: 1. at least 2/3 were young people/students (by my estimate) whom I learned were greatly from Jesuit schools – what a great teaching opportunity they have chosen to engage these young lives for the future. 2. at least 2/3 seemed to be female, of all ages (and there were so many religious orders of nuns from all over the country, many from retreat centers that also are Peace Centers.) What a great witness to faith and social concern! I found this a rich time to converse with many, young and old, from many walks of life and with varied experiences.

 

I am grateful for the fine camaraderie of the 5 of us from PH for this weekend at Ft. Benning, the annual weekend closest to the slaying of the Jesuit priests in El Salvador.

Won’t you consider making this your pilgrimage in the future?

 

Roger Knight

 
Protesting The School of the Americas

Roger Knight, Don Inglis, and Charlie Lord protest the School of the Americas.

Singers in front of the Peace Sign at the front gate.

“Bodies” lining the fence along Ft. Benning.

Huge puppet, probably in memory of a woman killed by an SOA graduate, walking in a crowd of 20,000 people.