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Congratulations! Once again you successfully brought the Vigil to the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia. We gathered there to let our government know that we are watching, that we demand accountability and that we will continue to mobilize at the home of the notorious School of Assassins until this school of death is closed once and for all.
 Now that we have completed the Vigil, every one of us must bring the Vigil home. We must bring this Vigil to our families, to our churches, to our campuses, to our union halls, to our schools, to the doors of our Congressional representatives and to our communities. The 16th Vigil at the gates of Fort Benning Georgia kicked off a time of nationwide, unified work so that we can win the upcoming vote in Congress to close this school once and for all.
On this page you will find the tools you need to "Bring the Vigil Home." This information includes what you need to organize a vigil at home in your community, to do successful media actions and outreach and to pursue your Member of Congress so that they can join our movement in this historic campaign to close the SOA/ WHINSEC and to build the world we know is possible.
From all of us at SOA Watch, we thank you for joining us at Fort Benning, and we look forward to joining you in the upcoming months as we all bring the Vigil home!
#1 Bring the Vigil to Your Community
 Until our upcoming vote in Congress you are needed to bring the Vigil to your community. In Columbus, Georgia we are tens of thousands strong. Now as a community dispersed across the United States, we must continue to stand tens of thousands strong. You are needed to build rallies and vigils back in your home communities once a month up until we have a vote. Many of you participate in regular vigils in your communities supporting peace and justice, and you may consider adding the SOA as a crucial issue up until our 2006 bvote in Congress.
How to Organize a Vigil in Your Community:
Select a visible location -- The first step to organizing a vigil at home is to select a location. Choose a visible location at your campus or in your community where a monthly event can be held. These places can include the front of your student union, at a local federal building, at a busy intersection or in front of a Congress person's office who is refusing to co-sponsor HR 1217, our bill to close the SOA.
Choose a monthly date and time to gather -- Pick a specific monthly time and duration to meet. It's helpful for your group to have a consistent time to gather. Think about times that are high traffic times at your vigil location. For example, morning rush hour, lunch time or evening rush hour.
Be visible -- When you gather, be sure that you have banners and signs that identify you as working to close the SOA. Bring leaflets, too. Find more flyers in our Resources Section.
Get the word out -- Let people in your community know that you are holding a vigil and invite them to join you. Contact local student groups, labor groups, church groups, immigrat rights organizations and people involved in local economic justice campaigns. Ask them to join you as you vigil locally to close the SOA.
Post the event on the SOA Watch website -- Be sure that you post your monthly event on our Calendar of Events so that we can help you get the word out!
#2 Media Outreach:
The media - print, radio and television - is an essential tool for spreading the word, raising awareness and influencing public opinion. The media is a vehicle for communicating with the world and can also be a catalyst for change. In some ways, media legitimizes your campaign - if your story gets coverage, it's an issue.
 Knowing how to use the media effectively can make the difference in the success of a campaign for social change. As you and your local SOA Watch group strategize about how to bring the vigil home and how to educate and engage others in your community, think about how media outreach can shape your work.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
Link local community struggles to the issue of closing the SOA. Create a list of local news outlets, complete with names, fax and phone numbers and email addresses for newsrooms and editors. Tie in with national media: list the SOA Watch national office phone number (202-234 3440) underneath a local phone number at the top of your press releases, and cite www.SOAW.org as a source for more information.
 Vary your submissions. All of your media work doesn't need to be a major press release or statement. Submit regular, brief announcements of organizing meetings, bus or van trip availability, educational resources (speakers' bureau or videos). Send to city desk, community news and religion editors. Remember weekly bulletins of houses of worship, union publications and community newsletters. Use independent and alternative media. IndyMedia web sites at www.indymedia.org give all of us the opportunity to post stories and photos in our own words. Are there alternative newspapers and/or radio programs in your area? Does your information appear in religious, labor and community newsletters?
Visit the Media Outreach section of our website or contact Christy Pardew at 202-234-2334 or cpardew(at)soaw.org for more information.
#3 Legislative Action
This year is different than previous years in our movement, because with legislation pending in Congress and the growing support for closing the SOA/ WHINSEC, we have MORE than a fighting chance to win a vote in Congress. It's important that everyone who believes that the SOA/ WHINSEC should be closed should contact their Member of Congress and urge them to support HR 1217 and any other legislative item that would suspend operations at the SOA/ WHINSEC.
 Don't be overwhelmed about legislative work or lobbying. Lobbying is nothing more than expressing your right as a constituent to have YOUR views expressed by the person you've elected to represent you in Washington D.C.
Here are three EASY legislative action items you can do over the next few months:
Call your representative! Check out the legislative action page on our website to see if your representative is already supporting HR 1217, a bill that would suspend operations at the SOA/ WHINSEC. If they are not already supporting HR 1217, call the Capitol Hill Switchboard, toll free at 1-888-355-3588 and ask to be connected to your representative's office. Here is a suggested message for you to convey:
"I am a constituent from (city/zip code) calling Congressman/woman ________ to urge him/her to cosponsor HR 1217, The Latin America Military Training Review Act of 2005. This bill would suspend operations at, and investigate, the School of the Americas, which is now using the acronym WHINSEC. I urge the Congressman/woman to contact Rep. McGovern's office to become a cosponsor of this bipartisan bill. This would be one very concrete step to support human rights and promote peace and justice for the people of Latin America. As my elected official in Washington D.C., I hope you will represent me and support HR 1217."
Organize a petition drive! Another way to let Members of Congress know just how many people in their district support HR 1217, is for you to collect signatures on a petition. Visit our legislative action section of our website, or call the DC office and we can fax, email, or mail you a copy. Remember to have signers include their zip code and to mail a copy of the signatures to the SOA Watch DC office at P.O. Box 4566, Washington, DC 20017.
Meet with your Representative in your district! Congressional representatives travel back to their home districts very frequently and setting up a meeting with you and other constituents can be a powerful way for you to convey your support for closing the SOA/ WHINSEC. The legislative coordinator in our DC office can help you set up a meeting and connect with other SOA Watch supporters in your area. We can provide talking points, scheduling advice, and background information on your reprsentative's voting history. Contact pbowman(at)soaw.org for more information.
For more information about the legislative campaign, visit the Legislative Action Index or contact SOA Watch's legislative coordinator, Pam Bowman, at pbowman(at)soaw.org or 202-234-3440.
#4 Bring the Vigil to Washington:
 Mark your calendars! On April 23-25, 2006, join activists from around the country in Washington D.C. for our Spring Lobby Days. Hold your Representatives and Senators accountable and demand they represent your interests in Washington!
The weekend will include legislative trainings, opportunities for you to meet other SOA Watch movement activists in your community and beyond, and end the weekend with pre-scheduled visits to your representative.
Click here for more info on the Spring Lobby Days. |
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