Good news from the SOA Watch Attorneys: SOA prisoner of conscience Ed Lewinson has been released from the “hole” and is now part of the general population at FCI Elkton. And the attorneys report he is happy to be there. Thanks to all who wrote to the warden.

Send Ed a note of support in prison: Dr. Edwin Lewinson/Prisoner #92126-020/FCI Elkton/PO Box 10/Lisbon, OH 44432

In May, HR 1707, the Latin America Military Training Review Act, which calls for the closure and invesigation of the SOA, goes before Congress for a vote. The legislation has bipartisan support, but only half of New York’s Congresspeople are among the bill’s 122 cosponsors (see below).

Reps. Eliot Engel, Carolyn McCarthy, Gregory Meeks, and Edolphus Towns-–all Democratic Congresspeople from Long Island and NYC-–have not signed up to cosponsor this bill but voted for a similar bill last year. Charles Rangel did not vote.

Visit SOAW’s Legislative Action Index page for ideas on how to get this bill moving, and check out New York legislators’ previous votes on this issue. Last year, 22 of New York State’s 29 representatives in Congress voted for a similar bill to shut down the SOA. The bill lost by just 11 votes (214 to 203).

Many thanks to the following representatives for cosponsoring HR 1707:

• Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [D-5]
• Rep Bishop, Timothy [D-1]
• Rep Clark, Yvette [D-11]
• Rep Crowley, Joseph [D-7]
• Rep Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-20]
• Rep Higgins, Brian [D-27]
• Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-22]
• Rep Israel, Steve [D-2]
• Rep Lowey, Nita [D-18]
• Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-14]
• Rep McNulty, Michael R. [D-21]
• Rep Nadler, Jerrold [D-8]
• Rep Serrano, Jose E. [D-16]
• Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-28]
• Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-12]
• Rep Walsh, James T. [R-25]
• Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [D-9]

Join SOA Watch Long Island in a demonstration in front of Rep. Peter King’s office, to ask him to cosponsor and support HR 1707, the bill to shut down and investigate the School of the Americas.

The protest is part of a nationwide mobilization from April 23 to 25, when SOA Watch members will lobby their congresspeople to gain support for the bill. SOA Watch has also called for a nationwide fast to shut down the SOA during that week.

Long Island SOA Watch and other organizations have been asking Rep. King for years to support similar legislation. King is the only congressman from Long Island who votes to keep the SOA open.

When: Thursday, April 24, 5-6:30pm
Where: 1003 Park Blvd., Massapequa Park (1 block north of the LIRR station)

Ed Lewinson is about 20 days into a 90-day sentence for his peaceful protest of the School of the Americas. At 78, he is the oldest of the SOA 11. He was sent to a prison in Ohio, far from his New Jersey home, and in a letter he just sent to his supporters, written by a cell mate, he said he has been placed in solitary confinement:

“Because I am blind, I have been placed in the disciplinary housing - the hole. Although there are 2 or 3 people per cell, we are locked in 23 hours per day, and 24 on weekends. The other hour we are allowed to walk around a 15 x 20 foot cage for recreation….

“We are allowed one phone call every 30 days, and I must be here 30 days before I can make my first (call). I have tried to change this, but so far, no such luck. Although, I have a very kind cell mate, who has been very helpful.

“Needless to say, the time goes slowly and I’ll be glad when its over. Although 90 days is a really short time to spend in prison, relatively speaking. Cordially, Ed”

Call your representative and urge them to contact the Bureau of Prisons to demand that Ed Lewinson be moved closer to home and given appropriate accommodations.

If you’d like to send a note of support:
Dr. Edwin Lewinson
Prisoner #92126-020
FCI Elkton
PO Box 10
Lisbon, OH 44432

Archbishop Oscar Romero 1917-1980

NYC SOA Watch and NYC CISPES will hold a memorial on Thursday, March 27, in honor of Salvadoran Catholic Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was killed 28 years ago by graduates of the School of the Americas while he was celebrating mass. He was assassinated because he spoke out against state violence and injustice. One day before he was killed, he addressed the country’s repressive army: “I beg you, I beseech you, I order you, in the name of God, stop the repression!”

The service will be followed by a screening of the award-winning Voces Inocentes, a film about children growing up in the midst of the civil war in El Salvador.

In 1993, the United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador cited the officers responsible for the worst atrocities committed during that country’s brutal 12-year civil war. Over two-thirds of those named were trained at the School of the Americas.

Above photo from Creighton University Collaborative Ministry Office

Archbishop Romero Memorial and Voces Inocentes Screening
Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 7pm
Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew
263 W86th St (at West End Ave), NYC
For more info, call Wendy: (917) 400-0185

See you there!

The Long Island SOA Watch supports all the following events and invites you to participate on the 5th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. To remember all the dead, our soldiers and the Iraqi and Afghani people. And to call for the immediate withdrawal of the U.S. troops. Share with us our protest against this unjust war.

Tuesday, March 18, 7:30pm
Mass offered by Fr. William Brisotti, to pray for an end to the war, for the return of our soldiers and for the suffering of the Iraqi people. Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, 1434 Straight Path, Wyandanch. Contact: Pax Christi LI, 631-427-5823

Wednesday, March 19, 5-6pm
Stop the war – Bring all troops Home. Vigil to mourn 4,000 U.S. and 1 million Iraqi deaths. Gather on the NE corner of Old Country & Glen Cove Roads, Garden City. Across from the main entrance to Roosevelt Field Mall. Coordinated by the Stop the War Coalition. Contact: LI Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives: 516-741-4360. Note: MoveOn is calling for a vigil in the same place at the same hour.

Saturday, March 22, 12-1pm
Human chain for Peace along 14th St. from Avenue A to 11th Ave. Gather along 14th St at noon; march to Union Square for a short rally ( permit pending). Contact: United for Peace and Justice/NYC 212-868-5545. Bus from LI. Departs 10 am.,returns by 5 p.m., UU at Shelter Rock parking lot. $ 15/person. Contact: Sharyn Esposito, 516-627-6560, ext 160. Sposored by Social Justice Committee of the UUCSR.

TBD
Demonstration to mark the 4,000th U.S. casualty in Iraq. On the first Saturday following the day that the 4,000th Americans death is reached. Suffolk Peace Network and other groups will stand as a presence of peace on the sidewalk on Rte. 25 in front of the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove, from 2-4:30 p.m. Contact: Suffolk Peace Network, 631-424-4647

MAKE A CALL TO CONGRESS
TELL CONGRESS TO :
* End the occupation of Iraq.
* Vote NO on Bush’s request for $102 Billion.
* NOT to vote anymore $ for the War: Fund only the withdrawal of our soldiers and medical care for returning veterans.

CD1 Tim Bishop: 631-696-6500
CD2 Steve Israel: 631-951-2210
CD3 Peter King: 516-5414225
CD4 Carolyn McCarthy: 516-739-3008
CD5: Gary Ackerman: 718-423-2154
Senator Clinton: 631-249-2825
Senator Schumer: 631-753-0978

Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Toll Free: 1-800-828-0498

http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1203399341296740.xml&coll=1&thispage=2

Friends and supporters of Ed Lewinson, http://www.soaw.org/article.php?id=1651, will honor his courage and commitment to justice in advance of his entering federal prison to serve a 90-day sentence for crossing the line at Fort Benning in November 2007 at a:

Potluck dinner on SATURDAY MARCH 1 at 6:30 p.m.
at the Ethical Cultural Society located at
516 Prospect St., Maplewood, NJ.

Organized by NJ supporters of Ed and peace and justice.