David Rovics and Jorge Renderos to Perform at NYC Event

Carlos Mauricio, founder of the Stop Impunity coalition of Salvadoran torture survivors, will visit Long Island and NYC to talk about his case bringing human rights abusers to justice–and his work to stop their U.S. military training.

On Saturday, April 29, join SOA Watch NYC, NY CISPES, Carlos Mauricio, singer-songwriter David Rovics (following his performance at the antiwar rally), and Salvadoran musician Jorge Renderos for a Pena Cultural, a Salvadoran cultural celebration, in honor of Carlos Mauricio’s two recent human rights victories:

• On January 5, 2006, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals finally held SOA-connected Salvadoran generals Jose Garcia and Juan Vides Casanova liable for torturing  Mauricio when he was a university professor in El Salvador in 1983.
• On March 28, 2006, Mauricio, along with SOA Watch founder Fr. Roy Bourgeois and activist Lisa Sullivan, persuaded the governments of Argentina and Uruguay to stop sending their soldiers to train at the SOA.  (They persuaded Venezuela to stop in 2004.) 

Carlos Mauricio Long Island/NYC Speaking Tour:

Thursday, April 27
1 p.m.: Nassau County Community College, Bldg. F-129, Garden City
7 p.m.: Freeport Memorial Library, 132 W. Merrick Rd., Freeport (call 516-379-8522)
Saturday, April 29
4 p.m.: Interview on WBAI Radio 99.5FM
7 to 10 p.m.:  Pena Cultural at the Brecht Forum, 451 West St., Manhattan (a $5 to $15 donation is requested) 
Sunday, April 30
11 a.m.: Church of San Romero, 2419 Amsterdam Ave. (at 180th St.), 4th fl., Washington Heights

For more information, e-mail nycispes@mindspring.com or call 646-245-9931.

If you’re planning on attending the antiwar rally in NYC on April 29, stop by the SOA Watch NYC table in Foley Square and introduce yourself!

Also, at noon, Nassau and Suffolk SOA Watch will be joining other local peace groups in Madison Square Park to form a Long Island contingent for the march. Look for the Long Island banners near the flagpole area.

March for Peace, Justice & Democracy
Assemble: 22nd St and Broadway, 10:30 a.m.
March: At noon down Broadway to Foley Square
Grassroots action festival: Foley Square, 1-6 p.m.
Map/details

There are still some New York congresspeople who have not cosponsored HR 1217 (22 of 31 are cosponsors), the bill to shut down and investigate the SOA. If one of them is from your district, head on down to DC for the annual SOA Watch Lobby Days and get them on board. Check out the national SOA Watch site for the schedule of events, which run from April 23 to 25.

Thanks to the work of a human rights delegation that included SOA Watch founder Fr. Roy Bourgeois and Salvadoran torture survivor Carlos Mauricio, the government of Argentina has decided to stop training its soldiers at the School of Americas (now known as WHINSEC), and Uruguay affirmed its current commitment of not sending soldiers to the school. They join Venezuela, which decided to cut its ties with the SOA in 2004. Read more details in the Nation article "¡No Más! No More!"

On Monday, April 10, there will be an NYC rally to stop anti-immigrant House Resolution 4437 and a call for true immigration reform. The large rally is part of the National Day of Action for Immigrant Rights.

National Day of Action for Immigrant Rights–NYC Rally
Monday April 10, 3-7pm
City Hall, Broadway at Murray St (meet at SEIU 32BJ, 101 Sixth Ave at Grand St, at 2:30pm if you want to march with NY CISPES)
Organizer: The New York Immigrant Coalition

After a meeting with SOA Watch representatives on March 28, Rep. Gary Ackerman, the congressman from the New York’s 5th District, encompassing northern Queens and Nassau counties, agreed to cosponsor HR 1217, the bill to shut down and investigate WHINSEC/SOA. He was the last Democratic congressman from New York State to sign on. (Here’s a complete list of the NY cosponsors.) Pam Bowman, the legislative coordinator for SOA Watch, writes: "Congrats to all in NY SOAW groups to a perfect HR 1217 cosponsor score for NY State Democrats!" Many thanks to Rep. Ackerman for his support.

SOAW NYC will hold its monthly meeting at the NY CISPES office at 130 West 29th Street at 7 p.m. this Thursday.
On the agenda: (a) Carlos Mauricio speaking tour, (b) Congressional Lobbying Days in DC, (c) May 17 ILEA Teach-In, and (d) fundraising and outreach. Bring your
yourself and your great ideas!

Monthly SOAW NYC Meeting
Thursday, April 6, 7 p.m.
130 W. 29th St, #9F
Subway: 1 to 28th St