Students risk arrest in military base protest

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- Several IU students traveled to the U.S. Army base at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga., this past weekend to participate in the symbolic protest against a military-run school, formally known as the School of Americas. \nThe base, now known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, houses a controversial training facility that has been linked to human rights abuses in Latin America. The weekend's protest included a mock funeral procession, live music and speeches.\nSOA faced criticism from church and civil rights groups. In 2001, School of Americas was closed and WHINSEC was put in its place.\nMany demonstrators said they pay no attention to the name change and simply continue to call the school SOA -- what they call the "School of Assassins."\nCrowds of people moved freely in and out of the section of streets leading up to the base. Area law enforcers sealed off part of the road that led up to the fence so that there would be an area to accommodate the protestors that attended over the weekend. There were about 15,000 protestors Saturday and an estimated 20,000 Sunday.\nAt each of the annual protests an act called "Crossing the Line" takes place where demonstrators deliberately breach a fence guarding the perimeter of the army base. Protesters crawl to the other side where military police are waiting to flex cuff them. \nOnly 40 of the 300 who pledged to cross the line followed through on their claim.\nIU freshman Tim Gross saw at least one demonstrator "cross the line." Gross said he was struck by the protester, a young college-aged man in a brown hoodie and glasses, who crossed under the line and displayed conflicting emotions after he made it across. He looked like he just didn't know what to do -- his face showing both triumph and confusion, Gross said.\n"I think it's amazing people would give up six months of their lives for this," he said, referring to the maximum sentence allowed to be handed down by federal law for those charged with trespassing with intent to protest. \nIU student Jeremiah John, who attended the protests, did so for a second time. It was his first trip back to the protests held outside the 289-square-mile army base. \nIn 2003, with his now-wife Charity, the pair clipped the fence together, each holding part of a pair of bolt cutters. After six months in the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, John said he knows full well what it's like to have your lifestyle crimped with a federal prison sentence. \n"Prison is like a vice: it just keeps tightening and tightening," John said. "Prison is awful. It's like we're using injustice to teach people to be unjust."\nVoices in opposition of the SOA were counteracted by voices of surrounding the community in support of the military. \n"God Bless Fort Benning" was a festival running in the Columbus Civic Center on Saturday. It had live music, food and carnival rides for all the servicemen and women posted to the base. Many community members said they don't understand why the protesters are in their city and while they don't hate the protestors, they are considered an annoyance. \nJoe Leuer, the assistant dean of academics at WHINSEC, acknowledged that teachings at the SOA were sometimes used inappropriately by graduates who committed human rights violations. He also acknowledged the role SOA had in South America. \nLeuer says he's grateful for groups like School of America Watch because it brings attention to issues that need to be changed. \nJAG officer Capt. Brian Battles, a military attorney assigned to WHINSEC, said he respects the right of the demonstrators to protest. He said even though it is a military base, members of the community can enter and exit the base freely if they show a valid ID. The protesters are being arrested because of their intent to deliberately enter the base to demonstrate. \nGross said he didn't think anyone who crossed the line had any ideas about what a possible prison experience might be like. Gross said he didn't either, and while he said he might not have crossed the line, he's not sure if he'll stay opposed forever.\n"I don't feel like I'm called to do that right now, but who knows in the future," Gross said.