Military protest very logical

Irene Basa should do a little research before she tries to
insult me and the work that I do. I’d like to refute each
claim she made in her column, “Military base protest
misdirected, illogical” (Feb. 11).

First, is her claim that the protest was not for a good reason?
I’d like to ask her if the killing of thousands of Latin
Americans is a good reason. Maybe we should ask the several
thousand attendees whether the protest was for a good reason. Or
perhaps we ought to ask the countless activists, many of whom have
spent years in jail fighting the School of Americas. Why
don’t we ask my friend Linda, who was arrested with me? Her
uncle and cousin were killed in Guatemala by death squads trained
by SOA. I’d like to see Basa tell Linda that her protest was
not for a good reason.

Next, I think we should go to the headquarters of the United
Farm Workers, which the mother of Basa’s friend claims to be
a part of. We could ask Dolores Huerta, who was Cesar Chavez’
partner in founding the United Farm Workers Union, if she thinks
people should mind their own business when they see injustice.

Afterward, we could go to Columbia and ask workers, professors
and students whether the SOA’s crimes are happening in this
decade. One professor I know was forced out of the country under
threat of death because she was organizing a teacher’s
union.

After Colombia, we could go to my Jesuit high school and meet a
Jesuit priest, who knew the six priests killed at the San
Salvador’s Jesuit University, University of Central
America.

Now, lets talk to UCLA students from Latin America. I’m
sure Basa did this before writing her column, but maybe we could
just double-check. Most of the students I know from Latin America
are not too fond of the SOA. In fact, they’re also quite
offended by Basa’s column.

I’d like to invite Basa to come with me to the April
mobilization in Washington, D.C., against U.S. involvement in Latin
America. We have been protesting in Washington, D.C., for many
years. We are also aware that the SOA is a small part of the terror
campaign the United States leads around the world. If Basa comes to
Washington with me, we can resolve this whole “misguided
anger” thing.

Finally, Basa’s claim that the school is not responsible
is outrageous. They are teaching counter-insurgence, psychological
warfare, assassination techniques and torture. And, as a result,
the school’s students are going out and doing these things.
Can you imagine what would happen if UCLA started teaching classes
like those at the SOA. I’m sure UCLA would not be implicated
when its students went out to torture and rape innocent people in
Los Angeles.