Southwest Weekend to End Torture, November 15-16, 2008

SOUTHWEST WEEKEND OF WITNESS TO END TORTURE, NOVEMBER 15-16, 2008

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

http://southwestwitness.org/

PRE-EVENT Friday, November 14, 2008, 7 p.m.

A BOOK READING by Colonel Ann Wright, US Army ret., from Dissent: Voices of Conscience
Antigone Book Store, 411 N. 4th Avenue, Tucson

Ann Wright is a retired US Army Reserves colonel with 29 years of military service and a career US diplomat. She resigned from the diplomatic corps in March 2003 in opposition to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. She will be a guest speaker at the Southwest Witness on Sunday, November 16 at Veterans Memorial Park in Sierra Vista.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15
10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Plan of Action: How can we stop torture?
Held at Pima Community College, Downtown Campus, 1255 N. Stone Ave., Amethyst Room in Campus CenterNorthwest corner of Speedway Blvd. & Stone Ave. in Tucson, AZParticipants will create a plan of actionSimple lunch served for donation
Note: Because of I-10 construction in the Tucson downtown, leave I-10 and get on the frontage road if you are coming into Tucson from either north or south. (Watch for signs.)Turn east onto Speedway Blvd. Pima College is a few blocks east of I-10 on your left.There are adequate parking lots on both the west and east sides of the campus.
4-6:30 p.m. Sign-making and Community-building EventHeld at Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 E. 23rd St., Tucson, AZSimple supper served for donation
7 p.m. Theater of the OppressedLive performance of Nightwind by Hector AristizabalHeld at Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 E. 23rd St., Tucson, AZDonations accepted
Hector Aristizabal is a native of Medellin, Colombia and currently living in Pasadena, CA. His commitment to human rights forced him to leave his country due to death threats. Hector's main work has been on the use of Theater of The Oppressed techniques, traditional myths and storytelling as a way to combine theater, drumming, and dance with psychotherapy as a way to address the healing needs of many of our communities. He is a survivor of torture and active in SOA Watch.
9 p.m. No to Torture Candlelight Procession from the church to the Federal Building followed by a vigil

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Note: For those who wish, Car Pooling can be organized leaving from the Pima College west-side parking lot on Sunday. Meet between 8 & 8:15 a.m. to see who there needs a ride or has one to offer, to allow at least 90 minutes for the trip to Sierra Vista, which is 72 miles southeast of Tucson (east on I-10, then south on Hwy. 90, then east on Fry Blvd. Hwy. 90 is also called Buffalo Soldier Trail.)
10 a.m.-3 p.m. No to Torture Rally, followed by a Procession and Presence at the Ft. Huachuca Main GateVeterans Memorial Park at 3105 E. Fry Blvd in Sierra Vista, AZ (between Mormon Dr. and the Highway 90 bypass, 2.2 miles east of the main gate of Ft. Huachuca)Speakers, musicians, puppetistasBring brown bag or picnic lunch, beverages, hat, sunscreen, folding chair, appropriate signs,and walking shoes if you will be in the procession.The park has restrooms and plenty of parking. There are fast food and cafe options all along Fry Blvd.
No to Torture Procession Note: A Vigil of Presence across from Ft. Huachuca's main gate on the east side of Buffalo Soldiers Trail and Fry Blvd. follows the park Rally. We will also have a presence at one of the private contractor's office nearby. (Please note that we are no longer allowed to be in the empty lot where vigils have taken place for the past several years. We will need to vigil in the sidewalk area.)
The gate is 2.2 miles from Veterans Memorial Park, straight west along Fry Blvd. We will be using the sidewalk that extends the full distance. Counter-demonstrators are expected and peacekeepers will be aiding us in our procession. We will allow an hour and a half for the transition from the park to the gate. Those not walking may drive near the gate and park in the neighborhood east of the gate. We will be requesting those driving to offer rides to those walking back to their cars at the park.
All these events are sponsored by Southwest Witness, Tucson SOA Watch, and Torture on Trialin solidarity with SOA Watch and their annual Vigil & Action at Ft. Benning, November 21-23.More information: http://southwestwitness.org/ and http://tortureontrial.org/ or 520.745.5803