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The past decade saw the continuation of strained relations between the U.S. and the governments of Central and South American countries—most notably Venezuela. A rarely mentioned but significant historic contributor to the turmoil is the School of the Americas (SOA), re-branded in 2001 as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC). Operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the SOA instructs soldiers and police from around the globe in U.S.-sanctioned civilian and military tactics, including disorder management, intelligence and anti-drug operations. At least 11 Latin American dictators are known to have been trained at the SOA since 1948. However with allegations of torture and assassination-based curricula, coupled with a growing awareness of a progressive trend in Latin America—documented by films such as South of the Border and Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins—international pressure continues to mount on the secretive organization. As founder of the watchdog organization, School of the Americas Watch, Father Roy Bourgeois has spoke out against the Georgia-based institute since the assassination of a Salvadoran Archbishop in the early 1980’s. Father Roy, a Vietnam veteran and ordained Catholic priest, has maintained a relentless campaign against the SOA. He also works to end the Vatican’s opposition to the ordination of women in the Catholic Church. SOA Watch in conjunction with the Latin America Solidarity Coalition (LASC) will march on Washington D.C. this April.

GUEST: Father Roy Bourgeois

Find out more about the April 2011 action in Washington DC at www.soaw.org.

Father Roy will be in the Los Angeles area on Saturday, January 29th – 7:00 PM, Doors Open at 6:30 PM at The Frank, Jane & Emily Dorrel’s, 3967 Shedd Terrace, Culver City 90232. With special Guests:
Blase & Theresa Bonpane, Sandra & Ulis Williams, music by: Jose-Luis Orozco. $10 to $20 Donation at the Door – all Proceeds go to the School of the Americas Watch. To RSVP call Frank at: 310-838-8131 or email: fdorrel@addictedtowar.com or fdorrel@sbcglobal.net.

Father Roy will also be in Santa Barbara at the premiere of a new film about women priests called “Pink Smoke Over the Vatican,” on Sunday, January 30th – 4:00 PM at The Unity Church, 227 E. Arrellaga Street, Santa Barbara 93101. The screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the filmmaker Jules Hart, the Western Regional Bishop of Roman Catholic Women Priests, and Father Roy Bourgeois. For more information, contact Cindy Yoshitomi: (323) 359-2447 – Email: cytweetie@aol.com, and Carol Parkus: (805) 570-4109 – Email: cparkus@cox.net.

Father Roy will also be speaking and screening the film “Pink Smoke Over the Vatican” at the University of California, Santa Barbara on Monday, January 31, 12pm, at the Multi-Cultural Center theater. The event is free. (Parking must be paid for on-site).

Click here for a map of the UC Santa Barbara campus.