LASC Anti-Militarism Conference Schedule
LASC Anti-Militarism Conference at a Glance
Below is the full conference schedule including plenary speakers and workshops. Some workshop titles may change. Visit www.lasolidarity.org before the conference to see any last minute changes.
Conference Schedule
Friday, April 8
3-5pm Special delegate reception hosted by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (RSVP required to Chuck@AFGJ.org)
6-9pm Opening Plenary, American University Ward Circle Bldg.
Live Music! Son Jarocho music from Cosita Seria and alternative acoustic music from Colleen Kattau
Opening Plenary, moderated by Professor Adrienne Pine, American University. Featuring:
Chuck Kaufman is National Co-Coordinator of the Alliance for Global Justice.
Perla de la Rosa is an activist in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.
Jesús Emilio Tuberquia is a co-founder and the legal representative of the Peace Community of
San José de Apartadó, Colombia.
Gerardo Torres is responsible for relations with the people of the United States and Canada for
the National Front of Popular Resistance of Honduras.
Pierre Labossiere is co-founder of the Haiti Action Committee.
Saturday, April 9
8:30-10am, Registration, tabling American University Ward Circle Bldg.
10-11am Welcome Plenary featuring Hector Aristizábal
11-12:30pm Workshops 1
1. From SouthCom to San Diego’s Naval Port: Being part of the Larger Movement Against Militarization, Ray Del Papa (SOA Watch) and Susana Pimiento (FOR)
2. When Threats and Economic Blackmail Fail, US Sponsored Coups Follow: Gerardo Torres, Pierre Lebossiere, Lisa Sullivan, (FNRP, Haiti Action Committee, and SOAW)
3. Film: “Why We Come” Sponsored by the Marin Interfaith Task Force on the Americas (MITF)
4. Cuban Sovereignty and the struggle to free the Cuban Five: Banbose Shango, Nalda Vigezzi, Juan Jacomino and Alicia Jrapko, International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5 and the National Network on Cuba
5. The School of the Americas and the Movement to Shut it Down!, Hendrik Voss, SOA Watch
6. Community Building as Resistance and an Alternative to Neoliberalism: Luz Rivera, Comité Nacional Urbano Campesino (Mexico) and Tony Nelson, Mexico Solidarity Network
7. Confronting Media Disinformation: Greg Wilpert, Mike Fox, Alex Main, James Suggett, (Venezuelanalysis.com, CEPR)
8. Climate At The Crossroads: US/allied Militarism and Survival on Planet Earth: Beth Adams, MSW
9. Costa Rica: How Militarization Threatens the Tradition of Peace: Roberto Zamora, human rights attorney and Nicole Sault, Centro de Amigos Para la Paz
10. Women Organizing for Survival and Against Militarization: Invest in Caring Not Killing: Margaret Prescod, Nancy Carroll and Phoebe Jones, Global Women’s Strike
11. FBI Repression from Latin America to Your Front Door: Committee to Stop FBI Repression
12. Spies and Guns for Hire / A U.S. Shadow Military: The Increased Role of Blackwater and Other Mercenary Companies in U.S. Foreign Policy: Dan Kenney
12:30-1:30pm Lunch
1:30-3:00pm Workshops 2
1. Militarization and Counter-Militarization of the American Education System: Anthony Ramirez, Jesse Graves, and Melissa Kissoon, Ya-Ya Network (Youth Activists-Youth Allies)
2. U.S. Trade Union Solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Cuba and Venezuela: Dan Kovalik (United Steelworkers), Sam Weinstein (Utility Workers Union of America), Carl Gentile (American Federation of Government Employees)
3. Making Space for Peace: Protective Accompaniment as a Means of Confronting Militarization in Latin America: Emily Nelson and Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh, Peace Brigades International
4. Activist Education: Deconstructing Militarism & Training to Build Our Movement: Jamie Way and Becca Polk, AFGJ and SOA Watch
5. ALBA: A Major Reason for the Increase in US Militarization in Latin America Lisa Sullivan (SOA Watch-Venezuela), Charlie Hardy, author
6. Honduras: The Popular Struggle for Democracy: Gerardo Torres (Frente Nacional de Resistencia Popular, Honduras)
7. FILM: “Return to El Salvador” and Q&A with Emily Headrick and Coe Burchfield, staff, Jamie Moffett Media Design
8. FILM: “The Day Diplomacy Died” and the Covert U.S. War Against Cuba with Bernie Dwyer, director of ‘Mission Against Terror: Case of the Cuban 5,” and speaker from the Cuban Interests Section (TBA)
9. “Secure Communities” – Secure for Whom?!: What the Program means and what to do about it!: Diana Bohn, City of Berkeley CA, Peace & Justice Commission; Mackenzie Baris, DC Jobs with Justice.
10. From Fear to Understanding: How can we better address Fear in our communities?: Dave Kane, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Philip E. Wheaton, Liberation Theologian and Latin America historian
11. Art and Community-building: Responding to the Crisis in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, with Perla de la Rosa, Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez and Telón de Arena; Susanna Duncan, co-organizer of the first Fandango Fronterizo Chihuahua
12. Haiti’s Grassroots resisting Military and Non-Profit Occupation: Pierre Labossiere, Haiti Action Committee; Margaret Prescod, Women of Color in the Global Women’s Strike; James Jordan, Alliance for Global Justice
3:00-3:15 pm Break/Music
3:15-4:45 pm Workshops 3
1. Research for Anti-Militarism Campaigns: John Lindsay-Poland, Fellowship Of Reconciliation
2. Grassroots Congressional Lobbying to Close the SOA and Resist Militarization, Alison Snow, SOA Watch
3. Serving God in a Culture of Militarism: E. Daniel Riehl
4. Using Human Rights Law in International Solidarity Work: Laura Raymond, Anjana Samant, Laura Carey, Tamara Brown, Center for Constitutional Rights and Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti
5. FILM, “We Must Kill the Bandits” by Kevin Pina about UN Occupation of Haiti
6. Refuseniks and Prisoners of Empire: Who Are They Putting in Jail? Phoebe Jones, Camilo Matos, Eric Gjertsen, Stan Smith, James Jordan and Hellen Jacard (Alliance for Global Justice, Boricua Human Rights Network, Global Women’s Strike, Payday)
7. FILM: “Ending U.S. Sponsored Torture Forever,” produced by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, Rev. Richard Killmer, National Religious Campaign Against Torture; Nicole Sault, Centro de Amigos Para la Paz, Costa Rica
8. Bring Our War $$ Home: Joan Stallard, CODEPINK DC
9. The Drug War and the Merida Initiative – Laura Carlsen, Americas Program and Daniel Brito Drug Policy Alliance
10. FILM, “Quien Dijo Miedo,” a Katia Lara film, presented by Gerardo Torres, FNRP
11. ¡Mesoamerica Resiste!, Bilingual storyshare with the Beehive Collective and Olmeca, community organizer from Los Angeles
12. Adios Uribe: Jeremy John and Charity Ryerson, Adios Uribe Coalition
4:45-5:00: Break
5:00-6:30 Plenary. Moderated by Alexis Stoumbelis, Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador. Featuring:
Mark Weisbrot is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
Margaret Prescod is author of “Black Women Bringing it All Back Home” and hosts “Sojourner
Truth” on Pacifica Radio’s KPFK.
Dan Kovalik is the Senior Assistant General Counsel to United Steelworkers.
John Lindsay-Poland is Research and Advocacy Director of the national interfaith organization
Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR).
8-11:30pm Concert at St. Stephens Church (1525 Newton St. NW Washington, DC 20010. Metro; Columbia Heights). Featuring powerful acoustic music from Colleen Kattau, Los Angeles hip hop from Olmeca, and social justice-inspired salsa from local Salvadoran band, Nueva Cosecha.
Sunday, April 10
9-10am Registration, coffee & tabling
10-11:30am: Workshops 4
1. How to build a strategic, grassroots campaign against US militarism: CISPES
2. Organizing Against the Repression of Q’eqchi’ Communities in Guatemala: Palmer Legare, Guatemala Solidarity Project
3. Changing the Security Discourse; Moving the Money From the Pentagon to the People: Jackie Cabasso, Western States Legal Foundation/New Priorities Network, Blasé Bonpane, Office of the Americas, Judith LeBlanc, Peace Action/New Priorities Network
4. Language Justice: Building multilingual movements to confront militarization: Josh Diamond and Roberto Tijerina, Wayside Center for Popular Education
5. Using Multimedia in Anti-Militarization/Solidarity Work: Michael Fox, Silvia Leindecker, NACLA, Estreito Medios Productions
6. Youth, Student & Academia Strategy Caucus: Jamie Way, Bruce Wilkinson
7. Women’s Strategy Caucus: Barbara Larcom
8. Labor Strategy Caucus: Dan Kovalik, Stan Smith, Sam Weinstein and Carl Gentile
9. Veterans Strategy Caucus: Helen Jaccard and others
10. Environmental Strategy Caucus: James Jordan
11. Faith-based Strategy Caucus: Daniel Riehl, Dave Kane
11:30-1pm Closing Plenary, moderated by Emily Nelson, Peace Brigades International. Featuring:
Simón Sedillo is a community rights defense organizer in Mexico and film maker.
Laura Carlsen is the director of the Americas Program of the Center for International Policy,
based in Mexico City.
Lisa Sullivan is the SOA Watch Latin America Coordinator.
2:45pm SOA Watch White House Action gather at Dupont Circle for a creative, festive march to White House!
Monday, April 11
8:30-10am Orientation for SOAW White House action – Lobby Day
Place: Parish Hall, Lutheran Church of the Reformation
212 East Capitol Street
Washington, DC 20003
