November 10, 2000

Pilgrimage for peace

On the weekend of November 17-19, more than a dozen members of the Loyola community will embark on a Peace Pilgrimage to Ft. Benning, Georgia. The Loyola group is traveling to the annual protest of the Defense Institute for Hemispheric Security Cooperation, formerly known as the School of the Americas (SOA). Participants reunited by the common goal of the protection of human rights. LUCAP, directed by Al Alcazar organized this trip involving a diverse collection of student groups. Members of LUCAP, LUSSO, LUSAS, Amnesty International, and University Ministry are among those from Loyola attending the protest. Alcazar believes the diversity of campus groups gives an opportunity for those with a shared concern over world events to join voices and make a difference.

The group is protesting the training of Latin American solders by the U.S. government. The School of the Americas notoriously produces graduates who go on to commit human rights' violations. Loyola students object to teaching soldiers combat and torture techniques, since these lessons advocate violating human rights. SOA graduates assassinated six Jesuit priests and two women; the Loyola Peace Quad is dedicated to these martyrs who died trying to organize the poor in Latin America. Loyola plans to construct a new monument in memory of their efforts for social justice.

LUCAP honors the Jesuit martyrs during Martyr's Week, a week of activity leading up to the protest. It begins on November 12 with a Mass symbolizing unity and liberation. Following events of the week include educational soup and substance seminars and a peace vigil on November 16. Each person attending the protest from Loyola must attend these seminars, where the history of the SOA, instances of violations, and principles of non-violent civil disobedience are discussed.

For the past four years, LUCAP and University Ministry have organized this annual journey to the protest. With a common interest in social justice, the groups educate others about social policy and non-violent protesting in the tradition of Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Alcazar calls the trip "a concrete protest against the violence in today's society. This is something we can do as a university to make a connection with others in the world who fall victim to violence, especially the poor in Central America." In this effort to bridge the gap between the university and the community, Loyola's crusaders for justice are sending a message of solidarity and showing how students can make a difference in the world.

Jennifer McKibben, Intern in the Offices of Public Affairs and Publications