Magistrate clears charge for 'U' alum

n Ten of the 23 protesters have been cleared of charges for their part in a protest against the School of Americas

By Shomari Terrelonge-Stone

Daily Staff Reporter

Charges against University alum Abby Schlaff for her part in an illegal protest against the U.S. School of Americas were dropped by the United States Magistrate for the Middle District of Georgia, Columbus Division.

Schlaff said she received a letter earlier in the week from the court clearing her of the misdemeanor charges.

Last month Schlaff and 22 other protesters received letters in the mail from the court stating that they were to appear before the United States Magistrate to be arraigned on the charges against them for actions during last November's protest of the SOA in Columbus, Ga.

The 10th annual demonstration, which involved more than 10,000 religious, labor and student leaders, mourned the killing of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and daughter in El Salvador on Nov. 16, 1989.

Ignoring threats of arrest, Schlaff and more than 5,000 other protesters crossed onto Fort Benning property in a simulated funeral procession carrying signs and crosses to commemorate those who were killed in Latin America by SOA graduates.

"The charges were dropped because we chose not to prosecute further," Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean Daskull said. "We considered each of the defendants based on the strength of the evidence and the allocation of our resources."

Schlaff said she was disappointed that the charges against her were dropped because she thought if she went to trial, "it would have got more publicity," against the SOA, she said. "I think that's why they dropped the charges."

Schlaff's offense was punishable with a sentence of between 30 days and six months in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000. If she was convicted, the judge would have had the authority to reduce or suspend the sentence. Thirteen of the 23 protesters have been arraigned and will be charged, but 10 protesters have had charges against them dropped.

SOA was established in 1946 in Panama. In 1984 it was relocated to Fort Benning, Ga. Schlaff and other protesters allege that SOA is responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans who were tortured, massacred, assassinated and raped by graduates of the school.

But SOA supporters deny these allegations and say the school provides relevant military training and education to soldiers from Latin America and the Caribbean while promoting democracy and respect for human rights and cooperation between the militaries of the western world. Supporters also say SOA teaches democratic values to the U.S. and Latin American students who fill the school's classrooms.

Schlaff said she is not sure if she would do the same actions in a future protest. "I will cross that bridge when I come to it," she said.

But Schlaff said she plans to travel down to Fort Benning to support the 13 people who still face charges and is contemplating whether to "cross the line" onto the base again.

The issue needs "media attention because it's a horror being supported with our tax money," she said.