Last night, I attended a presentation by Shirley Way and Father Bernie Survil, both longtime activists for peace and human rights ("Speakers discuss move to close military school," Jan. 20).

They were arrested this past November at the gates of Ft. Benning in Georgia at the annual demonstration against the U.S. Army's School of the Americas (SOA). This infamous institution trains thousands of soldiers and military personnel from Latin American countries in things like counter-insurgency warfare and commando operations. The "school" has turned out some of the most brutal dictators and human rights abusers in Latin America, including Manuel Noriega and Hugo Banzer Suarez.

By 2001, pressure on the SOA became more than the government could handle and Congress voted to "close" it. However, they immediately reopened it under a new name: the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHISC). This "new" school is really nothing more than the old SOA under a new name.

Sadly, almost none of the SOA graduates responsible for human rights abuses have ever been brought to justice and the U.S. government does not seem to care in the least. It is too busy prosecuting nonviolent activists, who courageously stand up for the very ideals this country is supposed to hold so dear. We can honor the courage of people like Way and Survil, as well as the countless men, women and children throughout Latin America who have been the victims of SOA violence, by contacting U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa. Urge him to support and co-sponsor HR 1258, a bill which would close the SOA (or whatever name it chooses to call itself) once and for all.

Enough suffering and death has occurred as a direct result of this disgraceful institution, which continues to bring shame on our country. It is time for those who have a voice to speak for those who have been silenced.