Maryknoll nun completes prison term for SOA trespass conviction

Published: 2005-09-19

MARYKNOLL, N.Y. (CNS) -- Maryknoll Sister Lelia "Lil" Mattingly said her now-completed six-month prison term for trespassing last November at the home of the former School of the Americas deepened her faith and strengthened her resolve to work for the closure of the training facility for Latin American military. Now called the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, the school at Fort Benning, Ga., is the site of an annual protest by demonstrators who say some of the worst violators of human rights in Latin America have been trained there. The U.S. Department of Defense, which runs the school, says its curriculum teaches Latin American military personnel democratic principles and respect for human rights. Sister Lil was one of 15 protesters arrested and charged with trespassing at last year's demonstration, which drew a record 16,000 participants. This year's demonstration is set for Nov. 18-20.

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