Global Voices Season 1 Episode 24 Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins

Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins is the twenty-fourth episode of the first season of Global Voices. This episode takes a closer look at the story of Father Roy Bourgeois and his fight against the infamous U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA), which has been accused of training Latin American military personnel in torture, assassination, and other forms of human rights abuses.

Father Roy is a Catholic priest and a social justice activist who has spent over 40 years fighting for the rights of the poor and marginalized communities. In 1990, he founded the human rights group School of the Americas Watch (SOAW) after learning about the brutal tactics employed by the SOA in El Salvador, where he had previously worked as a missionary. The SOA was later renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), but Father Roy and his supporters continued their campaign against the institution, calling for its closure.

The episode features interviews with Father Roy, as well as former students of the SOA who share their experiences about the training they received at the institution. These interviews provide a chilling insight into the methods used by the school, including the use of torture and other forms of physical and psychological abuse.

The program also covers the efforts of Father Roy and his supporters to raise awareness about the SOA and to pressure the U.S. government to shut it down. This includes protests, civil disobedience, and lobbying efforts, as well as the annual SOAW Vigil at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia, where the WHINSEC is currently located.

The episode highlights the power of grassroots activism and the importance of standing up for human rights, even in the face of powerful institutions. Father Roy's story serves as a reminder that change is possible, even in the most difficult circumstances, and that ordinary people can make a difference when they come together for a common cause.

Overall, Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins is a powerful and important episode that sheds light on a little-known chapter in U.S. history, and showcases the bravery and determination of one man and his supporters in the fight for justice.