SOA Watch nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

SOA Watch has been nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

According to Hendrik Voss, communications coordinator for SOA Watch, former Nobel laureate, the American Friends Service Committee, submitted its nomination papers to the Nobel committee Saturday. The announcement of SOA Watch's nomination for the prize was made in Oslo, Norway at 9:05 a.m. today, Voss said.

"We are very humbled to be nominated for this very prestigious prize," Voss said. "It's recognition of the work of the people all across the Americas that are struggling and resisting militarization throughout the Americas."

For the past 20 years SOA Watch has sought to close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation - formerly known as the School of the Americas, which is on Fort Benning and trains Latin American soldiers.

SOA Watch activists are in town this weekend for the protest. Today marks the final day of events and activities held along Fort Benning Road, outside the Army post's Benning Boulevard gate.

SOA Watch organizers say soldiers trained at the school have had a hand in the slayings of eight people, including six Jesuit priests, in El Salvador 20 years ago.