Teach-In & SOA Protest
The Human Rights Coalition (HRC) embodies their passion for social justice and peace by collaborating with various LMU student groups, organizations, and departments and by coordinating concrete acts of justice and activism including:
Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice / SOA-WHINSEC Protest
The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ) is an annual event held to commemorate the Jesuits and lay women martyred in 1989 in El Salvador. The Teach-In is a weekend social justice conference for students from Jesuit Institutions from across the United States to come together to reflect on the Jesuit commitment to justice. Each year, thousands of high school and college students, clergy and lay people gather in Columbus, GA, for the Teach-in. Speakers, ranging from high school students to bishops reflect on a wide range of justice issues and call for an end to unjust institutions and actions.
The Teach-In in conjunction with the annual School of the America’s (WHINSEC) protest has been a transforming experience for many people over the years. The weekend trip challenges student to hear all sides to the stories including meeting with WHINSEC officials and peace activists. Students are encouraged to listen, ask questions, reflect, and prayer about this complex social justice issue.
Campus Ministry’s Human Rights Coalition organizes a LMU delegation to this gathering each November. Contact the HRC if you are interested in learning more and getting involved. This year's Teach-In will be held from November 20-22, 2009 in Columbus, GA. Once again, thousands of people from the Ignatian Family will gather to mark the anniversary of the slain Jesuits and laywomen in El Salvador, to reflect on our commitment to live "a faith that does justice", and to call for an end to unjust institutions, including the SOA/WHISC.
The HRC has also organized an on-campus vigil to commemorate the lives of the Jesuit martyrs and the countless other martyrs throughout Latin America as well. This past year, students brought their experience and passion for justice back to the heart of the LMU campus through a multimedia art, photography, and video exhibit in UHall.