Support UK Army Afghanistan War objector Join us at the US Social Forum
Action request: Support jailed objector Nicole Mitchell
I am writing on behalf of a pro-bono client of mine, SPC Nicole Mitchell. SPC Mitchell was sentenced to 30 days in jail today in a Summary Court-Martial proceeding at Joint Base Lewis-McChord for the offense of AWOL. But this is not your typical AWOL case. It began some time ago. SPC Mitchell was an M.P. in the US Army. She served well until she went on a deployment to Iraq, where she began to have serious issues of conscience. After significant reflection and inner turmoil, she applied for C.O. (conscientious objector) status. The coming months were hard, in that she faced significant harassment for applying, but she prevailed. She was granted 1-A-0 conscientious objector status, which meant that she would continue to serve in the military but in a non-combatant status. Living as a conscientious objector in the U.S. Army proved to be nearly impossible. SPC Mitchell was not assigned to a new M.O.S. (military occupational specialty), but instead remained as an M.P. She no longer carried a weapon but otherwise had to function as an M.P. So when personal problems arose in her life (something that happens to many soldiers), the emotional strain and stress became too much and she went AWOL. Read more to find out how to help...
Support Joe Glenton, UK Army Afghanistan War objector
Dear Brother Glenton, Speaking for over 7,000 members of Veterans For Peace, I heartily join in the sentiment expressed by a policeman in front of your wife and her mother as you were going to court for a hearing, “This boy makes us proud.” We are particularly proud that you have demonstrated that rarest form of courage – you’ve gone against the weight of culture, society and the military to use your own brains and compassion to judge between right and wrong. You have joined the time-honored ranks of the many who stood and spoke the truth. Your resistance inspires people around the world.
At the upcoming US Social Forum next month in Detroit, join us for... Building a Military Resistance Movement: Veterans, Service Members & Allies Organizing Together Presented by Civilian-Soldier Alliance, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Courage to Resist This is a workshop led by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and civilian allies who are organizing within the military and veteran communities against the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. The workshop will include an overview of the history of military resistance around the world, a presentation from Iraq and Afghanistan veteran organizers on a new campaign to win a GI and Veterans Bill of Rights, and an introductory training on supporting war resisters and being a strong and accountable ally to veterans and service-members organizing for change. More information coming soon. |
Army objector Nicole Mitchell jailed
By Attorney James Branum. 
By Mike Ferner, president of Veterans for Peace. 
