Dear GI Resistance Supporters,
Very exciting news from Fort Benning Georgia!
As thousands gather to call for the closure of the notorious School of the Americas
(SOA/ WHINSEC),
Army National Guard Specialist Katherine Jashinski will, Thursday morning, publicly announce her refusal to be deployed to the Middle East.
See press release below for more details and forward to your contacts!
GI resisters, conscientious objectors, and dissent within the military
deserve our support as they stand up for human rights and dignity,
democratic rights, and international law.
Widespread public support and pressure can help protect these
courageous individuals from feelings of isolation and from repression of
them and their rights. The fact that soldiers, veterans and military
families have re-inspired the US antiwar movement and successfully
countered the story of the war on terror is incredibly hopeful!
Be on the lookout for more from Courage to Resist on how to support Katherine and all
those who refuse to fight in illegal and immoral wars.
http://www.CouragetoResist.org
For more on what's happening at Fort Benning this week,
http://www.SOAW.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 16, 2005
Woman GI Publicly Stands Against War as She Faces Immediate Deployment to
Middle East
WHEN: Thursday, November 17, 11:30 AM
WHERE: Front Gate of Ft. Benning, Georgia on Fort Benning Road
WHAT: Public Statement of Conscientious Objection by Female GI on eve of her
deployment to Middle East
Fort Benning, GA Army National Guard Specialist Katherine Jashinski, on
active duty with the 111th ASG since January of this year, will make a
public statement against war as a conscientious objector in the face of
orders to participate in weapons training and deploy to the Middle East.
She will be joined by several members of Iraq Veterans Against the War and
Veterans for Peace. Jashinski applied for a discharge as a Conscientious
Objector in 2004. The Army recently denied her claim and ordered her to
weapons training and deployment this week.
Speakers at the press conference include Aidan Delgado, an Army
Conscientious Objector and member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Iraq
Veterans Against the War supports the right of every soldier to follow their
conscience. Today's revelation that chemical weapons were used against
citizens in Falluja is evidence that the war is illegal and immoral.
Jashinski's counselor, Persian Gulf War Army Conscientious Objector Aimee
Allison, will speak at tomorrow's press conference. Speaking today, Allison
stated, "As the first woman GI to publicly take a stand against this war and
to declare herself a Conscientious Objector, Katherine's actions are very
significant. She is showing remarkable courage."
Jashinski's lawyer, J.E. McNeil with the Center for Conscience and War, will
also discuss her legal status and the case. She comments, "Denying
Katherine CO status is yet another in a long line of actions by the military
to defy its own rules in order to get the numbers of soldiers they need to
continue this war."
Katherine is actively supported by Code Pink, a women-initiated grassroots
peace group. Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink adds, "I applaud
Katherine's courageous stand against the continued U.S. role in bringing
violence to the Middle East."
Father Roy Bourgeois, a Vietnam War veteran and founder of School of the
Americas Watch will also speak. Jashinki's statement comes on the eve of a
national demonstration at the gates of Fort Benning calling for the closure
the U.S. Army School of the Americas. "U.S. foreign policy as it exists
today is fundamentally out of alignment with Americans values of peace and
justice."
Courage to Resist
is a small all volunteer group of antiwar activists,
veterans, and military families who saw a need to build support for
antiwar resistance and dissent within the military. This newsletter and
the campaign to support GI resistance has incredible potential and is
urgently needed, but it's success depends on you, your group and your
community participating.
Please consider:
1) Signing up to participate on our GI Resistance Alert Network to receive
Action Alerts about GI resisters who need phonecalls, emails, public
education and demonstrations of support.
2) If you know of stories or needs for support of GI resisters and
objectors please let us know at courage@riseup.net. You can sign up on our
website as either an individual or for your organization.
A better world is possible,
Courage to Resist