Resister Ryan Jackson trial date set
Army sets June 3 court martial for Iraq War resister PFC Ryan Jackson.
Actions requested: 1. Write to Ryan. 2.
Donate to his defense. 3. Attend
trial—Free Ryan Jackson!
Winter Soldiers to testify before
congress
Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) members will testify under
oath about the realities of the
Iraq occupation
before the Congressional Progressive Caucus on May 15.
Thank you Lori
On April 30 we gathered
to appreciate our staff organizer Lori Hurlebaus who recently resigned.
She is in Philadelphia for the Summer working as an interim Organizer
with IVAW.
Also: Deployed anti-war soldier Casey J
Porter is taking flak from the Army for his videos from
Iraq—"First
Day", "Staging Game",
"The
Mechanic". Check out
these
videos, and prepare
to defend his right to continue.
Resister PFC Ryan Jackson to
stand trial June 3
Courage to Resist. May 10, 2008
War objector Army PFC Ryan Jackson was temporarily moved from his
brig cell yesterday and arranged at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Ryan was
formally changed with multiple counts of AWOL stemming from his attempt
to be released from the Army prior to Iraq deployment. He is scheduled
to face a special court martial—with a maximum one year prison
sentence—on Tuesday, June 3. Since voluntarily returning to Fort
Gordon
on April 14 and formally applying for a conscientious objector
discharge, Ryan has been held in pre-trial confinement at the
Charleston Navel Brig.
Following his arrangement yesterday, Ryan was able to make and receive
a few phone calls. Primarily, he wanted to express his gratitude for
everyone’s support, and for making him feel that his stand against
war, and
his time already spent in the brig, means something. In addition to
Courage to Resist members, he was also able to talk to Iraq Veterans
Against the War and Veterans for Peace representatives prior to
returning to the brig.
Write to Ryan
Courage to Resist has collected over a 100 messages of support for
Ryan that we are now forwarding. At this time we are asking that you
send messages directly to Ryan at the Charleston Naval Brig. Address
letters to:
Ryan Jackson
1050 Remount Rd, Bldg 3107
Charleston SC 29406-3515
If he is sentenced to additional brig time beyond that which he has
already served in pre-trial confinement, he will be returned to the
Charleston Naval Brig for the remaining sentence.
Donate to Ryan’s defense
Ryan Jackson meets with peace activists near Fort
Sill, Oklahoma before returning to the military. |
Ryan asks that donations to his legal and political defense be made to
Courage to Resist.
Donate
online here.
Or, to donate by check, note “Ryan Jackson” on the memo line,
and send
payable to Courage to Resist/IHC, 484 Lake Park Ave #41, Oakland CA
94610. All donations are tax-deductible.
Courage to Resist is committed to covering Ryan's legal defense, and
helping him launch his upcoming career of peace activism when he is
finally released from the Army. He is currently being represented by
civilian attorney James Branum, co-chair of the National Lawyer’s
Guild
Military Law Task Force, and Fort Gordon JAG officer Captain Kenny.
Attend Ryan’s court martial
Tuesday, June 3 on Fort Gordon—10 miles west of Augusta, Georgia.
(map)
All military court martial proceedings are open to the general
public—but that doesn’t mean the military always makes it
easy. If you
plan on attending, contact the Fort Gordon Public Affairs office for
information at 706-791-7003. The trial is likely to last from one to three
days.
Listen
to Ryan Jackson's
interview with Courage to Resist here
“I feel ashamed every day,” Jackson wrote in his recent
conscientious objector (CO) application. “I feel ashamed for taking
part in the killing of others, and for allowing my comrades to be
killed themselves. By putting on a uniform, I am showing my support.
…
I can no longer be a part of the Armed Forces or any organization of a
violent nature.”
After two and a half years of honorable service, Ryan says he could
no longer ignore his conscience. “Once my beliefs started to evolve
and
change, I became a different person,” he explains. “It starts
to take a
hold of you, giving you hope that you can make a difference, that you
can change what you are doing, and that it is not too late!”
Read more...
Winter Soldiers to testify
before congress
On
May 15, members of Iraq Veterans Against the War will testify under oath
about the realities of the illegal occupations in Iraq & providing the
Congressional Progressive Caucus with an important and critical tool to
make their long-standing promise to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq a
reality now.
Congress will have the opportunity to hear the testimony first offered
publicly in March of this year at Winter Soldier: Iraq &
Afghanistan, when over 45 members of IVAW shared eyewitness accounts of
the occupations before their peers, their families and the American public
just outside our nation's capitol at the National Labor College.
Over 30 hours of testimony was made available live online, over the radio
and via cable television that weekend, and remains available in broadcast
quality footage at the IVAW website.
By bringing Winter Soldier finally inside the Capitol, IVAW hopes to
further encourage veterans to tell their stories to Congress and the public
at large.
Congress has heard from their fellow politicians, from the pundits and the
generals, but not until now have they heard from the average boots on
ground soldier who has been asked to fight this occupation largely alone.
Bringing Winter Soldier to The Hill will bring the voices of constituents
too long silenced before their elected representatives, while Congress
debates (more than likely for the last time) the funding for the Iraq
occupation.
How you can help (ivaw.org)
Thank you Lori
Lori Hurlebaus protests outside San Diego court
martial of Navy Petty Officer Pablo Paredes for refusing Gulf deployment,
May 2005. Photo: J Paterson |
On April 30, 2008 Courage to Resist and SF Bay Area allies
gathered to appreciate our staff organizer Lori Hurlebaus who recently
resigned. She is in Philadelphia for the Summer working as an interim
Organizer in the national office of Iraq Veterans Against the War while
their Organizing Director is out on paternity leave.
Sara Rich,
Courage to Resist
May 8, 2008
It is with mixed emotions that Courage to Resist says goodbye to
Lori Hurlebaus. Lori's passion and expertise around supporting war
resisters has been invaluable. From a collective point of view she was
a leader and an amazing organizer. She has a vision for what we all
have to do to end this war.
From the point of a mother of a resister, she was a life line for me
and other families when we had no idea where to turn or what to do. It
is a very scary thing for a soldier to resist and Lori was always one
of those calm voices guiding me through the fear and chaos of going up
against the US military. Through this Lori has become a dear friend to
me and my daughter, Suzanne.
I am happy to know Lori is out there and I know she will continue to
create energy for a peaceful world where ever she goes.
Blessings to YOU Lori! Courage to Resist will miss your energy!
—Sara Rich, mother of Army Spc Suzanne Swift |