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Help support Lt. Watada during his pre-trial hearing

Be part of the Aug. 16 "National Day of Education" (& action)!

Lt. Watada Family

Resources

nyt
Officer faces court-martial for refusing to deploy to Iraq
by John Kifner and Timothy Egan, NY Times. July 23, 2006

Lt. Watada’s Stand PDF leaflet by Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith

Watada, the War and the Law by Brecher & Smith, The Nation. July 7, 2006

video
Lt. Watada's original video taped statement 

sir no sir
Order Sir! No Sir! DVD
documentary about Vietnam War era military resisters

On August 17, U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada will face a pre-trial hearing for refusing to deploy to Iraq. “It is my conclusion as an officer of the armed forces that the war in Iraq is not only morally wrong but a horrible breach of American law. The war and what we’re doing over there is illegal,” explained the first military officer to publicly take such a stand.

The Friends & Family of Lt. Watada call for a National Day of Education to pose the question, “Is the war illegal?”  This day can also serve to anchor a “week of outreach” leading up to the pre-trial hearing.

Teach-in's, house parties & outreach

On Wednesday, August 16 – the day prior to Lt. Watada’s pretrial court hearing – we are asking friends to organize house parties or larger public gatherings to look at the facts. This could be as simple as hosting a potluck, showing a video and sending around a petition and a collection for Lt. Watada’s legal defense fund.

A few examples

Fort Lewis, Washington
On Aug. 16, at the Interstate 5, Exit 119 Bridge at the entrance to Fort Lewis supporters will gather beginning at 4 PM with a 6 PM rally. Seattle’s local Support Lt. Watada Committee is helping to organize carpools. For carpool information, or to hook up the Seattle committee contact Cindy Sousa at 206.734.5040.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania
President Bush will visit the Eden Host Resort in Lancaster on Aug. 16th for a political fundraiser. The Lancaster Coalition for Peace and Justice will host a peaceful demonstration outside of the Eden beginning at 5:30 PM to protest illegal war and to support Lt. Watada.

Los Angeles, California
Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress and the Asian-American Vietnam Vets Organization is holding a press conference to express support for Lt. Watada.  Speakers will include Vietnam War veterans, local religious leaders, and a WWII Japanese-American draft resister. Aug. 16, 9:30 AM at the JACCC plaza in Little Tokyo.

Let us know what you’re planning!
Please use visit www.ThankYouLt.org and select Contact Us (Subject: "Other") to tell us about your upcoming event in support of the National Day of Education.

Order or download materials

Check out www.thankyoult.org for videos of Lt. Watada’s statements, flyers, petitions to gather signatures, resource lists and information packets. Click on Resource Toolkit for additional materials.

Order t-shirts, posters, stickers, buttons, postcards, and info cards in time for the Aug. 16 National Day of Education. Order today to ensure you get your stuff by next Wednesday! All orders placed by Thursday morning, August 10 will ship that afternoon. All orders include free shipping, and orders of $20 or more ship 2-3 day USPS Priority Mail.

stuff

We also suggest showing a film like “Sir! No Sir!”, Voices of Patriots, or Why We Fight (available via Netflix and Blockbuster).

Help Lt. Ehren Watada put the war on trial!

Your donation toward Lt. Watada's defense is urgently needed.

Friends and Family of Lt. Watada
www.ThankYouLt.org