Air Force officer threatened with
discharge
Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., President and CEO of the
Hip Hop Caucus, has been an outspoken anti-war voice—and the military
is mad. Rally outside of Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia this
Thursday, July 12 during Lennox's discharge hearing.
No justice at Lt. Watada pretrial
replay
Lt. Ehren Watada pre-trial hearing held, second court
martial still in question. Washington State anti-war organizers
again subpoenaed by Army prosecution.
Objector events underway in
Pacific NW
Released after eight months in the brig for refusing Iraq redeployment,
Spc. Agustín Aguayo speaking events underway
in Portland and across Washington now through
July 17.
Report from the U.S. Social
Forum
Following a march of 12,000 through Atlanta streets,
Courage to Resist co-hosts GI resistance workshop with Iraq Veterans
Against the War and the Catalyst Project in Atlanta.
Message from Garett
Reppenhagen
Garett is an Iraq combat veteran and current national Chairman of Iraq
Veterans Against the War.
Air Force officer threatened
with discharge
Air Force Reserve officer Rev. Yearwood, Jr. |
Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr.
July 2, 2007
My Fellow Americans:
The power of our voices against the U.S. occupation of Iraq is reaching
the top echelons of the military and the administration. Our government
is persecuting Americans who speak out against the U.S. military presence
in Iraq. The U.S. military has launched politicized attacks on its own
military members and moral leaders who oppose the war to discredit their
voices of dissent.
We have seen them target Cpl. Adam Kokesh to stop him from exercising
his freedom of speech, after risking his life in Fallujah, Iraq. We have
seen them threaten Sgt. Liam Madden for publicly stating the legal fact
that the U.S. invasion is a war crime according to the Nuremberg
principles. They have targeted Cpl. Cloy Richards, a soldier put in the
media spotlight when his mother Tina Richards worked to get him the
health care he needs after returning from Iraq eighty percent disabled.
These are not happenstance targets. These young men are leaders of the
Iraq Veterans Against the War and they are speaking out in a strong and
coordinated way.
And now I have been targeted...
Rally outside of Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia this
Thursday, July 12 during Lennox's dischage hearing!
Read
Lennox's complete statement
No justice at Lt. Watada
pretrial replay
Anti-war organizers again subpoenaed by
Army prosecution
Lt. Watada, father Bob Watada, and step mom Rosa Sakanishi during
the first pretrial hearing at Fort Lewis, Washington in January.
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Courage to Resist. July 9, 2007
On Friday, a pretrial hearing was held at Fort Lewis in the U.S.
Army's second attempt to court-martial Lt. Ehren Watada for refusing to
deploy to Iraq in June 2006. Lt. Watada continues to argue that the Iraq
war is illegal under U.S. and international law. During the first court
martial in February, after over a
thousand anti-war protesters gathered at the gates of Fort Lewis,
military judge Lt. Col. John Head orchestrated a mistrial in order save
the prosecutions weak showing prior to defense arguments. Now, this same
judge plans on presiding over a new trial. Last week Judge Head ruled in
support of himself, twice. First, Head claimed that he could be impartial
claiming beyond credibility that he does not have an "intractable
attitude or preconceived notions". Second, he ruled that a new trial
again wouldn't violate Lt. Watada’s constitutional right not to be
prosecuted twice for the same crime, known as double jeopardy.
The U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals has issued a partial stay in
the court martial that remains in effect. While pretrial proceedings have
been allowed to go forward, no court-martial can take place until the
partial stay is lifted. If the current partial stay is lifted in time for
the scheduled July 23 court martial, it is likely that the Federal Court
of Appeals would step in to review the issue of double jeopardy...
Although few expect the Army to be able to retry Lt. Watada July 23-28
as they plan, the Army has again subpoenaed regional anti-war organizers
to take the stand against Lt. Watada. Late last week, Seattle Veterans
for Peace organizers Gerri Haynes and Tom Brookhart were re-subpoenaed to
“verify remarks Lt. Watada made to the VFP National Convention last
August.” Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace activist Phan
Nguyen was re-subpoenaed by the prosecution to explain how Lt.
Watada’s initial June 7, 2006 press conference in Tacoma,
Washington was organized.
Read
complete report and update
Agustín Aguayo speaks
out in Pacific Northwest
Army Spc. Agustin Aguayo with Berkeley CA city council member
Kriss Worthington 5/15/07. Photo: Jeff Paterson for Courage to Resist
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Iraq combat veteran and war resister speaks out against war,
Oregon, Washington State events now through July 18
“Before I left for Iraq I searched deep within me, I concluded
that if I go over there I can’t take a life. I ultimately said
I’ll go, but I’m definitely a conscientious objector.
I’m not willing to cross that line, no matter what I can’t
take a life.”
Two years later, after his application for discharge as a
conscientious objector was denied by the Pentagon, Army Spc.
Agustín Aguayo went AWOL in order to resist redeploying to Iraq.
He will explain why he chose jail instead of redeploying to Iraq.
Agustín will be joined by his wife, Helga, who led a grassroots
campaign for justice and freedom for him and all military war resisters.
Speaking tour sponsored by Courage to Resist with the help of many
Pacific Northwest friends. Also, help Agustin
pay his outstanding legal bills.
Wednesday, July 11 - Portland
7 pm at the Multicultural Center at Portland State University (Room 228
at the Smith Student Union), 1825 SW Broadway.
Thursday, July 12 - Tacoma
7:30 pm at Kings' Books, 218 Saint Helens Avenue.
Saturday, July 14 - Port Angeles
3 pm at the Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 73 Howe Road.
Saturday, July 14 - Port Townsend
7pm at the Quimper Unitarian Univeralist Church, 2333 San Juan Ave.
Sunday, July 15 - Bellingham
7pm at Whatcom Peace and Justice Center, 100 E Maple St.
Monday, July 16 - Seattle
7pm at at University Friends Meeting, 4001 9th Ave NE (University
District).
Tuesday, July 17 - Olympia
7pm at Traditions Cafe, 5th & Water St. (Downtown).
Complete
calendar with local contact information
U.S. Social Forum workshop on
GI resistance
12,000 march to open US Social Forum in Atlanta 6/27/07. Photo:
Lori Hurlebaus for Courage to Resist
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David Solnit, Courage to Resist
July 9, 2007
The broadest gathering of GI resistance and GI resistance solidarity
related groups and activists since the Vietnam War took place as part of
the first ever US Social Forum in Atlanta, Georgia June 27 - July 1.
More than forty people from 30 organizations involved in GI
resistance support work got to meet each other, share what they can offer,
what they need, and what they are hungry for. Discussions of ways to stay
in touch, coordinate support work, days of actions, and resources will
continue. It was a huge step forward in building a stronger network
needed for the growing GI resistance and solidarity movement.
Initiated by Courage to Resist, Iraq Veterans Against the War
and the Catalyst Project, the session included
folks from Veterans for Peace, Peace Action, NYC Indymedia, Center on War
and Conscience, GI Rights Hotline, Payday/Refusing to Kill, War Resisters
League, Women of Color Resource Center, Service Women's Action Network
(SWAN), SmartMeme Training and Strategy Project, Paxpeace Coalition,
Global Exchange, San Diego Military Counseling Project, Teen Peace
Project, National Lawyer Guild, Military Project, Port Militarization
Resistance, Western Mass Social Forum, and many more.
The US Social forum was the first time US social change movements have
come together, as movements have globally within the World Social Forum
process. 12,000 people participated, a majority seemed to be youth and
people of color. GI resisters were featured in numerous panels on
anti-war organizing and strategy. Anti-war Iraq Army veteran Eli Painted
Crow spoke as part of the main Social Forum Plenary to thousands. Perhaps
most significantly, Iraq Veterans Against the War led a packed forum that
featured unveiling their new "Theory of Consent" anti-war
strategy (check out Kelly Dougherty
explaining it on YouTube).
The World Social Forum is an ongoing process and series of gathering to
build networks, discuss alternatives and increase the cooperation and
strength of social movements to better stand up to corporations and
governments at the root of many social and ecological problems.
Also: Photos by
Courage to Resist's Lori Hurlebaus of the kickoff march
A message from Garett
Reppenhagen
Garett Reppenhagen with IVAW members on the Capitol lawn,
Washington DC 3/19/07. Photo: Jeff Paterson for Courage to Resist
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Chairman, Iraq Veterans Against the War
As a sniper with the First Infantry Division in Iraq, I had an
obligation to serve my country—and exercise my right as an American
to speak out against a criminal war in Iraq.
Courage to Resist continues to assist soldiers in both by giving
expression to their moral duty to resist a dishonest use of the United
States military in an unlawful occupation of Iraq.
Please make a donation
to support the work of Courage to Resist.
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