IRR Resister declares victory after
hearing Canadian court grants
Rivera
review Courage to Resist on Democracy Now!
Resister to be courts martialed Tuesday
Supporters to attend trial, hold vigil at Ft. Stewart gate afterward [ Donate to Cliff's legal defense here ] By Friends of Cliff Cornell. Updated April 22, 2009 The U.S. Army has charged Specialist Clifford Cornell, with desertion. Cornell, 28, surrendered himself to authorities at Fort Stewart, Georgia on February 17, after being denied refugee status in Canada. The Arkansas native left Fort Stewart four years ago, when his artillery unit was ordered to Iraq. According to family and friends, Cornell did not want to kill civilians, and said that Army trainers told him he must shoot any Iraqi who came near his vehicle. Cornell’s attorney and supporters believe the Army’s charges are excessive. “Cliff Cornell is a conscientious objector who voluntarily turned himself in to Army authorities,” said attorney James Branum.. “The Army is engaging in overkill in order to make an example of my client.” IRR Resister declares victory after 'misconduct' hearing
Today (Apr. 21), I stood before the Army. I looked a board of officers in the eyes, and I told them I thought they were sending people off to participate in war crimes. And what did they say? Get out of here, Sergeant, and keep your damn G.I. Bill! Indeed, folks! The Army awarded me a recommendation for a general discharge under honorable conditions from the Individual Ready Reserve for my refusal to deploy to Iraq last summer. This landmark decision means not only am I a free man, I’m free to continue school this fall with the “new” G.I. Bill that I earned while on active duty. Though this discharge is identical to the one I refused in exchange for having this hearing, I can now rest easy knowing I never submitted, I never backed down and the Army has heard my story. And not just my story, but the stories of those brave veterans at Winter Soldier and those who’ve participated in IVAW’s Warrior Writers’ program. Full texts of both books were submitted to the Army this morning, and I can only imagine the fun they’re having transcribing them into the record. Canadian court grants Kimberly Rivera judicial review
By War Resisters Support Campaign. April 20, 2009 TORONTO—On Tuesday afternoon the Federal Court of Canada granted Kimberly Rivera leave to appeal the decision in her Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). The Federal Court will hear the appeal on July 8. [A few weeks ago Kimberly Rivera was hours away from being the third US Iraq War resister forced to leave Canada. Robin Long is currently jailed near San Diego, California, while Cliff Cornell is facing a general courts-martial and years in prison next week. -Courage to Resist] The War Resisters Support Campaign is renewing its call on the federal government to implement the motion that was passed by Parliament on June 3, 2008 and again on March 30, 2009. Courage to Resist on Democracy Now!
Watch video. Excerpts (beginning at 40 min.): In order to to feed the surge (President Obama) is implementing in Afghanistan, we are seeing a marked increase in the number of inactive Ready Reserve call-ups. These are people that have served their four years inside the military and often have done a number of deployments already to Iraq, and they’ve survived that.... And they’re just simply receiving letters in the mail saying, you know, “You’re ordered to report” in x number of days and for—to ready for yourself for deployment. And these people are, in large numbers, simply refusing that call up. And we are working with them to help them refuse that call up and give them all the options available to them.... I think that if a people’s movement can be created, I think there’s a possibility of a victory down the road, but it’s not going to happen without us sort of forming our collective people power to force that change. |
Resister to be courts martialed Tuesday
Cliff Cornell was denied sanctuary in Canada; will face general courts martial Tuesday, April 28 at Ft. Stewart, Georgia
By Matthis Chiroux. April 22, 2009
Pressure renewed on Harper government to implement votes of Canadian Parliament
