Resister Brad McCall finally out Objector Skyler James' journey Also: After being deported from Canada last month, Army war resister Kimberly Rivera is now restricted to Fort Carson, Colorado, where she awaits the Army decision to either court martial or discharge her. More info coming soon.
Sgt. Micah Turner, AWOL and on the road
I had the honor of interviewing my new hero, Army Sgt. Micah Turner, the other day. Micah has been busy speaking truth to power, wherever he can, since he went AWOL from the army last month. Here is what he told me: “The reason I joined the army was because I was 19 and I was a wild-land firefighter and I fell in love with the camaraderie, working to achieve a common goal. I wanted to serve my country in the best way I could after 9-11. I believed that we were attacked and I wanted to defend my home. "After four combat tours, I realized that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were not for the causes that had been stated. Everyone who was blamed for 9-11 was dead or in jail and yet we were still subject to war. So, when returning from my post-deployment leave from my fourth tour, I went AWOL..." Brad McCall, Iraq War resister finally out of Army
In 2006, Brad McCall joined the Regular Army Infantry. For the back-story on why he joined the Army and what led him to making his decision to go to Canada, his 2007 interview with Courage to Resist can be heard here. Earlier this year, Brad returned to the U.S. from seeking refuge in Canada and was subsequently discharged from the army. Here is Brad’s updated story... "I would like to give thanks to Courage to Resist. You guys helped me on various occasions, the more recent occasion being when I arrived at Fort Carson and didn't have a dime to my name, not knowing if I would be paid or not. I was amazed and quite humbled to receive a donation of 400 dollars which kept me going for the weeks up until I did start receiving pay. For that, and the general moral support, thank you! Keep up the good work guys!" The journey of war resister Skyler James
I recently interviewed Army War Resister, Skyler James. Skyler joined the army in October, 2006. Her experience in the army facing harassment and a death threat for being an open lesbian and hearing soldiers brag about the inhuman and criminal things they did in Iraq and then being told she would be deployed to Afghanistan, even though she should have been discharged for being gay, until the time she went AWOL in October, 2007, about a year after joining it and her experience living in Canada seeking refugee status and hoping not to be deported... "Upon deciding to return to the US from Canada this May, Courage to Resist helped me in many ways, like helping me find an attorney, assistance in finding mental health providers, financially helping me... as well as ongoing support and just altogether being excellent. Thanks from the bottom of my heart for everything!" |
