Air Force officer threatened with
discharge No justice at Lt. Watada pretrial
replay Objector events underway in
Pacific NW Report from the U.S. Social
Forum Message from Garett
Reppenhagen
Air Force officer threatened with discharge
Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. 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.
Read Lennox's complete statement
No justice at Lt. Watada pretrial replay Anti-war organizers again subpoenaed by Army prosecution
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
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 Complete calendar with local contact information
U.S. Social Forum workshop on GI resistance David Solnit, Courage to Resist 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
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. |
