VETERANS SPEAK OUT AGAINST WAR

March 13-16, 2008

On March 13-16, US veterans of the wars and occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq will gather in Washington DC to testify about their experiences, and present video and photographic evidence, as will military families and civilian survivors, in "Winter Soldier" hearings organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW). 

These hearings are modeled on the 1971 event of the same name organized by anti-war veterans in Detroit which galvanized the movement against the Vietnam war.  These important hearings will be broadcast live via satellite, radio and internet all over the world; please see below for details and schedule.  The Global Women Strike and Payday will organize a public view in London and possibly in other cities.  Details to follow.

·    Tune in, organize house parties, showings at community centers, places of worship, trade-union locals/branches, etc.  If you organize an event, post it on IVAW's website here and let us know at Payday, and we will publish it on our website.

·    Write a statement of support for the hearings on IVAW’s website (tick “other” if you’re not in the US and insert your post code for "zip code" – it will be accepted).  Send a copy to Payday and we will also post it on our website.  We are all strengthened when US soldiers say no.  If you are a conscientious objector/refusenik from another country tell them your experience.  Let Winter Soldier know that the world supports them! 

·    For more information on what else you can do to publicize and support this important event, see IVAW's website: www.ivaw.org.

 
"To stop this war, for the soldiers to stop fighting it, they must have the unconditional support of the people... Convince them that no matter how long they sit in prison, no matter how long this country takes to right itself, their families will have a roof over their heads, food in their stomachs, opportunities and education. How do you support the troops but not the war? By supporting those who can truly stop it; let them know that resistance to participate in an illegal war is not futile and not without a future."  -- Lt. Ehren Watada, first commissioned officer to refuse to go to Iraq, faced 7 years in prison, his court-martial ended in a mistrial but he still remains in legal limbo.

Former U.S. Representative

Global Women's Strike and Payday , Indymedia.us,  Feb 21, 2007

Lt. Ehren Watada demo & Speak Out Mon Feb 5, Love Park, Center City Philadelphia

Link to more photos of this event

At least 60 people came out to rally near Philadelphia City Hall in support of Lt. Ehren Watada on the first day of his court martial Feb 5. From high school girls to 80-year-olds, there were veterans and peaceniks, mothers and fathers who lost children in Iraq, a Black grandmother in a wheelchair, college students and more. Followed by a program featuring Lt Watada's speech at the Vets for Peace conference (Aug '06) and a line-up of moving and powerful speakers, including Gloria Pacis who spoke of her son Stephen Funk who spent 5 months in prison for refusing to serve. $350 was raised for the Watada defense campaign.

This newspaper clipping comes from Dr. Wassil Nowicky. The article was orginally published in "Without Censorship".

Link to article clipping  Heroic Deed Should not be called desertion

"Heroic deed should not be called desertion

The US army officer Ehren Watada, who publicly refused orders to go to Iraq, is soon to face a retrial in the United States. He explains that the mass destruction and the bad treatment of the local population violate both moral rules as well as the rules of the conduct of ground military actions. He refused to participate in such an illegal and amoral war against people who did not deserve any aggression. The appeal of the lieutenant was video recorded and presented at a press conference in Takoma, Washington D.C.. Lieutenant Watada was not permitted to speak to journalists." ...

Conscientious Objector

Former United Nations Assistant Secretary General

Congressman

Actress/Host of The View

Amnesty International, AI Index: AMR 51/024/2007, 2 February 2007

Pending the trial on Monday 5 February of Ehren Watada over his refusal to participate in the Iraq war, Amnesty International stated that a guilty verdict would be a violation of internationally recognized rights to conscientious objection.

"If found guilty, Amnesty International would consider Ehren Watada to be a prisoner of conscience and call for his immediate and unconditional release", said Susan Lee, Amnesty International's Americas Programme Director. 

Vietnam Veteran/Author 'Born on the Fourth of July'

Former Presidential Candidate & President of National Action Network

Saturday, 2/3/07, the Flushing Greens sponsored an event at the Flushing Mall, "Fold a Crane for Peace and Lt. Watada."

More photos

Actor/Activist

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (1984)

Singer, Songwriter & Activist

Poet & Activist

Actor & Activist

Air America Radio Host & USAFR Retired

Rap Artist

Singer/Songwriter

Actor & Activist

Actor & Activist

Poet, Playwright & Essayist

Actor

Gold Star Mother & Former State Senator of Minnesota 

Actor & Activist

Professor and Author

Co-founder, AfterDowningStreet.org

Activitists from Global Women's Strike and Payday organized an East Coast Tour of Carolyn Ho, mother of Lt. Ehren Watada, first commissioned officer to refuse to serve in Iraq. This tour included 15 talks in 14 days at universities, youth and religious groups, community centers, peace networks; 2 trips to Capitol Hill; media interviews with the Washington Post, Air America, Democracy Now, WBAI radio; Bridges TV in Buffalo NY. The tour raised over $3000 for the Watada campaign.

As 2006 drew to a close,  Lt. Watada's supporters in Hawai'i organized a paid media campaign and placed a full-page advertisement in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Volunteers sent out a call to endorsers of the Watada campaign, who each made a $10 contribution. These contributions covered the cost of the ad, which was printed on January 3, 2007.   

The ad included the names of national and local organizations and more than 700 individual supporters.

To view the newspaper ad, click here.