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.

At least 60 people faced the bitter cold and wind and came out to rally near Philadelphia City Hall in support of Lt. Ehren Watada on the first day of his court martial. 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. We had a lively rally and then marched around Love Park which also helped stave off the cold. There were banners from the different groups represented and beautifully done placards that Stephen Funk's mother Gloria Pacis made with quotes from Lt Watada, Carolyn Ho his mother and others. And there was a lovely new banner quoting Lt. Watada, "To Stop an Illegal and unjust war, the soldiers can choose to stop fighting it" done by Karyl Weber for the occasion.

There was lots of loud, enthusiastic chanting, and a lot of horn honking as drivers also showed their support. The sponsors are listed below and show the movement getting together in Philly.

Most of the crowd moved inside for hot drinks and a program featuring Lt Watada's speech at the Vets for Peace conference (Aug '06) and a line-up of moving and powerful speakers. When Phoebe Jones, Global Women's Strike (GWS), introduced the video, she spoke of the victories from the Watada campaign so far and urged the crowd - most of whom had not seen the video - to listen carefully to Ehren's words, "For soldiers to stop fighting, they must have the unconditional support of the people. ...Convince them that no matter how long they sit in prison... their families will have a roof over their heads, food in their stomachs, opportunities and education."

Ehren's speech was enthusiastically received. Gloria' spoke of her son Stephen Funk who spent 5 months in prison for refusing to serve. She had spoken on two panels with Carolyn Ho in Dec - two mothers of refusers speaking out together. Al Zappala and Michael Berg whose sons were killed in Iraq and three Iraq vets all spoke very well to urge continued action in support of Ehren and other refusniks and an end to the war. Michael Berg related the story of a high school girl who stood up against her school over women's right to choose - that when you take a stand, people will support. Chad Hetman contrasted Lt. Watada's putting conscience before career with an officer corps whose level of corruption he'd witnessed as an army Captain. Nancy Carroll, the Black grandmother whose son died from Agent Orange, asked "what war IS legal?" Marlena Santoyo spoke of upcoming Granny Peace Brigade actions and 3 grannies sang a protest song. Pat Albright of the Global Women's Strike (GWS) and Dean Kendall of Payday (the event sponsors) co-chaired.

Interspersed were updates from Payday on international actions, and reports from inside the court room and outside the base. $350 was raised for the Watada defense campaign.

The supporters of the event show the movement getting together in Philly. Sponsors: Global Women's Strike and Payday. Co-sponsors include: AFSC Youth & Militarism, Brandywine Peace Community, Code Pink, Delaware Valley Veterans for America, Every Mother is a Working Mother Network, Granny Peace Brigade Phila, Peace Action - Delaware Valley, and RACE (Revolutionary Action for Change Through Education, Temple Univ). Endorsed by Amnesty International - Greater Phila Area, Asian Americans United, CCCO Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, Coalition for Peace Action Bucks/Eastern Montgomery & NE Phila, Coalition for Peace Action Chester/Delaware County, Middle East Working Group of Phila Yearly Meeting, Phila Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Phila Int'l Action Center, PRAWN (Phila Regional Anti-War Network), Veterans for Peace Chapter 31, and Phila Women's International League for Peace & Freedom.