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.

Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”

In 1971, a courageous group of veterans exposed the criminal nature of the Vietnam War in an event called Winter Soldier. Once again, we will demand that the voices of veterans are heard.

Once again, we are fighting for the soul of our country. We will demonstrate our patriotism by speaking out with honor and integrity instead of blindly following failed policy. Winter Soldier is a difficult but essential service to our country.

Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan will feature testimony from U.S. veterans who served in those occupations, giving an accurate account of what is really happening day in and day out, on the ground.

The four-day event will bring together veterans from across the country to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan - and present video and photographic evidence. In addition, there will be panels of scholars, veterans, journalists, and other specialists to give context to the testimony. These panels will cover everything from the history of the GI resistance movement to the fight for veterans' health benefits and support.

When: Thursday March 13 to Sunday March 16

Attendance at Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan is not open to the general public because of limited space at the event site. Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and Gold Star Families Speak Out will attend the panels at Winter Soldier.

To bring the testimonies to the general public and GIs all over the world we have made it possible to watch the live broadcasts online and on television, and to listen online and the radio. You can find out more about how to watch or listen here. To find a local Winter Soldier screening event or to submit a screening event go to our events map.

The event will be covered by various media outlets. To find out more about how registering as a journalist go to our media page or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Want to help make Winter Soldier a success? Find how how you can help.

Help us spread the word: forward this page to a friend.

http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/howtowatch

How to watch and listen to Winter Soldier

Winter Soldier will be broadcast live. Here's how you can watch and listen:

Live Video

·                     Satellite TV Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 14
Get satellite details

·                     Streaming video on ivaw.org Thursday, March 13 through Sunday, March 16

Live Audio

·                     Streaming audio at KPFA.org Friday, March 14 through Sunday, March 16

·                     Radio broadcast on KPFA in Berkley, California and other Pacifica member stations Friday, March 14 through Sunday, March 16

Video and audio archives of Winter Soldier will be available after the event

Winter Soldier Schedule

All times below are Eastern Time. Schedule subject to change.

Thursday, March 13 Streaming video only
7:00PM-9:00PM Winter Soldier and the legacy of GI Resistance 

Friday, March 14 Satellite TV, internet video, internet audio, radio
9:00AM – 10:45AM Rules of Engagement: Part One
11:00AM – 12:30PM The Crisis in Veterans' Healthcare
2:00PM - 3:30PM Corporate Pillaging and Military Contractors
4:00PM - 6:00PM Rules of Engagement: Part Two
7:00PM - 8:30PM Aims of the Global War on Terror: the Political, Legal, and Economic Context of Iraq and Afghanistan

Saturday, March 15 Satellite TV, internet video, internet audio, radio
9:00AM – 10:30AM Divide To Conquer: Gender and Sexuality in the Military
11:00AM - 1:00PM Racism and War: the Dehumanization of the Enemy: Part One
2:00PM - 3:30PM Racism and War: the Dehumanization of the Enemy: Part Two
4:00PM - 6PM Civilian Testimony: The Cost of War in Iraq and Afghanistan
7:00PM - 8:30PM The Cost of the War at Home

Sunday, March 16 Internet video, internet audio, radio
10:00AM - 1:00PM The Breakdown of the Military
2:00PM - 3:15PM The Future of GI Resistance

More information

The following documents may be useful to you as you organize your local screening of Winter Soldier: a national press release and flier with information about Winter Soldier and some specific language about the purpose of the event.

·    Winter Soldier Press Release

·    Winter Soldier Flier