Statement of Support

"In the early days of fascism in Germany, before the concentration camps, there was a slow but determined attempt to intimidate and destroy all voices of opposition. At first, there was the charge that the opponents of fascism were violent (the communists were blamed for a fire that burned down the German parliament, called the Reichstag).

But fairly soon they moved their attention to those who had non-violently resisted the direction of Hitler's plans, and in particular those in the army who dared disagree with him. We are at a similar stage in the descent to fascism in our own country, and Lt. Ehren Watada is on the cutting edge of courageous non-violent and principled resistance to the acts of criminal aggression being pursued by the Bush administration. Refusal to serve in an unjust war is a moral imperative--and Lt. Watada has shown that it can be done in a dignified and principled way.

Now it's up to the rest of us to stand in solidarity with Lt. Watada, and to let him know that no matter how cruel and unjust the treatment he receives, he is suffering on behalf of the rest of us who seek a world of peace and justice, and if the media blocks out our voices, he should know that we will never forget him and will never relent until he is recognized by our government as the true patriot and hero he actually is."

--Rabbi Michael Lerner