Report from Vets for Peace St. Louis convention Top: Iraq War resisters Camilo Mejia, Agustin Aguayo, Stephen Funk, Eugene Cherry, and Suzanne Swift. Bottom: Vets march to Arch Jeff Paterson, Courage to Resist. August 21, 2007 Courage to Resist joined over 400 members of Veterans for Peace (VFP) and Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) in St. Louis, Missouri last week August 15-19 for the 22nd annual national VFP convention. Highlights for us included: The Courage to Resist and IVAW workshop entitled, “Supporting GI Resistance;” Army Spc. Agustin Aguayo’s presentation at the Centenary Methodist Church; IVAW’s “War is Not a Game” counter-recruiting action at the Missouri Black Expo job fair; The election of Iraq War resister Camilo Mejia to the chair of the IVAW board of directors; A information picket at the St. Louis military induction center about sexual abuse in the services; And a spirited march through downtown St. Louis ending at the arch. Over sixty people jammed into a small, sweltering conference room for our “Supporting GI Resistance” workshop featuring Iraq War veterans turned resisters Agustin Aguayo and Mark Wilkerson. Agustin and Mark each gave compelling personal accounts of resisting redeployment to Iraq, and serving over six months each in military brigs for their resistance. Tom Mortillo of IVAW and myself on behalf of Courage to Resist presented overviews of current resisters and coming efforts to launch nationwide campaigns to better “support GI resistance.” A Call to generals to respect the rights of our troops
By Veterans For Peace and Asian Pacific Islanders Resist. August 1, 2007 Dear General: There are many kinds of betrayal in human affairs. But in the affairs of state, there is no greater act of disloyalty than to send young men and women to their deaths on the basis of fraud. No soldier should ever give a life, or take a life, for a lie. My story by Spc. Eleonai "Eli" Israel Spc. Eli Israel The journey of a VIP bodyguard, sniper against the war By Army National Guard Spc. Eleonai "Eli" Israel. August 9, 2007 Two months ago, I took a stand that changed my life forever. As a Soldier, a JVB Protective Service Agent, and a Sniper with the Army who had been in Iraq for a year (running over 250 combat missions), I refused to continue to be a part of the occupation. I regret nothing. This is my story. Currently, as I write this I am sitting in Kuwait, on "stand-by" to return to the States sometime hopefully this week. After getting out of the brig last week, I’m now scheduled to be discharged from the Army within the month. I'm looking forward to joining forces with anti-Iraq-War movements, such as Courage to Resist and Iraq Veterans Against the War. What led me to this place in my life? Report from Pacific Northwest resister tour
Army Spc. Agustin Aguayo was recently released from a military brig for refusing to return to Iraq. Now Agustin, his wife Helga and his two daughters are speaking out and organizing to support other war resisters. From Portland to Bellingham near the Canadian border, the Aguayo's shared their story of pain, frustration, hope and determination and pledged to continue fighting for justice for Agustin and all military resisters. Spc. Eugene Cherry wins victory against Army
Courage to Resist. July 26, 2007 On the eve of a court martial last week for resisting redeployment to Iraq, Army medic Eugene Cherry was granted a general discharge. The Fort Drum, New York soldier with the 10th Mountain Division faced a bad conduct discharge for going AWOL to get help for post-traumatic stress disorder after the Army failed to provide him with adequate treatment. Instead, Eugene is now out and will be able to keep most benefits, including lifetime medical from the VA.
U.S. troops continue heading to Canada to escape illegal war
Officer sues Army for conscientious objector status Capt. Peter Brown FORT DRUM, N.Y. A 10th Mountain Division officer serving in Iraq has sued the Army to gain conscientious objector status. Report from the U.S. Social Forum 12,000 march in Atlanta to kickoff first US Social Forum David Solnit, Courage to Resist. July 9, 2007 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. Anti-war Air Force officer threatened with discharge Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. GI Resistance at the US Social Forum
Chris Capps goes AWOL, resists deployment, gets out Iraq vet Chris Capps Like tens of thousands of other troops, Army Communications Specialist Chris Capps recently went AWOL. After returning from a full tour of duty in Baghdad, Iraq in 2006, Chris left the 440th Signal Battalion in Darmstadt, Germany this March in order to refuse immediate deployment to Afghanistan. The New Jersey native surrendered to military authorities at Fort Sill, Oklahoma on May 8 and was discharged from the Army on May 11. Chris now lives with his wife in Germany. This is his story. Courage to Resist. June 20, 2007 My name is Chris Capps. I joined the Army Reserves in 2004 looking to earn money for college and basically to become independent. I was living with my parents in New Jersey. More Articles...
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Courage to Resist. July 26, 2007
By Mark Larabee, The Oregonian. July 16, 2007.
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Chairman, Iraq Veterans Against the War
