ARCHIVE OF ARTICLES, NEWS, & ACTIONS
Women and the Future of Selective Service (Video)
A discussion of legislation that will require women to register with Selective Service hosted by the Vietnam Peace Commemoration Committee.
Ed Asner (1929 – 2021): A life of persistence and perseverance for justice and peace
Ed Asner was beyond a gifted actor. He was also “one of us”–a veteran and a person of conscience who paid a price for “doing the right thing.”
Podcast (VN-E44): “Strong religious commitment against war” – David Finke
David Finke is a conscientious objector, military counselor, and lifetime nonviolent activist. David shares his personal history.
Podcast (VN-E43): “I’m going in for a long time” – William Short
“I could probably speak louder with my photography than I could with my painting….I consider myself not just an artist, but a cultural worker.”
House and Senate Committees vote to make women register for the draft
House Armed Services Committee joined Senate Armed Services Committee in voting to expand registration for a possible military draft to include young women.
Podcast: “I was always the ‘Good Sailor'” – Mike James
“Man, I do not want…a career in something that is intrinsically chaotic and stupid. I didn’t want to participate in that anymore.”
National Guard concedes members have more freedoms
Capt. Alan Kennedy was punished for marching in Black Lives Matter protest, so he took the National Guard to court. Initial victory–regs don’t apply to NG.
Video: Ann Wright interviews former Lt. Ehren Watada, Iraq War resister
Ehren was the first military officer to publicly speak out against and refuse to deploy to Iraq back in June 2006. Here’s what he’s been up to since.
Sentenced to 45 months prison, Daniel Hale on why he exposed drone program
In a personal letter, Daniel Hale explains he violated the Espionage Act to stop the cycle of violence perpetuated by the US’ extrajudicial killings.
Peace and Faith Groups Tell Senate Committee to Abolish the Draft–Once and for ALL
Senate Armed Services Committee was released this morning before they convened for a closed-door markup of the National Defense Authorization Act. Chair Jack Reed (D-R.I.) has proposed forcing women to register for a future military draft
Podcast: “I’m requesting discharge-not noncombatant status” – Kyle Toon
“Kyle, everything that you’re telling me right now, you fit the mold of a conscientious objector,” and I was speechless.
Podcast (GW-E06): Erik Larsen – Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience
“Wow, that was shocking. What is my response as a Christian to the US support of this sort of stuff?” Threatened with death penalty for refusing to kill.
Drone whistleblower Daniel Hale needs your support
Updates and how to help: Write to Daniel at the detention center in Alexandria, ask President Biden to pardon Daniel, donate, and more.
Podcast (GW-E05): “Well, You’re a Conscientious Objector” – Dan Fahey
“I was shocked that he got…a whole group of guys to chant, ‘Kill’. But after that, it made me see…I don’t really want to kill anyone.” Gulf War 30 years.
NSA whistleblower Reality Winner released from prison!
Reality Winner, a former intelligence contractor convicted of leaking a report about Russian interference in the US election in 2016, has finally been released from prison.
Podcast (VN-E42): “They did it of their own volition” – Dissenting POWs
Featuring Tom Wilber & Jerry Lembcke — “The POWs who came out against the war … as far as anything they said … they did so as a matter of conscience.”
House holds hearing on draft registration
A House Armed Service Committee hearing heard from witnesses on only one side of the debate over whether to end draft registration or extend it to women.
Podcast (VN-E41): “I was trying to put the army on trial” – Steve Morse
“I challenged the army … This time I did dissent and went to the stockade,” shared Steve who joined the Army to organize against the war from within.
Celebrate International Conscientious Objectors’ Day, May 15th
For International Conscientious Objectors’ Day, Celebrate the 15th Annual Berkeley C.O. and War Resisters’ Day on May 15th, wherever you are! Friends, below is the resolution passed by the Berkeley City Council, in 2007, designating May 15th, every year, as Berkeley...
Podcast: “Falsely accused of being a spy” – former Chaplain James Yee
“I was objecting to the abuse of prisoners [and] forwarding complaints … I had issues with how prisoners were being tortured at Guantanamo.”
Feminists Against the Draft panel discussion
Intersectional Feminist Perspectives on the Draft Discussion – Politics of Inclusion, Compulsion, or Progress? Organized by Dartmouth College activists.
Support the ‘Selective Service Repeal Act’ introduced in Congress
Support the Selective Service Repeal Act of 2021 (HR 2509 & S 139) introduced in Congress with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate.
Podcast (GW-E04): “It was a real snarl” – David Wiggins
Capt. David Wiggins went on a hunger strike, publicly resigned his commission, and eventually stopped obeying all orders while deployed for the Gulf War.
Former U.S. Rep. Bella Abzug on Women and Draft Registration
Today, forcing women to register for the draft is again in front of congress. This statement on behalf of a group of feminist leaders is again urgent.
“Courage To Resist accomplishes one part of this program of resistance by speaking for and defending the brave souls in the military who do not wish to be part of the perfidy of this administration. It behooves us to do all we can to support Courage To Resist with money and with spine.”
