JUNE 27 "National Day of Action" To Stand With Lt. Watada!

[Tom Joad]

JUNE 27 "National Day of Action" To Stand With Lt.Watada!
On June 7th, 2006, U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada
became the first commissioned officer to publicly announce his
opposition to the Iraq war and his intent to refuse to deploy with
his unit to Iraq.

“My son, 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, is not the same person who
entered the military service three years ago. His decision to refrain
from deploying to Iraq comes through much soul searching. It is an act of
patriotism. It is a statement to all Americans, to men and women in
uniform, that they need not remain silent out of fear, that that they have
the power to turn the tide of history: to stop the destruction of a
country and the killing of untold numbers of innocent men, women, and
children. It is a message that states unequivocally that blindly
following orders is no longer an option. My son, Lt. Watada’s stance is
clear. He will stay the course. I urge you to join him in this effort.”
-Carolyn Ho, Ehren's mother

To demonstrate our support for Ehren, and his couregeous stand, we call for a
National Day of Action on June 27th to support Ehren as he officially resists deployment
this week.

We are urging you today to join with people across the country and attend or organize
a coordinated action in your community on June 27th supporting Ehren’s refusal of orders!

Supporters have planned events across the country.

HERE is a list of participating events including ones in
Ft Lewis, WA; Charlotte, NC; Cleveland, OH; Harrisburg, PA; New York, NY,
San Francisco, CA; Oklahoma City, OK and more!

Not one in your city? Plan one today!

Here's how:

1) Choose a time and place

2) Download the organizing kit HERE
(includes sample press release, flyer and poster with room for local info)

3) Let us know what you're planning!
Send an e-mail to: [e-mail]

Please include the following info:
*Your group or organization, and a contact person's
e-mail and phone number.
*Info about the support action (what, where, when, etc.)
*Public contact info: a website (if you have one), e-mail ,etc.
*Media contact (name and phone number)

4) Use this action to build awareness and momentum
for planning even bigger actions around the dates of Lt. Watada's
court martial. We'll update people immediately when the military
sets Ehren's court martial date.

5) Send pictures and reportbacks from your local June 27 support action.
Send to: [e-mail]


A war can end when the soldiers choose to stop fighting it,” says
Ehren in the spirit of the GI resistance movement that played a major role in
ending the Vietnam War, along with civilian support. We need you to be
part of making this movement rise again.

If your town is not on this list, get out and organize.
http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/blogcategory/1/27/

[1monster]

1. K & R

:kick:

[benburch]

2. He was interviewed yesterday on Bob Kincaid's show.

Great interview. Can be found at http://www.WhiteRoseSociety.org/

[unschooler]

3. Here is Lt. Watada's short videotape explaining his actions.

http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesigns.org/mmedia/msg-13jun06.html


Incredibly courageous young man.

[TomInTib]

4. k&r This vet will definitely be attending the SF rally.

See you there.

[KamaAina]

5. Ehren Watada: second-generation GI resister

His father, Bob Watada, is fairly well-known hereabouts as the former director of the state Campaign Spending Commission. What is not so well-known -- I just this minute ferreted it out -- is that Bob Watada resisted the Vietnam War and ended up serving in the Peace Corps.

The Pentagon tried to draft him anyway.

http://starbulletin.com/2006/06/08/news/story04.html

Instead of running off to Canada, (Bob) Watada approached his draft board in Colorado and was allowed to serve in the Peace Corps for two years in Peru....

Now his son, Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, has announced he will not serve in Iraq for the same reason.

The elder Watada said even after spending two years in the Peace Corps, the Pentagon tried to draft him when he returned home, but he did not have to serve because he was able to enter graduate school at the University of Northern Colorado.

Watada, former executive director of the state Campaign Spending Commission, said he had many discussions about Iraq with his son before the younger Watada enlisted in 2003 -- the same month the U.S. invaded Iraq.

This is getting good enough that I may actually end up getting off my 'okole and doing something!


P.S. I was never crazy about Bob Watada as campaign spending commissioner -- he didn't go after repuke Gov. Lingle nearly hard enough to suit me! -- but th gives him renewed respect in my book.

[Tom Joad]

6. Of course, i will be at the San Francisco, gathering.

So hope to see a few bay area du'ers there.

[TomInTib]

7. Kicking this one nt

[Tigress DEM]

8. It looks like United for Peace and Justice has taken up the cause!

There is also a site to sign a pettition at the bottom of my post.

http://www.unitedforpeace.org

Support First Military Officer to Refuse Iraq Deployment


TAKE ACTION on JUNE 27TH IN SUPPORT OF LT. EHREN WATADA

U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada is the first commissioned officer to publicly pledge to refuse deployment to the unlawful Iraq war and occupation.

A showdown with the military is imminent, with his scheduled deployment coming any day now. Supporters nationwide are mounting a national day of action on Tuesday, June 27 to draw attention to his case, highlight the illegality of the Iraq War, and demand that Lt. Watada be given an honorable discharge and no court martial.

In a public statement on June 7, Lt. Watada declared, "It is my conclusion as an officer of the Armed Forces that the war in Iraq is not only morally wrong but a horrible breach of American law. Although I have tried to resign out of protest, I am forced to participate in a war that is manifestly illegal. As the order to take part in an illegal act is ultimately unlawful as well, I must as an officer of honor and integrity refuse that order."

For more information and resources, to sign a support petition, and to sign up for updates on Lt. Watada's case, visit

http://www.ThankYouLt.org.

[yorkiemommie1]

9. I just found out that his mom was one of my best friends in HS.

I wrote a ltte to the Honolulu Advertiser in his support and was outnumbered 4 to 1.

I hope I can contact her.

edit to say he is being slammed in Honolulu papers and could stand some support from letters to the editor.

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

[Tom Joad]

10. He should get support from Congressmembers too.

But i won't hold my breath.

[Vidar]

11. K&R