[Antiracism] June 27, WMA Action to Support Lt. Watada's Resistance

[American Friends Service Committee]

apologies for cross postings...but please forward far and wide
all voices are needed in this national call for justice for Lt. Watada

STAND UP WITH LT. WATADA
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
Support his courageous resistance!

TUESDAY, JUNE 27, NOON TO 1PM
Steps of Northampton City Hall
210 Main Street

On June 7th, 2006, U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada became the first 
U.S. commissioned officer to publicly announce his opposition to the Iraq 
war and his intent to refuse to deploy with his unit to Iraq.

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

"I refuse to be silent any longer.  I refuse to be party to an illegal and 
immoral war against people who did nothing to deserve our aggression.  My 
oath of office is to protect and defend America's laws and its people.  By 
refusing unlawful orders for an illegal war, I fulfill that oath 
today."  Lt. Ehren Watada

Join us and lend your voice to a national call for Justice for Ehren Watada!

INFORMATION:  AFSC (RAUL OR JO): 414.584.8975


*****
MORE INFORMATION:
www.ThankYouLT.org
www.couragetoresist.org

and

June 22, 2006

U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren K. Watada reported to duty at 2:00 a.m. 
early this morning at Fort Lewis, Washington, and refused orders to move to 
the adjacent McChord Air Force Base to prepare to fly to Iraq. Lt. Watada 
believes that the war and occupation in Iraq are illegal, and thus 
participation in the war is also illegal.

Lt. Watada's attorney Eric Seitz said, "This morning Lt. Watada has been 
restricted to base without any actual charges or proper process. By placing 
a complete gag order on Lt. Watada, the military has again shown that their 
first concern is silencing Lt. Watada's speech in opposition to the illegal 
war in Iraq. We will immediately challenge these highly questionable and 
improper restrictions." Mr. Seitz is currently the only non-military person 
authorized to have any contact with Lt. Watada.

Lt. Watada is the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment 
to the war in Iraq.  By refusing to participate in the on-going Iraq war 
and occupation, Lt. Watada joins a growing number of high ranking military 
officers, West Point graduates, and current and former members of the armed 
services who have expressed their opposition to the actions of the United 
States in Iraq. Lieutenant Watada's refusal comes in the wake of a series 
of charges and convictions against lower ranking soldiers for participation 
in war-related crimes: 9 Marines charged with premeditated murder 
yesterday, charges of a massacre in Haditha, Iraq and convictions at Abu 
Ghraib Prison.

Lt. Watada faces possible court-martial charges for refusing to participate 
in the Iraq war and occupation and intends to defend himself based on the 
illegality of the Iraq war and occupation. Lt. Watada, age 28, was born and 
raised in Honolulu, Hawaii where he enlisted in the Army and was obligated 
to serve on active duty as an Army officer for a term of three years 
concluding on December 3, 2006.  Lt. Watada was stationed at Ft. Lewis in 
January 2006, when he first asked to resign his commission because as he 
stated, "I am whole-heartedly opposed to the continued war in Iraq, the 
deception used to wage this war, and the lawlessness that has pervaded 
every aspect of our civilian leadership."

Lt. Watada's mother, Carolyn Ho, who flew in from Honolulu, Hawaii to 
support her son, said today, "My son's 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."

Judy Linehan, of Military Families Speak Out said, "As the mother of an 
officer who deployed to Iraq with Lt Ehren Watada's Stryker Brigade in 
their first mission, I know the human cost of war intimately. I stand in 
solidarity with Lt Watada as he breaks ranks with a Commander-in-Chief who 
has flaunted international law withimpunity in the prosecution of this 
illegal war and occupation of an unarmed country.  The lieutenant's quiet 
resolve and quest for truth facing into our government's fabricated 
deceptions carry hope to a world that trusts in the rule of law.  Thank 
you, Lt Watada, for your courageous stand."



"What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life?
         The world would split open"  ~ Muriel Rukeyser


Jo Comerford
American Friends Service Committee, Western Massachusetts
140 Pine Street, Room 10
Florence, Massachusetts 01062
413.584.8975 (W)
413.584.8987 (F)
413.695.6059 (C)
afsc at crocker.com
www.WesternMassAFSC.org

New Resource:
Ten Reasons Why the US Must Leave Iraq:
http://www.afsc.org/iraq/activism/10-reasons.pdf
http://www.afsc.org/iraq/activism/10-reasons.htm (Text)
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