Support GI Resistance and GI Rights DEC 8- 10th!

We
ask you to begin mobilizing your group, community and networks now! As
well as educating your organization’s members, please consider hosting
one or more public events to help raise awareness and build support.
Events currently planned in SF, NY, Portland, and more! Plan or attend an event in your community. Let us know what your planning so we can post it to inspire others! Send to
courage@riseup.netThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

GET INVOLVED TODAY! HERE’S HOW..

Downloadable Organizing Kit  
Participating Groups and Individuals

It’s time for us to escalate public pressure and
action in support of the growing movement of thousands of courageous
men and women GI’s who have in many different ways followed the their
conscience, upholding international law, taking a principled stand
against unjust, illegal war and occupation and stood up for their
rights. Widespread public support and pressure will help create true
support for courageous troops facing isolation and repression, and help
protect their civil liberties and human rights.  We call for the 
following:1) Support for War Objectors 2) Protect the Right to
Conscientious Objection 3) Protect the Liberties & Human Rights of
GI’s 4) Sanctuary for War Objectors. We urge you to join us December 8-10th for a weekend of action in suppor tof GI Resistance and GI Rights!

 

 

Showing
widespread support for soldiers who resist is one of the best ways
those of us outside the military can encourage the growing momentum of
the GI resistance movement-a movement that has the direct power to end
this war.

Supporting GI resistance, together with counter
recruitment and draft resistance, is key to stopping illegal war and
occupation ourselves. If the government can’t recruit or draft enough
new troops, and if troops refuse illegal immoral orders, it will help
end the war and occupation and help prevent the next one. Look at the
Vietnam War!

We ask you to begin mobilizing your group,
community and networks now. As well as educating your organization’s
members, please consider hosting one or more public events to help
raise awareness and build support. Visit http://www.CourageToResist.org
for more information or to contribute to build this campaign.

 WHY YOUR SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL:

Your
participation in these days of action-and beyond– is crucial to
realizing these goals: together, we do have the power to end this war
and prevent the next one. As the antiwar movement builds its support
for these brave people and their important actions, we hope more will
take a stand if we show them they won’t be alone.

Those of us
outside the military must match their bravery by escalating our support
for all GI resisters. They’ve got to know we’re out here for them!

Here is an explanation of our four areas of support:

1) SUPPORT WAR OBJECTORS

Providing
political, economic, personal, legal and spiritual support for our
troops who have the courage to object, whether speaking out, refusing
to follow orders or going AWOL is essential. We can uphold the US
constitution and international law by supporting GIs who refuse illegal
orders to deploy, carry out orders or participate in illegal war and occupation.

Many
have been moved to action by the words of Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada who
is currently facing up to eight years, primarily for speaking out
against the war, and also for refusing deployment to Iraq. In his
August 12 speech to the Veterans for Peace National Convention, for
which the US Army has added an additional free speech charge of
“Conduct Unbecoming an
Officer and a Gentleman.” Lt Watada said,
“The idea is this: that to stop an illegal and unjust war, the soldiers
can choose to stop fighting it. Those wearing the uniform must know
beyond any shadow of a doubt that by refusing immoral and illegal
orders they will be supported by the people not with mere words but by
action. They must know it and you must show it to them. Convince them
that no matter how long they sit in prison, no matter how long this
country takes to right itself, their families will have a roof over
their heads, food in their stomachs, opportunities and education.”

2) PROTECT THE RIGHT TO CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION

“I
have come to believe that it is wrong to destroy life, that it is wrong
to use war, that it is immoral, and I can no longer go down this path,”
said Army medic Agustin Aguayo after being denied conscientious
objector status and going AWOL when faced with a forced re-deployment
to Iraq. He is now in a military prison in Germany, imprisoned for
following his conscience.

We call on the US military and the US
government to respect the right to conscientious objection as a
legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and
religion. The right to refuse to perform military service for reasons
of conscience is inherent in the notion of freedom of thought,
conscience and religion as recognized in Article 18 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. This freedom is also articulated in
Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights

Specifically we urge them to:

a.
Consider a conscientious objector to be any person who, for reasons of
conscience or profound conviction, refuses to perform service in the
armed forces or any other direct or indirect participation in wars or
armed conflicts, including people who refuse to participate in
particular wars. This internationally recognized definition is used by
Amnesty International and other human rights organizations. Currently
the US Military Selective Service Act stipulates that objection must be
to participation in war of any form only by reason of religious,
ethical, or moral belief.

b. Assure that all
conscientious objectors be given the opportunity to present the grounds
of their objection to a decision-making body, which is established by
law and is impartial and independent. Respect the due process of
applicants, and end all recriminations for applying for
Conscientious Objector status.

3) PROTECT LIBERTIES & HUMAN RIGHTS OF TROOPS

Including:

a. Free Speech; soldiers face harassment, punishment and even formal charges for exercising their legal right to free speech.

b.
Freedom from sexual harassment or assault; the US military continues to
ignore the pattern of serious and widespread sexual harassment and
assault.

4) SANCTUARY FOR WAR OBJECTORS

We
the people of the US must do what we can provide and support real
sanctuary to all people resisting war, including our own troops. We can
do this as communities, as churches and as organizations. We call on
people in the U.S. to build grassroots support for resisters on our
soil and also to support Canada’s people in their struggle to provide
sanctuary for U.S.
war objectors.

 Join the many Canadians
calling on the Canadian government to demonstrate its commitment to
international law and the treaties to which it is a signatory, by
making provision for US war objectors to have sanctuary in Canada. Let
the Canadian people and Government know most US people oppose the war
and many support the right to sanctuary for courageous war resisters.
For more information about Canada’s War Resisters Support Campaign go to:www.resisters.ca