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GI Rights LinksSources of Information Related to Discharge from the MilitaryPeace-Out -- Focus is on Conscientious Objection, with resources, contacts, and details of the process. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network - This organization is devoted to lifting the military's ban on lesbians, bisexuals, and gays in the military. (CCCO might rather ban straights from the military instead, but opposes all discrimination as well as all militarism). It is an important resource for anyone considering a discharge under the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy.
Veterans and Military FamiliesBRING THEM HOME NOW! - A campaign of military families, veterans, active duty personnel, reservists and others opposed to the ongoing war in Iraq and galvanized to action by George W. Bush's inane and reckless challenge to armed Iraqis resisting occupation to "Bring 'em on. " Citizen Soldier - is a GI/veterans rights advocacy group founded during the Vietnam war. They have recently provided legal defense and public advocacy for Gulf War refusers. Gold Star Families for Peace - Families of soldiers who have died as a result of war organized to be a positive force in our world to bring our country’s sons and daughters home from Iraq, to minimize the “human cost” of this war, and to prevent other families from the pain we are feeling as the result of our losses. Guerrero Azteca Project -Resources and and ways to contribute in helping our youth realize their true potential as peace-seeking future students in higher education. Iraq Veterans Against the War - A group of veterans who have served since September 11th, 2001 including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. We are committed to saving lives and ending the violence in Iraq by an immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces. We also believe that the governments that sponsored these wars are indebted to the men and women who were forced to fight them and must give their Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen the benefits that are owed to them upon their return home. Military Families Against the War - An organization of people in Britain directly affected by the war in Iraq whose relatives and loved ones are members of the British Armed Services. Military Families Speak Out - An organization of people who are opposed to war in Iraq and who have relatives or loved ones in the military. We were formed in November of 2002 and have contacts with military families throughout the United States, and in other countries around the world. MotherSpeak - MotherSpeak fosters cultural awareness and understanding by sharing stories. We believe that dialog -- talking and listening -- with others enriches all of our lives and reduces suspicion, prejudice, and negative assumptions. National Gulf War Resource Center, Inc.- An international coalition of advocates and organizations providing a resource for information, support, and referrals for all those concerned with the complexities of Persian Gulf War issues, especially Gulf War illnesses and those held prisoner or missing in action. One Weekend a Month - Eric Escobar's award-winning 12 minute video of a single mom in the National Guard as she gets the news shell be activated and deployed. Operation Truth - The mission of Operation Truth is to connect the American public with the troops who are serving or served in Iraq and Afghanistan and, by articulating an action agenda, empower citizens to tangibly support the troops. Reenlist Blues -Dedicated to informing enlisted military members about psychological factors and differences in the military. Veterans for Peace - We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace. To this end we will work, with others (a) Toward increasing public awareness of the costs of war. (b) To restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations (c) To end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons (d) To seek justice for veterans and victims of war (e) To abolish war as an instrument of national policy. Vietnam Veterans Against the War - Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Inc. (VVAW) is a national veterans' organization that was founded in New York City in 1967. VVAW exposed the ugly truth about US involvement in Southeast Asia and our first-hand experiences helped many other Americans to see the unjust nature of that war. We will continue to oppose senseless military adventures and to teach the real lessons of the Vietnam War. We will do all we can to prevent another generation from being put through a similar tragedy and we will continue to demand dignity and respect for veterans of all eras.
GI ResistanceLieutenant Ehren Watada -- On June 22, 2006, U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren K. Watada became the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to the unlawful Iraq war and occupation. Lt. Watada has been formally charged with contempt towards President Bush, conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, and missing movement. Sergeant Ricky Clousing -- While Sgt. Ricky Clousing operated as an interrogator in Iraq, he witnessed what he calls abuses of power ranging from daily physical and psychological harassment to baseless incarceration of innocent civilians, including children. After he returned from Iraq, his objections became so deep that he decided he could no longer be involved either indirectly or directly with this organization at this time. Ultimately, he decided that staying in the military was a contradiction to his personal, moral and spiritual beliefs. Kevin Benderman -- On January 5, 2005, Army Sgt Kevin Benderman refused to deploy for a second tour of duty in Iraq with the Army's Third Infantry Division. At the same time seventeen other soldiers from his unit went AWOL, two tried to kill themselves and one had a relative shoot him in the leg to avoid deploying. The judge for his court martial found that the investigator was biased for the prosecution. The court martial is postponed pending a new investigation. Camilo Mejia--On May 21, 2004, 28-year-old Sgt. Camilo Mejia was sentenced to one year in prison for refusing to return to fight in Iraq. Camilo concluded that the war was illegal and immoral, and decided that he would not return. In March 2004 he turned himself in to the US military and filed an application for conscientious objector status. He was released from prison on February 15. Courage to Resist -- Organizes support for military objectors to illegal war and occupation and the underlying policies of empire. A Brief History: Military Resistance by Zoltan Grossman -- To understand the history of resistance within the U.S. armed forces, and where it might lead, it helps to see how resistance varies strongly according to rank, class and race, and how difficult it is for resisters to express their patriotic viewpoints alone, without support from the larger peace movement... GI Special - Daily reports on the war and resistance. Pablo Paredes -- On December 6, Pablo announced his opposition to war in general, to the Iraq war in particular and did not board his ship bound for Iraq. Pablo's claim of Conscientious Objection was denied by the Navy. A court martial was held on May 10. The sentence included two months restriction, three months hard labor without confinement (served concurrently), and reduction in rank to E-1. He was not discharged. The judge stated, " “I think the government has successfully proved that any seaman recruit has reasonable cause to believe that the wars in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq were illegal. " Stephen Funk -- 20-year-old Marine reservist Stephen Funk showed up at the gates of his San Jose base Tuesday, April 1, 2003-- conscientious objector papers in hand -- ready for punishment for not joining his unit's deployment to Iraq. Stephen served 6 months in the brig for being UA and received a Bad Conduct Discharge. Katherine Jashinski -- is an imprisoned conscientious objector whose application for a discharge was denied by the Army after almost 18 months. She was then court-martialed for refusing to train with weapons. Katherine was acquitted of the more serious charge of missing movement by design, but pled guilty to refusal to obey a legal order. She received a bad conduct discharge and was sentenced to 120 days confinement, with credit for 53 days already served (at Fort Benning), and 20 days off for good behavior. At the time of her sentencing on May 23, 2006, Katherine had 47 days of confinement remaining. After serving her sentence she will return to school at the University of Texas at Austin and continue her work with the newly founded Austin GI Rights Hotline. Sir! No Sir! Website for David Zeiger's full-length documentary about the GI Resistance movement, including the 12 minute trailer for the movie, the Not Your Soldier video, GI Movement archives and more. In the 1960s an anti-war movement emerged that altered the course of history. This movement didn't take place on college campuses, but in barracks and on aircraft carriers, army stockades, navy brigs, the dingy towns that surround military bases, and elite military colleges and it spread throughout the battlefields of Vietnam. Hundreds went to prison and thousands into exile. Sir! No Sir! brings to life the history of the GI movement through the stories of those who were part of it with never-before-seen archival material and explores the profound impact that movement had on the military and the war itself. Tom Joad -- I hope to provide a place here for political commentary and information regarding struggles for justice. There will a special focus at that struggle in Palestine. Palestine is a land filled with refugees in their own country, much like the Joad family, and the real families they represented, here in the United States not so long ago. War Resisters Support Campaign (Canada) -- A broad-based coalition of community organizations that has launched a petition aimed at Canada's federal government to allow US war resisters who refuse to fight in Iraq to have refuge in Canada. English and French. |
