Antiwar Movement Mobilizes for Military Resisters

After refusing to honor their conscientious objection, the U.S. military will bring Pablo Paredes (in San Diego, California) and Kevin Benderman (in Fort Stewart, Georgia) before a military court martial tribunal on May 11, 2005. They face military jail, and forfeiture of pay and benefits.

On December 6, 2004, Navy Petty Officer Pablo Paredes refused to board his Navy ship and participate in the Iraq war and occupation.

On January 5, 2005, 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.

At the time of his refusal, Pablo said he hoped his protest might inspire other GI's to refuse to take part in the war. Thousands of U.S. troops are refusing to fight the war and occupation in Iraq. We are committed to asserting widespread public pressure in defense of GI’s choice to follow their conscience instead of the dictates of the State. We believe this is a key way to help end the tragic war and occupation of Iraq. Please join us and do what you can on this National Day of Action for GI Resisters; organize a public support event, pass this e-mail on to your friends, family and associates, send letters of support (websites below), etc. Please send us a note letting us know of what you have planned: courage [at] riseup.net

SUPPORT NAVY REFUSER PABLO PAREDES
& ARMY OBJECTOR KEVIN BENDERMAN
On the day before their scheduled court martial for refusing to
participate in the Iraq war and occupation, tell the U.S. military:

* RESISTING ILLEGAL WAR & OCCUPATION IS NOT A CRIME
* RESPECT CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION

San Francisco Bay Area Support Rally
TUES MAY 10, 12 NOON
War Memorial Veterans Building in SF
401 Van Ness, between Hayes and McAllister, San Francisco
(2 blocks from Civic Center BART)

COURAGE TO RESIST is a new group of concerned community members, veterans and military families organizing support for military objectors to illegal war and occupation and underlying policies of empire. We have adopted a people power strategy to weaken the pillars that support the Iraq war and occupation by supporting GI resistance, which together with
counter-recruitment and draft resistance work can remove the supply of obedient troops.

More info on Pablo: http://www.swiftsmartveterans.com
Kevin and Monica Benderman will be speaking in San Francisco on Saturday, April 30, 2005, 2:00-4:00 PM
http://www.bendermandefense.org

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR GI RESISTERS:
http://www.CourageToResist.org