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5/10: SF BAY AREA GI RESISTER SUPPORT CARAVAN

by Courage to Resist
SF BAY AREA GI RESISTER SUPPORT CARAVAN
SUPPORT PABLO PAREDES AS HE FACES COURT MARSHAL
COME TO SAN DIEGO!!
---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: SF BAY AREA GI RESISTER SUPPORT CARAVAN: SUPPORT PABLO PAREDES AS
HE FACES COURT MARSHAL From: "Courage to Resist"
<courage [at] riseup.net>


SF BAY AREA GI RESISTER SUPPORT CARAVAN
SUPPORT PABLO PAREDES AS HE FACES COURT MARSHAL
COME TO SAN DIEGO!!
LEAVE: Tuesday May 10, 1pm after the SF Support Rally
RETURN: Thurs. Night, May 12

Are you inspired by troops who stand up to the Bush Administration and
the war and occupation in Iraq?

Want to show your support?

Want to help end the war by mobilizing to back up couragious men and
women who say no to illegal war and occupation?

Join a Bay Area caravan of supporters who will travel to support
courageous navy resister Pablo Paredes as he faces court marshal in San
Diego.
We will join many military resisters, veterans, antiwar activists and
community supporters from all over North America for two days of inpsiring
support, protest, street theater and a May 11 evening forum with Naomi
Klien.
We will stay in a local church (so bring your sleeping bag or blankets!)

If you can drive and have space or need a ride and can help with gas (we may
also rent vans based on interest)contact us:
courage [at] riseup.net
(for caravan only)510 484-7127





*************************************************************

Please circulate this call to action widely:

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR GI RESISTERS

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)

http://www.CourageToResist.org

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

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:
For a downloadable flyer, details and updates:
http://www.CourageToResist.org

**********************************************

fyi: HERE IS WHAT IS PLANNED IN sAN dIEGO:


Please forward widely!!
Defend Pablo: Put the WAR on Trial
3 days of protest and events to support war resister
Pablo Paredes
as he faces court martial by the US Navy
May 10th - May 13th 2005
San Diego, CA
Pablo is the first active duty member of the US Navy to publicly
refuse to participate in the Iraq war and occupation. He will be
tried inside the San Diego 32nd St. Naval Station, which houses 20 piers
and 40 war vessels. Everyone on the San Diego area who opposes this war
needs to come out to support Pablo. Help spread the word, organize a
caravan or bus if you're from out of town, and come out to show your
dissent!
EVENTS:
May 10th @ 7pm: Voices of Resistance
War resisters Pablo Paredes, Camilo Mejia and Aiden Delgado
with surprise guest!
MLK Center 6134 Benson Avenue (619-262-8384)
$5 suggested donation, no one turned away
May 11th @ 7:30pm: Put the WAR on Trial
Author Naomi Klein, international law expert Marjorie Cohn
and Pablo Paredes
MLK Center 6134 Benson Avenue (619-262-8384)
$5 suggested donation, no one turned away
Directions to the MLK Center:
Go EAST from the 805 on Imperial Avenue, about 1.5 mi. Turn RIGHT on
61st Street. The large church at the corner of Benson Ave. at top of the
hill is Bayview Baptist church - the gymnasium (our Venue) is
next door.
PROTEST:
May 11th - May 13th
At the court martial - main gates of the Naval Station: 32nd St & Harbor
Mock trial and street theater!
For more information:
http://swiftsmartveterans.com
http://defendpablo.org
Add Your Comments
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Lynn Gonzalez
Thu, May 5, 2005 9:39PM
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