Support the troops that refuse to fight

San Francisco Bay Area upcoming events

• Sat., 4/30: Kevin and Monica Benderman - SF
• Sat., 4/30: Old-Time Anti-War Square Dance Benefit - SF
• Sun., 5/1: Camilo Mejia and Kevin Benderman - Palo Alto
• Sun., 5/1: Camilo Mejia and Kevin Benderman - San Jose
• Mon., 5/2: Camilo Mejia - Oakland
• Wed., 5/4: Camilo Mejia - Santa Cruz
• Tues., 5/10: Protest to Support GI Resisters - San Francisco
• Sun., 5/29: Military Voices Against Endless War Forum - Berkeley

Saturday, April 30 - San Francisco
Kevin and Monica Benderman
Saying No to War: When Conscience Requires Refusal
2 PM at Saybrook Graduate School, 747 Front Street (Third Floor).
Map | Leaflet graphic

Army sergeant and Iraq War veteran turned conscientious objector Kevin Benderman currently faces a May 11 court martial at Fort Stewart, Georgia for refusing a second deployment to Iraq. With special guests Jeff Paterson, first military objector to the 1991 Gulf War and current Not in Our Name organizer, and William K. Bruff (Discussant), a vietnam era conscientious objector and current Saybrook Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Hosted by the Social Transformation Concentration, Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center, and Not in Our Name. Co-sponsored by American Friends Service Committee, Bay Area Saybrookians, Bay Area United Against War, College Not Combat, and the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors. Free to the public.

Saturday, April 30 - San Francisco
Old-Time Anti-War Bluegrass and Square Dance Benefit
Live music by The Stairwell Sisters, The Squirrelly Stringband, The Bernal Hill Stringband, and special guests. Doors at 6 PM. Dance at 7:30 PM. Potrero Hill Neighborhood House. 953 De Haro Street.
Map | Leaflet graphic | More information

All proceeds to benefit the defense of military resister Pablo Paredes and Iraq Veterans Against the War. To protest the Iraq War, Petty Officer Third Class Pablo Paredes publicly refused to deploy to the Middle East and is now facing a May 11 military courts martial. IVAW is a newly formed organization of recent Iraq veterans opposed to the ongoing war and occupation.

Hosted by Not in Our Name, Code Pink, Iraq Veterans Against the War, International Socialist Organization, College Not Combat, Courage to Resist, Freedom Socialist Party, Queers for Peace and Justice/SF, Radical Women, Musicians and Fine Artists for World Peace, and Bay Area United Against War. $10 - $30 ($5 students).

Sunday, May 1 - San Jose
Camilo Mejia and Kevin Benderman
"The Real Heroes are War Resisters"
2 PM at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 405 S 10th Street.
Map | PDF Leaflet

Camilo Mejia (photo right), first Iraq War veteran to publicly file for discharge as a conscientious objector. Just released from a one year brig sentence for refusing to return to Iraq. With special guests Kevin and Monica Benderman, Gulf War resister Jeff Paterson, and music by Annie and the Vets.

Hosted by Veterans for Peace and the South Bay Mobilization. Co-sponsored by Not in Our Name, KPFA, Global Exchange, CCCO, AFSC, Peninsula Peace and Justice Center, International ANSWER, Santa Cruz Resource Center for Non-Violence, Code Pink, Stop Impunity, Courage to Resist. $5 - $15 (students free)

Sunday, May 1 - Palo Alto
Camilo Mejia and Kevin Benderman
“Behind these bars I sit a free man because I listened to a higher power, the voice of my conscience.” - Camilo Mejia
7 PM at the Unitarian Church of Palo Alto, 505 E. Charleston Road.
Map | PDF Leaflet

Camilo Mejia, first Iraq War veteran to publicly file for discharge as a conscientious objector. Just released from a one year in the brig for refusing to return to Iraq. With special guests Kevin and Monica Benderman, Gulf War resister Jeff Paterson, and music by Annie and the Vets.

Hosted by the Peninsula Peace and Justice Center and Veterans for Peace. Co-sponsored by Peace Umbrella of Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, Not in Our Name, KPFA, Global Exchange, CCCO, AFSC, South Bay Mobilization, International ANSWER, Santa Cruz Resource Center for Non-Violence, Code Pink, Stop Impunity, Courage to Resist. $5 - $15.

Monday, May 2 - Oakland
Camilo Mejia
"By putting my weapon down, I chose to reassert myself as a human being." - Camilo Mejia.
7 PM at the First Congregational Church, 2501 Harrison Street
Map | Leaflet graphic

Camilo Mejia (photo right in Iraq), first Iraq War veteran to publicly file for discharge as a conscientious objector. Just released from a one year in the brig for refusing to return to Iraq. With special guest Brian Willson. Music by Annie and the Vets.

Hosted by Veterans for Peace. Co-sponsored by Not in Our Name, KPFA, Global Exchange, CCCO, AFSC, South Bay Mobilization, International ANSWER, Resource Center for Non-Violence, Code Pink, Stop Impunity, Courage to Resist. $5 - $15.

Wednesday, May 4 - Santa Cruz
Camilo Mejia
7 PM at the Veterans Building, 846 Front Street
Map

Camilo Mejia, first Iraq War veteran to publicly file for discharge as a conscientious objector. Just released from a one year in the brig for refusing to return to Iraq. With special guest Aimee Allison, Army medic discharged as a conscientious objector after the 1991 Gulf War.

Hosted by the Santa Cruz Resource Center for Non-Violence and VFW Bill Motto Post 5888. Co-sponsored by Veterans for Peace, Not in Our Name, KPFA, Global Exchange, CCCO, AFSC, South Bay Mobilization, International ANSWER, Code Pink, Stop Impunity, Courage to Resist. $6 - $15 ($1 youth)

Tuesday, May 10 - San Franicsco
Nation Day of Action to Support GI Resisters
Support Pablo Paredes and Kevin Benderman!
Noon at the SF War Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness across from City Hall
Map | Website

On the day before their scheduled court martials for refusing to participate in the unjust Iraq war and occupation, tell the U.S. military: "Resisting illegal war and occupation is not a crime!" and to "Respect Conscientious Objection". Some event participants will immediately car caravan to San Diego to support Pablo Paredes.

On December 6, 2004 Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Pablo Paredes refused to board the USS Bonhomme Richard as it left San Diego. Instead, Pablo stayed on the dock and spoke with the media about his opposition to the Iraq War while wearing a t-shirt that declared, "Like a cabinet member, I resign." (photo above right)

On January 16, 2005 Iraq War veteran Army Sgt Kevin Benderman was charged with "Desertion with Intent to Avoid Hazardous Duty" and "Missing Movement by Design" after refusing to return to Iraq. His bid to for discharge as a conscientious objector had eariler been rejected. Army Sgt Kevin Benderman is scheduled to be brought before a general court martial at Fort Stewart, Georgia on the same day as Pablo Paredes' special court martial in San Diego, California, on May 11.

Co-sponsored by Courage to Resist, Not in Our Name, and many others.

Sunday, May 29 - Berkeley
Military Voices Against Endless War and Occupation
Aidan Delgado, Dr. Gene Bolles, Camilo Mejia, Cindy Sheehan, Tim Goodrich, Stephen Funk, with audio/visual presentations, awards, and entertainment.
6 PM at King Middle School, 1781 Rose Street
Map | Event webpage

Featuring the leading military voices of resistance from across the country, with recent Iraq veterans, family members of service persons killed in Iraq, and military resisters. Iraq uncensored. Today's military, from recruiting to stop-loss to a possible draft.

Memorial Day Weekend 2005: Saturday, May 28 in Los Angeles, California, and Sunday, May 29 in Berkeley, California at King Middle School.

Hosted by Not in Our Name, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Gold Star Families for Peace. Co-sponsored by Middle East Children’s Alliance, Veterans for Peace, Vanguard Foundation, LA Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools. $15 ($10 students)

Not in Our Name Bay Area

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