Pablo Paredes

PABLO PAREDES - HISPANIC NAVY SAILOR WHO REFUSED TO DEPLOY IN WAR PROTESTER SPEAKS AT CSUMB & WATSONVILLE TU. FEB 28

Release: Immediate Information:
Bob Fitch 831.460.0112

Navy Petty Officer Pablo Paredes, declaring the Iraq War “illegal” and all wars “immoral and useless,” refused to climb the gang plank of the Iraq-bound Bonhomme Richard on May 11, 2005 in San Diego. “What Military Life is Really Like,” and the personal story of his resistance to military service will be the topics of his local presentations.

Two public events are planned for Tuesday February 28 – 12:15pm, at the CSUMB Center Living Room and 6:30pm at Watsonville Cabrillo College, Union & Beach Sts., Forum Room 4850. At 4pm the Jesus “Chuy” Ramirez “Rock en Evolución ” show on KHDC FM 90.9 will broadcast a live call-in interview.

Convicted of missing movement, the former alter boy from Bronx, New York, was sentenced to hard labor, rank reduction and discharge. He is currently challenging the discharge in Federal court, claiming that the Navy disregarded his lawful application for an honorable discharge as a conscientious objector.

“I am guilty of believing that war is illegal,” say Paredes. Although he does not “consider military members adversaries” and emphasizes his “solidarity with all service members,” he is emphatic in his belief that the Iraq war is in “consistent violation of the Geneva Convention rules of war, and of generally accepted standards of human rights….”

Event sponsors include: Cabrillo MECHA, Watsonville Brown Berets, the GI Rights and Draft Alternatives Program of the Resource Center for Nonviolence, the Santa Cruz Peace Coalition, Watsonville WILPF and the Watsonville Peace Coalition.

[Note to Media: At 9am Paredes will speak to classes at Renaissance High School. This is not a public event. Press who want to attend this event must contact Bob Fitch, 831.460.0112.]