Veterans group targets major military recruiting center for Veterans Day protest Sunday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Contact: Vets for Peace Information Office (916) 505-4869 or (916) 996-9170

ATTN: Daybook/Weekend News Desk

Vet group targets major military recruiting
center for Veterans Day protest Sunday
to protect youthful recruits from abuse

SACRAMENTO – Focusing on recent reports of homeless vets and recruiting
abuses, Veterans from Sacramento will lead a demonstration at the Military
Entrance Processing Station – one of only four major recruiting centers
statewide – as part of a Veterans Day event Sunday.

The protest, which begins SUNDAY, at 11 a.m. at the MEPS (3870 Rosin Ct.,
#105), was the scene of a major confrontation several years ago between pro
and anti-war proponents.

The facility provides testing for youths who are considering enlistment.
But, many young men and women – under the high sales pressure of recruiters
– are coerced into signing contracts to join the military after
withstanding 10-12 hours of intense testing during the day, said VFP.

"We have made this facility a point of focus in our community because this
is the last big stop before the enlistment or induction of our youth from
the Oregon border to Fresno. This may be our last chance to reach them,"
said George Main, president of the local VFP group.

VFP is demanding recruiters – already caught using high-pressure tactics
to entice youth to volunteer to fight in Iraq – offer new recruits a
"72-hour cooling off" period because recruiters are known to use
intimidation, coercion and fraud to convince young people to enlist.

Veterans for Peace/Sacramento has held daily dawn vigils at the MEPS for
months at a time to discourage young enlistees. The ACLU has learned the
vet group was one of the first peace organizations nationwide to be the
subject of illegal surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA).

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