top
San Francisco
San Francisco
Indybay
Indybay
Indybay
Regions
Indybay Regions North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area California United States International Americas Haiti Iraq Palestine Afghanistan
Topics
Newswire
Features
From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Fri Jun 2 2006 (Updated 06/30/06)
Ehren Watada is First U.S. Military Officer to Refuse Illegal Iraq War
Officer's Supporters Hold Nationwide Press Conference to Announce Refusal
Tuesday June 27th is a "National Day of Action" in solidarity with Lieutenant Watada. Outside the gates of Fort Lewis, Washington, hundreds rallied to support Watada – the first commissioned officer to resist the illegal war and occupation of Iraq. Photos
In San Francisco, people with gather at 5pm in Justin Herman Plaza. Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | Audio: 1 | 2 | Video

On Wednesday, June 7th, U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada announced his intention to disobey the illegal order to deploy to Iraq via a 12pm press conference in Tacoma, Washington. Watada had planned to be at the press conference during his lunch break, but was prohibited to leave Fort Lewis by his superior officers. Ehren Watada is believed to be the first U.S. military officer to publicly refuse orders in support of the Iraq War based on its illegality. He has attempted to resign his commission in protest, and he will now refuse deployment via simultaneous, cross-country press conferences. Read more | Photos

One June 24th, dozens of supporters of Lt. Watada gathered outside the gates of Fort Lewis, Washington. Photos

On June 26th, a hundred supporters of Lt. Ehren Watada gathered near the Washington state capitol building. Holding signs that read “Refuse Illegal War – Thank You Lt. Ehren Watada”, Lt. Watada’s father Robert Watada and step-mother Rosa joined Olympians to span the centrally located Fourth Street Bridge. Photos

A petition or statement has been written in support of LT's decision to refuse to deploy to Iraq. Organizers are requesting that thousands of people sign the online petition, and encourage others to sign the petition, and write statements of support. Help will also be needed to organize support actions prior to any possible military court martial, and to pay for legal and political support. Read more

Thank You LT website | AUDIO FILE: Portland Interview With Lt. Ehren Watada | Sarah Olson Interviews Lieutenant Watada | Open Letter From Mother of Lt. Ehren Watada, Resister of Illegal War
2024-04-09 Deal Described as One of the Most Significant Urban Land Back Victories in US History Front Page | Environment & Forest Defense | Racial Justice | East Bay2024-03-20 Victory! EFF Helps Indybay Resist San Francisco Police Warrant and Gag Order Front Page | Police State & Prisons | Media Activism & Independent Media | San Francisco2024-02-09 Catholic Anti-Choice Marchers Get an Earful from Abortion Rights Activists in San Francisco Front Page | Health, Housing & Public Services | Womyn | San Francisco | South Bay | U.S.2024-01-10 Wall of Shipping Containers Intended to Keep the Public Out of People's Park Front Page | Police State & Prisons | Environment & Forest Defense | Global Justice & Anti-Capitalism | East Bay | California2023-12-08 Largest Ever Pro-Palestine Marches in NorCal Demand End to US Aid for Israel's War on Gaza Front Page | Anti-War | Central Valley | San Francisco | South Bay | Peninsula | U.S. | International | Palestine | Santa Cruz Indymedia2023-10-31 Three Activists Detained at Climate Protest for Crossing Beale Air Force Base Gate Front Page | Environment & Forest Defense | Anti-War | Central Valley | California | U.S.2023-09-29 California Climate Justice Actions in Coordination with Massive New York City March Front Page | Environment & Forest Defense | Central Valley | California2023-08-19 Environmentalists Speak Out Against Airport Expansion as Climate Disasters Accelerate Environment & Forest Defense | East Bay2023-08-12 Starbucks Bus Tour Stops in San Francisco, Rallies with Allies to Support Unionization Labor & Workers | San Francisco | Peninsula | California | U.S.2023-07-19 Halt to Fossil Fuel Funding Demanded as Wells Fargo Operations Shut Down Environment & Forest Defense | Global Justice & Anti-Capitalism | San Francisco | U.S.2023-07-13 Demonstrations Wrack France, Boiling Over After Police Murder of Youth Police State & Prisons | Health, Housing & Public Services | Global Justice & Anti-Capitalism | LGBTI / Queer | International | Government & Elections | Immigrant Rights
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!

Donate

$210.00 donated
in the past month

Get Involved

If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.

Publish

Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.

IMC Network