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Appeal for a refuge for women veterans Shawna Foster, Iraq Veterans Against the War, 18 September 2012
Servicewomen face
serious challenges during their tours of duty. Individuals in my own
platoon threatened to kill me because I was "worthless" as a fighter, in
their opinion. These threats and my antiwar stance on Iraq caused me to
go absent without leave (AWOL) from the military. Rape and abuse have
reached epidemic levels in the military while women service members are Two years ago, IVAW had its first ever women veterans’ retreat. Members came together to share their stories, publish a ‘zine about the links between gender oppression and military service, and help each other heal. Before the women's retreat, I never spoke to anyone about what happened to me. It started me on a personal journey toward wholeness I could not find anywhere else. That’s why I’m reaching out to you now to ask for your support for this year’s women’s retreat. Your contribution can help IVAW’s female members gather again for a leadership retreat focused on the needs of women veterans. Women veterans in IVAW are a primary source of support in my development as a grassroots leader. They emboldened me to do things like throw my medals back at the NATO Summit in Chicago and declare before thousands of protestors that I was one of the 40,000 military people who deserted because of the lies of the Iraq War. I could not have done what I did at NATO without my female "battle buddies" there believing that I could. Since IVAW's founding, women veterans have been organizing in the trenches and playing critical leadership roles. Despite our small numbers within the military and in IVAW, women are leading this organization – as founders, board members, chapter leaders, field organizers and national office staff. This retreat is the largest gathering of our women to date, and it comes at a critical time as we prepare to welcome thousands of veterans home as the drawdown of occupations begins. Your support now is what will make this gathering happen. We need to raise $7,500 to provide full sponsorship our women members to attend, some of whom are still on active duty in the military. Your generous gift today will help us strengthen our leadership to carry on IVAW's long-term struggle to build our GI resistance movement. Visit www.ivaw.org/donate and be sure to write "Women’s Retreat" in the Designation Code area. We are relying on you to help us come together, so please give today. I am grateful for your continued support. Sincerely, Shawna Foster Board of Directors Iraq Veterans Against the War |
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