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In Los Angeles
the Vigil to Protest Second Court-Martial of Lt. Watada
will
take place again
on Monday, Oct. 22, 5:30-7:00 p.m. and every Monday until
further notice at the corner of Alameda and First Streets in Little
Tokyo.
Judge Benjamin Settle of the US District Court in Tacoma has issued
a stay order enjoining the Army from commencing the trial until at
least October 26, 2007 or until further order of the court. Contact
Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress at (213) 680-3484 or call (310)
710-1449 or (626) 482-6637, or e-mail
ncrrla@yahoo.com
Ø For info on demonstrations in Philadelphia and London, contact Payday Men’s Network payday@paydaynet.org or 215-848-1120 |
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ALERT! The US Army is threatening to go ahead with a new court-martial of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada in gross violation of law and the Constitution |
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Lt. Watada, the first commissioned officer to refuse to deploy to Iraq and who invited other soldiers to refuse too, faced court-martial on February 5 in Fort Lewis, Washington state, risking up to six years in jail. In a stunning turn of events, the government’s case against Lt. Watada fell apart. A widespread international campaign of support contributed to this victory. Now the army wants to re-try him, violating laws and Constitutional protections against “double jeopardy” (being tried twice for the same ‘crime’).
Your support is needed now to press for Lt. Watada’s appeals to be heard, to keep him out of jail and to continue to show support to all military refusers. See message below from Mike Wong of Veterans for Peace and Watada Support Committee.
Ø For info on support demonstrations outside of Ft. Lewis, in San Francisco, New York and elsewhere, contact Gerry Condon who is coordinating events around the court-martial: 206-499-1220 or email projectsafehaven@hotmail.com or soldiersayno@yahoo.com. Ø For info on the Oct. 8 Los Angeles vigil, contact Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress at (213) 680-3484 or call (310) 710-1449 or (626) 482-6637, or e-mail ncrrla@yahoo.com Ø For info on demonstrations in Philadelphia and London, contact Payday Men’s Network payday@paydaynet.org or 215-848-1120 |
Lt. Watada with mother Carolyn Ho (photo credit: Jeff Paterson) |
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Also let us know what you plan to do so we can publicize it on our website www.refusingtokill.net. Or contact Global Women’s Strike which organized the Nov/Dec 2006 East Coast speaking tour of Lt Watada’s mother, Carolyn Ho. philly@crossroadswomen.net www.globalwomenstrike.net
Update Oct 5: Yesterday Lt. Watada filed a federal habeas petition and motion for emergency stay in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. He may be granted a hearing on the emergency motion today, or the trial may move ahead. Stay tuned… |
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