Military Resistance and Recovery

Military Resistance and Recovery Action Tent

The military is one of the primary pillars of support for the continuing occupation
of Iraq. However, military resistance can directly remove the
resources (i.e. troops) that are pivotal to continuing the war.
Therefore, supporting military resistance is one of the most important
and effective ways that the anti-war movement can contribute to ending
the war. It is also critical that we support our veterans as they
return home from war.

Program of Events:

10:00am – Video: "Sir No Sir" (85 min) – chronicles the GI resistance movement during the Vietnam War

11:30am
– Discussion: IVAW & GI Resistance against the Iraq War – What is
GI resistance? Who are Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW)? What is
the Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan Testimonial?

12:00pm – Presentation: Courage to Resist - The Story of Ehren
Watada (first commissioned officer to refuse deployment) featuring Bob
Watada & Rosa Sakanishi (Ehren's father and step-mother)

12:30pm
– Workshop: Supporting GI Resistance Locally – featuring information on
the Military Resistance and Recovery (MRR) Action Group of the PDX
Peace Coalition, the campaign to make Portland a sanctuary city for war
resisters & plans for a GI coffeehouse near Fort Lewis in Washington

1:30pm – Video: "Before You Enlist" (15 min) – the truth about enlisting during a time of war

2:00pm – Video: "The Ground Truth" (72 min) – veterans of the Iraq War bear witness to the true consequences of the war

3:30pm – Panel Presentation: The Truth about War – Voices of
Veterans and Military Families – hear from those most directly affected
by war; learn about deceitful recruitment strategies, Stop Loss,
multiple & extended deployments, and the other harsh realities of
war

4:30pm – Workshop: Supporting Returning Veterans – featuring
Michael Taylor, MSW, Ph.D of Portland State University and Military
Families Speak Out and Sean Lewis, veteran of the First Persian Gulf
War and founder of www.soldiersheart.org

5:30pm – Brainstorm: Next Steps – Where do we go from here and how can we best support military resistance and recovery?

ALL
DAY – Information on counter-recruitment, Iraq Veterans Against the
War, the GI Rights Hotline, organizations supporting veterans and
military families

ALL DAY – Action: Sign the Petition to Make Portland a Sanctuary City for War Resisters

The
Military Resistance and Recovery Action Tent has been organized through
the participation of members of Veterans for Peace Chapter 72, Iraq
Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and Recruiter
Watch PDX.