Iraq combat veterans, turned war resisters, speak out Iraq combat veterans, Agustin Aguayo and Camilo Mejia, will be joined by fellow war resisters Pablo Paredes and Robert Zabala at series of Northern California events May 9-18.Just weeks after being released from a military stockade in Germany for refusing redeployment to Iraq, Agustin Aguayo will be joined by fellow war resisters on a greater San Francisco Bay Area speaking tour. Agustin served almost eight months in prison after fighting for nearly three years to be recognized as a conscientious objector. Agustin will explain for the first time why he chose jail instead of redeploying to Iraq.
Camilo Mejia was one of the first Iraq combat veterans to refuse to return to Iraq and served almost nine months in prison for his stand against war.In his upcoming book, " Road from ar Ramadi; The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejía," Camilo gives an inside view of what it felt like to be a soldier on the ground in Iraq.Camilo's book will be available at his events.
Pablo Paredes refused to ship out in support of the Iraq War at the San Diego Naval Station in 2005. He is now a GI rights counselor and counter-recruitment activist.
Robert Zabala is a Marine recently ordered discharged as a Conscientious Objector (CO) by a federal judge after fighting for nearly four years to be recognized as a CO.
Calendar of Events May 9-18
Wednesday May 9 - Marin
7pm at College of Marin, Student Services Center, 835 College Ave, Kentfield (directions and campus map). Featuring Agustín Aguayo, Pablo Paredes and David Solnit. Sponsored by Courage to Resist and Students for Social Responsibility. More info: buff@couragetoresist.org
Thursday May 10 - Sacramento Details TBA
Friday May 11 - Stockton
6pm at the Centro Comunitario Mexicano (Mexican Community Center), 609 S Lincoln St, Stockton. Featuring Agustín Aguayo. Event in Spanish with English translation. Sponsored by AFSC / Project VOICE, Organizacion de Trabajadores Agricolas de California, Asociacion de Braceros del Norte de California and Comision Honorifica Mexicana Periodico Semilla. More info: Luis Magaña 209.465.4265
Saturday May 12 - Carmel
7pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 490 Aguajito Rd, Carmel. Featuring Agustín Aguayo and Camilo Mejía . Sponsored byVeterans for Peace Chp. 69, Hartnell Students for Peace, Salinas Action League, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and Courage to Resist. More info: Kurt Brux 831.424.6447
Sunday May 13 - San Francisco
7pm at the Veterans War Memorial Bldg. (Room 207) , 401 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco. Featuring Agustín Aguayo, Camilo Mejía and Pablo Paredes. Sponsored by Courage to Resist, Veterans for Peace Chp. 69 and SF Codepink. More info: http://mail.charter.net/do/mail/message/mailto?to=courage%40riseup.net or 510.764.2073 ( PDF Event Flyer)
Monday May 14 - Watsonville
7pm at the United Presbyterian Church, 112 E. Beach, Watsonville. Featuring Agustín Aguayo, Camilo Mejía, Pablo Paredes and Robert Zabala. Sponsored by the GI Rights Hotline & Draft Alternatives program of the Resource Center for Nonviolence (RCNV), Santa Cruz Peace Coalition, Watsonville Women's International League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF), Watsonville Brown Berets, Courage to Resist and Santa Cruz Veterans for Peace Chp. 11. More info: Bob Fitch 831.722.3311
Tuesday May 15 - Palo Alto
7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church (Fellowship Hall), 1140 Cowper, Palo Alto. Featuring Camilo Mejía. Sponsored by Pennisula Peace and Justice Center. More info: Paul George 650.326.8837
Wednesday May 16 - Eureka
7pm at the Eureka Labor Temple, 840 E St. (@9th), Eureka. Featuring Camilo MejíaMore info: Becky Luening 707.826.9197
Thursday May 17 - Oakland
4pm youth event and 7pm program at the Humanist Hall, 411 28th St, Oakland. Featuring Camilo Mejía, Pablo Paredes and the Alternatives to War through Education (A.W.E.) Youth Action Team. Sponsored by Veteran's for Peace Chp. 69, Courage to Resist, Central Committee for Conscientious Objector's (CCCO) and AWE Youth Action Team.
Friday May 18 - Berkeley
7pm at St. Joseph the Worker, 1640 Addison St, Berkeley. Featuring Camilo Mejía. More info: Vivian Zelaya 510.845.4740
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