This is undoubtedly now happening throughout the Service, along with
the poverty draft and the pending bill to start a mandatory draft on June 15th.
Whoever gets elected, these issues become the cutting edge of the Iraq War
Resistance. I'll send you info on the draft bill. The lead article is prelude to
the films noted below it, which involve those destined to kill and be killed.
Get to know these young people, mostly of color. Our country and world
are changing in many ways, including our fight for a better one. 'Our' is now
multi-hued and will be a source of strength and beauty. No more strangers.
Ed
AP via 9News.co - Sept 16, 2004
http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=084435ac-0abe-421a-0195-7116da61b4e2&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf
Soldiers Say They Are Being Threatened with Iraq Duty
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - Soldiers from a combat unit at
Fort Carson say they have been told to re-enlist for three more years or
be transferred to other units expected to deploy to Iraq, the Rocky
Mountain News reported Thursday.
Hundreds of soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team were presented
with that message and a re-enlistment form in a series of assemblies
last week, two soldiers who spoke on condition of anonymity told the
newspaper.
"They said if you refuse to re-enlist with the 3rd Brigade, we'll
send you down to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which is going to
Iraq for a year, and you can stay with them, or we'll send you to
Korea, or to Fort Riley (in Kansas) where they're going to Iraq,"
said one of the soldiers, a sergeant.
The second soldier, an enlisted man, echoed that view: "They told us
if we don't re-enlist, then we'd have to be reassigned. And where
we're most needed is in units that are going back to Iraq in the next
couple of months. So if you think you're getting out, you're not."
The sergeant told the News the threat has outraged soldiers who are
close to fulfilling their service obligation.
"We have a whole platoon who refuses to sign," he said.
An unidentified Fort Carson spokesman said Wednesday that 3rd
Brigade recruitment officers denied threatening the soldiers with
more duty in Iraq.
"I can only tell you what the retention officers told us: The
soldiers were not being told they will go to Iraq, but they may go to
Iraq," said the spokesman, who confirmed the re-enlistment drive is
under way.
One of the soldiers provided the form to the News. If signed, it
would bind the soldier to the 3rd Brigade until Dec. 31, 2007.
An Army spokesman, Lt. Col. Gerard Healy, said sending soldiers to
Iraq with less than one year of their enlistment remaining "would not
be taken lightly."
"There's probably a lot of places on post where they could put those
folks (who don't re-enlist) until their time expires," he said. "But
I don't want to rule out the possibility that they could go to a unit
that might deploy."
Extending a soldier's active duty is within Army authority, since
the enlistment contract carries an eight-year obligation, even if a
soldier signs up for shorter terms. Members of Iraq-bound units can
be retained for an entire year in Iraq, even if their active-duty
enlistment expires.
"I don't want to go back to Iraq," the sergeant told the News. "I
went through a lot of things for the Army that weren't necessary and
were risky. Iraq has changed a lot of people."
The enlisted soldier said the recruiters' message left him "filled
with dread."
"For me, it wasn't about going back to Iraq. It's just the fact that
I'm ready to get out of the Army," he said.
***
*********The Richie Perez Memorial Tribute presents*********
Films for Social Justice
On March 28, 2004 we lost a great visionary, teacher, and revolutionary: Richie
Perez�former Young Lord and life long activist. In his memory at the 6th month
anniversary of his passing the Puerto Rican Alliance, IMIX Bookstore, Divine Forces
Radio Show, and various friends, comrades, and allies have brought together three
documentaries in his honor.
=========================
Thursday, September 23rd
Begins promptly at 7PM
IMIX Bookstore
5052 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
=========================
***Palante, Siempre Palante! The Young Lords (1996)***: In the midst of the civil
rights struggle of the 1960s and 0s, young Puerto Ricans in Chicago and New York City
organized into a group called the Young Lords Organization to achieve economic and
social justice. Using archival footage, photographs and music, the film documents
their activities, philosophy, the eventual demise of the organization, and its legacy
as an inspirational resource for students and activists today. Running Time: 48 min.
***Every Mother's Son (2004)***: In the late 1990s, three victims of police brutality
in New York City made headlines around the country: Amadou Diallo, the young West
African man whose killing sparked intense public protest; Anthony Baez, killed in an
illegal choke-hold; and Gary (Gidone) Busch, a Hasidic Jew shot and killed outside his
Brooklyn home. The film tells of the victims' three mothers who came together to
demand justice and accountability. Running Time: 60 min.
***Vieques: A Documentary Film (2000)***: The destructive impact of the US naval
testing on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques, becomes a cataqlyst for resistence.
The film gives a brief history of Vieques, including its relationship to the rest of
Puerto Rico; information on the original indigenous inhabitants and the island's
archaeological riches; the brazen arrival of the US Navy; the process of consensus
building among the residents of Vieques and the final development of the resistance
movement. Running Time: 92 min.
*In conjunction with the Richie Perez Memorial Tribute to be held at the International
Action Center on Sunday, September 26th, 2004 at 1PM.
***
Dear Friend, we hope you'll join us for some great films that will be
shown this week at the Southern California Library (6120 S. Vermont
Avenue, Los Angeles).
THURSDAY EVENING
This Thursday, September 23, 7 p.m., we'll feature two important films:
Waging Peace, about the massive worldwide protests on the eve of the
Iraq war, and clips from the compilation What I've Learned About U.S.
Foreign Policy: The War Against the Third World. Frank Dorrell (who
put together the compilation and publisher of Addicted to War,
www.addictedtowar.com) will be on hand and will have copies of both
films available at low cost. The films are part of our "Politics of
Deception" film series--check it out at
www.socallib.org/SCLWebSite/events/politicsfilms ($5 donation
but no one turned away). We had a great post-film discussion after our
last film, Unprecedented, so hope you'll join us for this one.
SATURDAY MORNING
Then on Saturday, September 25, 11 a.m., we will watch and discuss
the final film in our "Zoot Suit to Hip Hop: Youth Culture in South L.A."
film series: "Pass the Mic" a documentary that explores Latinos in
hip-hop. Pass the Mic is a thought-provoking look into the
multi-cultural roots of hip-hop. The film tells the stories of the key
figures who have revolutionized hip-hop culture, through riveting
interviews, exclusive backstage footage, and dope music! Step inside
the recording studios, put on a headset, and prepare to Pass the Mic!
Go to www.socallib.org/generations/events/zootsuit8904 for more info.
Free.
Come hang out with cool people and see some mind-expanding films.
We'll provide the popcorn!
Michele
Michele Welsing
Communications Director
Southern California Library
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
323-759-6063 (ph)
www.socallib.org
Using History to Advance Social Justice
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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