In July of 2006, Cindy Sheehan called for a fast, demanding that the troops be brought home. As a kickoff for the Troops Home Fast, a group of Texas activists picketed outside the East Gate of Fort Hood in Killeen. There were some soldiers who helped the demonstrators, such as a sergeant who gave some of the demonstrators a place to spend the night, and 2 or 3 who helped the demonstrators prepare for the action, by setting up signs and making runs to the store. But Killeen is mainly an Army town, and the main reaction shown to the demonstrators was hostility, including one soldier, who got into the face of a demonstrator who was carrying an inverted American Flag (an internationally recognized symbol of distress). The soldier got so heated, that it looked as if he might attack the woman who was holding the flag, until the media's cameras came. ...

I was so uplifted to hear one of the best concerts of my life in Corvallis Oregon last week. It was emma's revolution, who sang their hearts out for war resisters including Benji Lewis (whom Ashland WILPF just hosted last week) and Vets for Peace.

May 25, 2009 -- The ammunition and stores ship USNS AMELIA EARHART is in Everett Washington. The new ship is designed to deliver ammunition, food, fuel and other dry cargo to US and allied warships at sea. It will be crewed by 124 civil service mariners and, at times, will include an additional compliment of military personnel and carry two helicopters.

San Jose, CA: Memorial Day honors war dead. Unlike most U.S. war memorials, a stunning exhibit at De Anza College dramatizes not only American lives lost in the war in Iraq, but Iraqi lives lost as well. There is one figure for each confirmed fatality. But the ratio of 1:22 American to Iraqi deaths is extremely conservative. Read More & Pics: Memorial Day: Counting Lives Lost to Stop Inflicting Grief upon Others

Boston, MA: Boston Veterans For Peace and Military Families Speakout held their second annual anti-war Memorial Day observance in Waterfront Park on May 25, 2009. Speakers spoke about the devastation of the Iraq/Afghan wars and the terrible toll taken on US soldiers as well as civilians. After the speakers, the names of each Mass. soldier killed in Iraq/Afghanistan were read aloud and a flower was tossed in the harbor water... Read More & Pics: Boston Anti-War Memorial Day Event | Video

Rogue Valley, OR: Lined up very near the front of the parade immediately behind other veteran groups Veterans for Peace #156 marched with a clear message for peace. I didn't hear one derogatory remark or see one middle finger and I think that was the first time I have ever seen this happen when publicly standing up for peace...Read More & Pics: Vets for Peace in Grants Pass Boatnik Parade

Boston, Mass. May 25, 2009--Boston Veterans For Peace and Military Families Speakout held their second annual anti-war Memorial Day observance in Waterfront Park on May 25, 2009. Speakers spoke about the devastation of the Iraq/Afghan wars and the terrible toll taken on US soldiers as well as civilians. After the speakers, the names of each Mass. soldier killed in Iraq/Afghanistan were read aloud and a flower was tossed in the harbor water after each name was read. Bouquets of flowers were tossed in the water for the million civilian deaths in the two wars. This anti-war Memorial Day event stood in stark contrast to the many pro-war Memorial Day events held today. To see video click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktkHND-0ioE

Grants Pass, Oregon, Boatnik Parade - May 24, 2009: Lined up very near the front of the parade immediately behind other veteran groups Veterans for Peace #156 marched with a clear message for peace. I didn't hear one derogatory remark or see one middle finger and I think that was the first time I have ever seen this happen when publicly standing up for peace. Yes, there were a few "guys with folded arms" as another VfP marcher pointed out, however all had restraint. One woman's voice from the crowd still rings in my head: "thank you for doing this" -- Wes Brain, VfP156

Ashland, Oregon - 5/21/09: Cindy Sheehan is an inspirational and almost hallowed figure in the peace movement of the 21st Century, who, when confronted with her son's death while serving the military in Iraq, challenged President Bush at her Camp Casey near Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

But over a vegetarian dinner at Peace House, I found out that Cindy is not an icon to be placed on a shelf and admired, but a down-to-earth, approachable woman who has "just a trace of sorrow in her eyes" as the Jackson Browne song goes, but who also has the intellect, the information and the inclination to be a powerful leader of the peace movement for years to come.

Last Wednesday, we heard the unbelievable news that the Philadelphia Inquirer has hired John Yoo as a columnist. Yoo is the infamous author of the legal opinions that gave Bush legal cover to authorize torture. Many people have taken action by writing to the Inquirer to say that torture apologists like Yoo have no place on the payroll of a daily newspaper. So far the Inquirer has not replied to any letters, so we’re taking the action to their doorstep. On Wednesday, May 20 at 5:00 we’ll be gathering outside of the Philadelphia Inquirer’s building at 400 North Broad Street in Philadelphia.
Related: NLG has an election list to help note progressive judges

On Saturday, May 16th, at the ceremonies for UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall law school graduates, World Can't Wait protested against the author of U.S. torture memos, John Yoo, Boalt Hall Law Professor. The protest against torture called on graduates to demand that the UC law school not tolerate torture and those who are apologists for torture policies.

On this 5 year anniversary of her son Casey’s death in Iraq, Peace activist, Cindy Sheehan, also known as “Peace Mom” is touring the country with her new e-book: “Myth America: 10 Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case for Revolution!

Wednesday, May 20 Cindy will be in Mt. Shasta, CA at 7PM at the Stage Door Café, 414 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd.

Thursday, May 21st at 6pm Cindy Sheehan will be in Ashland at the Peace House for an "informal" gathering to explore, "Where is the energy for world peace among young people? Envisioning the future of the peace movement in 2010 and beyond."

Then she is off to Bloomsbury Books for a 7:30pm talk and book signing.

Description of stop loss by Mark Uresti at Coffee Strong.

War Criminal
Des and Medea have a chat with Donald Rumsfeld at the White House Correspondents' Dinner
Video

The Army opens up a hi-tech recruiting center in order to continue adventuring abroad.

On Saturday, May 2nd, the Iraq Veterans Against the War, the Veterans for Peace and the Delaware Valley Veterans for America all joined forces to protest the Army Experience Center, the hands-on, multimedia exhibit designed to sell war to the young as a fun, bloodless, mess-free game. Read More & Photos

More Coverage: Criminal Complaint Served and Seven Arrested at the Army Experience Center in Philadelphia Mall by Elaine Brower | Is Army Abusing Children With its Latest Experiment, the Army Experience Center? by Rob Kall | SHUT DOWN the KILL school by Bill Perry | Confronting Army's Phila. experiment by John Grant

The private military firm formerly known as Blackwater (now known as "Xe") has been increasingly on the defensive: some of the company's guards face manslaughter charges, and the company lost a key Iraq government contract to rival Triple Canopy (originally incorporated in Chicago).

"Blackwater" North, the company's installation in Illinois' Jo Daviess county, has seen peace activists in the Midwest launch vigorous protest activity in recent years. Activists wrote a new chapter in the struggle against Xe, with a recent "Stop Blackwater" conference and civil disobedience action at the Xe site, which saw 22 people arrested.

Video: Blackwater (Xe) Protest, Arrests at Illinois Facilities | From Urbana-Champaign IMC: Four Catholic Workers Among 22 Arrested At Blackwater Site

On Mothers Day, May 10, Code Pink marched on the "children's arms expo" on the Mall. When Code Pink members tried to enter, police simply CLOSED that entrance! About 1/2 hour later, police grabbed one Code pink member and arrested her without warning. TEXTHERE | WSQT Broadcast Audio

"We will not be silent" On Mothers Day a 30 minute Silent Vigil was happening in Portland Oregon ...on the sidewalk, outside the Rhododendron Gardens. The music was edited in latter and was sung by "A Suspended Mind." This Silent Vigil was organized by "Code Pink" and local peace activists and organizations around the world. [ Read More | video link from the vigil | Mother's Day Proclamation ]

On Wednesday, May 6, several Women in Black members were holding signs of peace in the breeze way of the Fresno County Courthouse when they were confronted by armed Sheriff Deputies and threatened with arrest. One of the shotgun toting guards was quoted as saying "Guns don't kill people, people kill people."

The Port Liberation Front (PLF) would like to encourage people to attend both rallies that Port Militarization Resistance (PMR) has called for:

--> Friday May 8th, 4:30pm – 7:00pm at the Tacoma Federal Courthouse
--> Friday May 8th, 8:00pm on the corner of 54th Ave. and Pacific Highway in Fife (in front of the Poodle Dog Restaurant).

The Department of Justice has dropped its case against 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, a war resister who refused Iraq deployment in June 2006 and denounced President George W. Bush’s decision to invade as illegal and immoral.

Collateral Repair Project Co-director, Sasha Crow, recently returned from 3 months in Amman, working directly with Iraqi refugees. Stop by Headwaters Gallery on May 9 to shop for your Mother’s Day gift, meet Sasha and to talk with us about our work in Amman, Jordan.