CA, San Francisco: Iraq Veterans Speak Out Against the War

CA

San Francisco

Where: Veterans War Memorial Bldg. (Room 207), 401 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco CA 94102

Map to Event

Featuring Agustín Aguayo, Camilo Mejía and Pablo Paredes. Army Spc. Agustin Aguayo stepped off of a plane today at Sacramento International Airport after being imprisoned by the U.S. Army and held in Germany for nine months. Agustin was convicted of missing movement and desertion for refusing to redeploy to Iraq last year and publicly speaking out against the war.

Agustin’s wife Helga and Courage to Resist supporters met him at the airport, give him a couple hours to relax from his 18-hour journey from Germany, and whisked him to his first speaking event in California’s capitol. From here, Agustin is beginning a multi-city tour covering much of Northern California.

Here are links to websites telling his story: www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/257/1/ and http://www.aguayodefense.org/

In the upcoming days, Agustin will be joined by fellow Iraq War resisters Army Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejía, Navy Petty Officer Pablo Paredes, and Marine L/Cpl Robert Zabala.

Camilo Mejía was one of the first Iraq combat veterans to refuse to return to Iraq and served almost nine months in prison for his stand. In his new 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.

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.

Please support Agustin Aguayo and other soldados razos! There is no charge at the door but please consider donating to la causa de Agustin and others.

Email form.

Sponsored by Courage to Resist, Veterans for Peace Chp. 69 and SF Codepink. More info: courage@riseup.net or 510.764.2073. Download the event leaflet and help distribute! (PDF)