December 8th through 10th were National Days of Action to Support GI Resistance and GI Rights. Military resisters, their families, veterans and concerned community members took public action all over the US. In San Francisco, there was a rally and procession on Saturday, December 9th at at the War Memorial Veterans Building. Photos

Iraq War Resisters included Darrell Anderson, an Iraq War Veteran and War Resister; Kyle Snyder, an AWOL Iraq Veteran and War Resister; Bob Watada & Rosa Sakanishi, father and stepmother of Lt. Ehren Watada; Jeff Paterson, Gulf War 1 Marine resister; and members of Iraq Veterans Against the War. At 11am was a forum entitled GI Rights, GI Resistance and Ending the War. It will take place at the War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave at McAllister St (Civic Center BART). The event included Maxine Hong Kingston, author,poet and co-author of the new book, “Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace”; Anita Dennis, mother of Iraq War Veteran and War Resister Darrell Anderson; and others.

Courage to resist says that it is time to "escalate public pressure and action in support of the growing movement of thousands of courageous... GI’s who have in many different ways followed the their conscience, upholding international law, taking a principled stand against unjust, illegal war and occupation and stood up for their rights. Widespread public support and pressure will help create true support for courageous troops facing isolation and repression, and help protect their civil liberties and human rights."

Other Bay Area Events: On Friday, December 8th, 7:30pm at the College of Marin in Kentfield, segments of the film "Ground Truth" were shown, and Iraq combat veteran-turned-war-resister Darrell Anderson spoke. Also that evening, at 7:30pm at the Buena Vista United Methodist Church in Alameda, the film "The Ground Truth" was shown, and there was a panel with Rev. Michael Yoshii, and Bob Watada and Rosa Sakanishi. That night in San Jose, there was a reception and fundraiser for Kyle Snyder at 6pm at the San Jose Friends Meeting House. On Saturday December 9th, there was a peace vigil in support of Lt. Ehren Watada, in front of the MLK, Jr. Library in San Jose from 12-4pm. Read more about these events

Courage to Resist | Marin Peace and Justice Center