28 arrested in San Francisco as Lt. Watada faces pre-trial hearing in Ft. Lewis, WA.

(Above photo by Michael Eisenscher, National Coordinator, US Labor Against the War)

San Francisco, CA (January 4, 2007) - Over 200 people gathered at the Federal Building in downtown San Francisco on January 4, 2007 to demonstrate support for Lt. Ehren Watada, the first U.S. commissioned officer to refuse deployment to Iraq, and to demand an end to the Iraq war as the death toll reaches over 650,000 Iraqi's and over 3,000 U.S troops. 28 people laid down with white shrouds in front of the doors of the Federal Building to declare "No business as usual while the killing and dying continue in Iraq."

Grace Shimizu, a member of the Watada Support Commitee/Asian Pacific-Islanders Resist!, was one of the 28 arrested at the doors of the Federal Building. She explains the reasons she was compelled to risk being arrested for the first time for civil disobedience, "Lt. Ehren Watada has inspired me to make my own decision of conscience to take action against this illegal and immoral war and occupation of Iraq which has killed over 3000 US troops and 600,000 Iraqi men, women and children. I took part in this civil disobedience on the same day which marked the beginning of Lt. Ehren Watada's court martial process. Supporting the courageous resisters within the military, like Lt. Watada, and their families is one very important way to stop the war crimes, end the occupation, bring the troops home and defend our Constitution."

Shimizu, along with other Bay Area supporters, plans to travel to Ft. Lewis to demonstrate her support for his refusal to deploy to Iraq. Watada faces over six years imprisoned if convicted of all the charges he faces. In addition to the one charge of missing troop movement for refusing to board a plane to Iraq on June 22, he is charged with four counts of conduct unbecoming an officer, all of which stem from public statements he made about his reasons for refusing what he believes is an "illegal order" and that by participating "would make me party to war crimes".

Speakers at the Vigil included David Hartsough, Ken Butigan, Rev. Dr. Dorsey Blake, Rev. Meg Whitaker-Greene, and Rev.Lloyd Wake, but the crowd was moved to tears by Marilyn Saner, member of Miliatry Families Speak Out, and mother of an active duty Army soldier injured by an IED in Iraq currently facing the possibility of re-deployment. "Our children are not going to Iraq to spread democracy in the Middle East: They're going to keep their fellow soldiers alive with the hope and prayers that they will survive that mission...We must demand of our leaders that they bring our troops home now..Remember it's the people who have the power" View a video of her speech here: http://indybay.org/newsitems/2007/01/05/18344239.php



The day's event began at the SF Japantown Peace Plaza in the late morning when over 30 people gathered displaying banners and signs in support of Lt. Watada as his pre-trial hearing was underway in Ft. Lewis, WA. There was a procession to the to the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco where they were joined by members of the Unitarian congregation and the Declaration of Peace.

The delegation then joined the peace vigil already underway at the Federal Building. There has been a weekly peace vigil at the SF Federal Building from noon to 1pm every Thursday since October 2001, but this week as the death toll in Iraq continues to mount and Lt. Watada faces court martial for following his conscience and refusing to participate in the Iraq war, the numbers swelled to over 200 people demanding "Troops Home Now!".

The vigil was sponsored by Watada Support Committee, APIs Resists!, Declaration of Peace, First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco, American Friends Service Committee, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Episcopal Peace Fellowship and San Francisco Friends Meeting. Other groups participating were Courage to Resist, Vietnam Veterans Against the War and Code Pink.

"It is heartening to see so many different groups and people come together and to see support of Lt. Watada merging with the larger anti-war movement. It is not only a right but an obligation to resist illegal war and I'm especially supportive and inspired by the immense courage it takes those within the military to resist," said Buff Whitman Bradley, another arrested at the doors of the Federal Building. "By supporting these brave individuals, together we have the power to stop this war." He says he also intends to make the long journey to the Ft. Lewis area for the beginning of the upcoming court martial.

This action was the first civil disobedience in support of Lt. Ehren Watada. Organizers say that it demonstrates that support for Lt. Watada is escalting as his court martial approaches. Nationally, supporters are gearing up for a Day of Action to Stand with Lt. Watada on February 5, 2007 to coincide with the beginning of his court martial. A regional mobilization is planned at Ft. Lewis and solidarity events are being planned across the country. For more info visit: http://www.CouragetoResist.org or http://wwwThankYouLt.org

A Citizens' Hearings is being convened January 20-22 at Evergreen State College , Tacoma campus in order to fully evaluate Lt. Watada's claims regarding the legality and morality of the Iraq War. Confirmed witness include: Daniel Ellsberg, military analyst who released the Pentagon Papers in the Vietnam War; Denis Halliday, former UN Assistant Secretary General; Richard Falk, Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University. For more information: http://www.WarTribunal.org

Additional Media Links of San Francisco and Ft. Lewis events:

San Francisco: SF Chronicle: 28 are arrested at courthouse protest http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/05/BAGLHNDE4J1.DTL

CBS 5: 28 Antiwar Protesters Arrested At SF Federal Bldg. http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_004183939.html

NBC 11: 28 Arrested At SF Federal Building http://www.nbc11.com/news/10673981/detail.html

SF Bay Area Indymedia: Die in at Federal Building: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/01/05/18344230.php

DIE-IN AT THE SF FEDERAL BUILDING: The True Meaning of 'Support Our Troops': http://indybay.org/newsitems/2007/01/05/18344239.php

Additional photos posted at: http://sfciviccenter.blogspot.com/

Fort Lewis:

Supporters rally at the gates of Ft. Lewis as pre-trial began for Lt. Ehren Watada by Lori Hurlebaus, Courage to Resist: http://indybay.org/newsitems/2007/01/06/18344356.php

Lt. Watada hearing tackles free speech for soldiers, relevancy of truth by Jeff Paterson, Courage to Resist: http://indybay.org/newsitems/2007/01/05/18344326.php

Conduct charges might help Watada's defense by Christian Hill, The Olympian: http://www.theolympian.com/101/story/59127.html