2.500 Shut Down Military Recruiting Center in Support of GI Resistance

Seattle, WA (January 27, 2007) - Over 2,500 people shut down a military recruiting center in Seattle in support of
war resisters and in opposition to a troop surge in Iraq. Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War led a march that
began at the Social Justice Center to a military recruiting center at 23rd Ave. and Jackson St. located in the Central
District, a heavily recruited working class neighborhood. Community members emerged from houses and joined the
march as it snaked through the neighborhood. As the march drew near to the recruiting center the demonstrators
began chanting , "Occupation is a crime, Ehren Watada should do no time!" and "You gotta resist, don't enlist!"
Many in the crowd were displaying banners and signs in support of Lt. Ehren Watada including a banner that read
"Support Ehren Watada, Feb 5, Ft. Lewis, Exit 119" Lt. Ehren Watada, the first U.S. commissioned officer to
refuse deployment to Iraq, is facing court martial on Feb 5 and supporters are gearing up to demonstrate
outside of Ft. Lewis on the day his court martial begins.

Chanan Suarez-Diaz and Darrell Anderson, both Iraq combat veterans and members of Iraq Veterans
Against the War , were attempting to present the recruiters with a book of photos of all U.S. service
members who have died in Iraq, but the center was closed as the demonstrators arrived and the recruiters
would not accept the book. A police line was formed in front of the center as demonstrators continued to
amass demanding, "Shut it down!"

"Shutting down the center today is a success because its one less day that the military can recruit
another person to die in this war," said Chanan Suarez-Diaz. "We need to continue to build momemtem
and support for Lt. Watada and all military resisters. Supporting soldiers who are resisting this war is
one of the best ways to bring this war to an end."

For more information on mobilizing to Ft. Lewis and national events
in support of Lt. Ehren Watada visit:
http://www.CouragetoResist.org and http://www.ThankYouLt.org