Solidarity With Watada
    By Melinda Tuhus
    The New Haven Independent

    Tuesday 06 February 2007

(Photo: Melinda Tuhus )

    With cold and wind that made it feel like one degree on Monday afternoon, activists inadvertently found a way to distribute flyers in support of the first commissioned officer in the U.S. military to refuse deployment to Iraq: The wind just kept blowing them away. Local peace activist Chris Schweitzer had to fight the wind to hold his sign at the corner of Church and Center.

    Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada joined the Army after September 11, 2001, motivated by a desire to protect his country. He served a tour of duty in Korea, where he earned superior evaluations. Then he was told he'd be deploying to Iraq, so he did some homework. His research led him to the conclusion that the war was both illegal - violating U.S. and international law - and immoral, and that fighting it would make him liable for war crimes.

(Photo: New Haven Independent)

    His trial began on Monday at Ft. Lewis in Washington State. He's charged with conduct unbecoming an officer, for statements he made in speeches and interviews, and missing movement, for refusing to deploy to Iraq in June 2006. If convicted, he faces four years in a military prison and a dishonorable discharge.

    Schweitzer said he came to publicly declare his support for Watada and his opposition to the war, saying he appreciates the risks the young officer is taking by his stand. Click here for more.

    It was hard to find any passersby to comment - they were too cold, they said. But inside the Dunkin' Donuts across Center Street, Ebony Burroughs was staying warm while waiting for her bus. She said she could understand why the Army would prosecute Watada, to discourage others from taking the same action. But she's opposed to the war, and she added this.