FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2008
CONTACT: Tanya Austin, 831-917-5448, tanya.austin@tmo.blackberry.net
Emilie Surrusco, 202-253-7298, emilie@ivaw.org
Iraq Veterans' Winter Soldier: It's our turn to tell our stories
Central Illinois Chapter to send four members for testimony and participation
Champaign, IL -- For the first time since the U.S. invasion, hundreds of veterans of the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan will be gathering in Washington to speak out and tell their stories. Local veterans will be joining the effort by showing a live feed of the Winter Soldier event at the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign campus -- and joining a nationwide network of veterans and service members committed to speaking out about a reality that, until now, has remained hidden.
From March 13-16 at the National Labor College just outside of Washington, D.C., veterans from across the country will be standing up to share their experiences at Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan. Their stories will show the human consequences of failed policy. Central Illinois Chapter members of Iraq Veterans Against the War that will be participating at the event include Martin Smith, Nathan Peld, Tanya Austin, and Jason Wallace the Green Party candidate Illinois' 11th Congressional District, .
"We've heard from the politicians, we've heard from the generals, we've heard from the media – now it's our turn," said Kelly Dougherty, executive director of IVAW and a former sergeant in the Colorado Army National Guard, who served in Iraq as a military police officer. "It's not going to be easy to hear what we have to say. It's not going to be easy for us to tell it. But we believe that the only way this war is going to end is if the American people truly understand what we have done in their name."
WHAT: Winter Soldier Testimony -- Live Feed
WHO: Central Illinois Chapter of IVAW
WHERE: University of Illinois, Lincoln Hall, Room 106. 702 S. Wright Street, Ave. Urbana, IL.
WHEN: Friday, March 14, 6:00-7:30pm
WHY: To give local veterans the opportunity to participate in this groundbreaking event
Iraq Veterans Against the War was founded in 2004 to give those who have served in the military since September 11, 2001 a way to come together and speak out against an unjust, illegal and unwinnable war. Today, IVAW has over 700 members in 49 states, Washington, D.C. and Canada and on military bases overseas.
For more information on Winter Soldier: www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier/media
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Jason Wallace, Candidate
U.S. House of Representatives
Illinois 11th Congressional District
PO Box 708
Bloomington, IL 61702-0708
Office 309.532.3446
Cell 309.826.5290
Fax: 1.866.554.3176
jason@electwallace.us
http://www.electwallace.us
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Jason Wallace
The above press release was sent to the public account of The Common Ills Tuesday night and first noted (at TCI) on Wednesday morning. Not only did the likes of John Kerry (who testified at the first Winter Soldiers during Vietnam) skip the proceedings but a lot of the 'peace' movement failed to mention it or help get the word out. Jason Wallace stood up. If you're in Illinois' 11th Congressional district, you can stand with Wallace and show your support for him.