Coffee Strong is gearing up in preparation for soldiers returning to Ft Lewis later this year. We are looking for volunteers and interns with specific skills and interests. Contact Andrew or Jen for more details, at 253-581-1565, and check out the details at www.GIVoice.org.
We’re excited to announce a grant from RESIST, which means a new website is under development for Coffee Strong! The new website will provide better communication among our community of supporters. This month we look forward to:
- Hosting guest speakers and films this Spring (see below)
- Avoiding further burglaries
Yes, the third break-in took place January 23. Several locations near-by also sustained burglaries. Negative energy saps the indispensable enthusiasm our vets give their vital project, a safe haven for people who are really hurting.
GI Voice exists to provide essential services to returning soldiers and veterans, who are having difficulty with an array of mental and physical health problems and GI Rights violations. In 2009 we provided services for 83 soldiers. Andrew vanDenBergh, our coffeehouse manager, reminds us that many of the GI Rights cases go on for several months.
Coffee Strong vets are making an incredible difference; we often hear stories about how the support given to their peers literally saves lives. A veterans’ advocacy group has been meeting at Coffee Strong, with students preparing to pass a very difficult test that prepares them to advocate for veterans’ benefits, just as an attorney does. Many thanks to Dennis, Lena, Mark and Perry for your efforts to provide and film the training!
We are concerned about the well-being of the community and recognize many are locked out of health care, essential food, jobs and housing. And Coffee Strong is taking action to prevent further burglaries. We send a special thanks to Larry who donated a Mac computer for administrative work, and to Perry, who donated two printers to the coffeehouse.
This is a time to ask our Community of support to help with donations! If you have a laptop to donate that runs well, we will bolt it to the floor! Innovative protective devices are under consideration, and we could use your financial help with this project.. We deeply appreciate your support, and donations can be made to Seattle Draft and Military Counseling Center, for a tax deduction, or to GI Voice. Please mail to G.I. Voice, P.O. Box 99404, Lakewood, WA 98496.
With many thanks,
The Coffeehouse Baristas
See www.GIVoice.org for a list of volunteer and internship opportunities. Positions are now open.
Upcoming Events at Coffee Strong
Sergeant Travis Bishop received word that he was given a 3-month suspension, of the 12 month sentence he received last year for refusing to deploy to Afghanistan based on his Christian religious beliefs against war.
Sgt. Bishop’s clemency application included a legal brief (alleging problems at trial, problems with the processing of Bishop’s conscientious objector claim, and mistreatment at the Fort Lewis brig), a hand-written letter from Sgt. Bishop, and 433 letters (signed by a total of 538 people from 21 different countries) from members of Amnesty International and Coffee Strong, calling for Sgt. Bishop to be released.
Sgt. Bishop’s civilian attorney, James M. Branum, estimates that Sgt. Bishop will be released no later than March 31 based on the amount of good behavior credit Sgt. Bishop has earned.. Check www.GIVoice.org for the announcement of the celebration planned on the day of his release, in collaboration with Amnesty International and Seattle Veterans for Peace. We anticipate the date toward the end of March.
Join Elizabeth Stinson and Tanya Brannan at CS: March 2, 6:30 to 8:30 pm (no charge)
Two very powerful speakers will discuss dynamics they’ve identified over the last decade working with military sexual trauma (Stinson) and sexual assault among wives or partners of police officers (Brannan). Both women have extraordinary backgrounds, and both have received honors for their work in Sonoma County, CA.
Come meet Stinson, and appreciate the clarity of her communication, very respectful yet clear approach to resolving issues that threaten the power and rights of women and soldiers. Tanya Brannan argued the first successful lawsuit against a police department for their failure to provide protection for a woman against domestic violence.
Discussion re: Supreme Court decision, “Citizens United” Friday, March 5, 7 to 9:00 pm (no charge)
The Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United is just the latest–and most blatant–example that corporations have hijacked our government. The ruling leaves ordinary citizens little opportunity to participate in making the fundamental decisions that affect our lives. Corporations are using our legal system to elect our representatives.
Rikki Ott and David Cobb (Democracy Unlimited Humboldt County; Green Party presidential candidate) will facilitate a community dialogue on how our community can join the movement to abolish corporate personhood.
SAVE THE DATE: Friday, March 19th — 7th Anniversary of the War — Tacoma Event
War Costs! Who Pays? And Who Profits?
Friday, March 19th is the 7th anniversary of beginning the Shocking and Awful bombing of Iraq in 2003.
Save the date to protest our current foreign policy in Iraq, and Afghanistan/Pakistan.
4:00 pm RALLY at the Federal Courthouse in Tacoma, followed by MARCH to I-5 overpass. Working at 4:00 PM? Then join our demonstration at 5:30 at the Pacific Ave/I-5 overpass (bridge).
Watch www.GIVoice.org for more details. The Tacoma chapter of IVAW will be announcing powerful street theater events locally. Co-sponsored by Iraq Veterans Against the War–Tacoma Chapter and United for Peace of Pierce County. For information call 253-573-1504.
SAVE THIS DATE: Ann Wright in Tacoma April 24, 2010!
Ret. Colonel Ann Wright will join us in Tacoma at King’s Books from 2 to 4 pmto discuss the wars in the Middle East. King’s Books is located at 218 St Helens Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402.
Ann will outline the relationship between the Israeli Occupation of Gaza, and the role the US plays in each of the wars in Iraq, Asghanistan, Pakistan.
An open discussion will follow, specific to the resistance of ongoing war, and costs to communities and returning soldiers. Ann will have thoughts about what needs to happen, and we look forward to hearing from you. Please RSVP at mollygibbs3@gmail.com or at Coffee Strong’s FB!
