News & Blogs
- Fight to Survive is a collection of posts from a groups of soldiers deployed in Iraq between Jan. 2004 and March 2005, as an expression of their raw emotions and thoughts while serving. They have posted since being honorably discharged in Summer 2005.
- A Matter of Conscience: Photographic and oral history project documenting GI’s who resisted from within the military during the Vietnam War.
- G.I. Special is a near-daily news bulletin for service members.
- Traveling Soldier Telling the truth – about the occupation, the cuts to veterans benefits, or the dangers of depleted uranium
GI Rights
- Center on Conscience and War works to defend and extend the rights of conscientious objectors. The Center is committed to supporting all those who question participation in war, whether they are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, documented or undocumented immigrants–or citizens in other countries.
- Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors supports and promotes individual and collective resistance to war and preparations for war.
- G.I. Rights Hotline and G.I. Rights Hotline Network- Toll-free Hotline 800-394-9544 is answered by a coalition of nonprofit, non-governmental organizations who provide information to members of the military about discharges, grievance and complaint procedures, and other civil rights.
- Peace-Out is a website for service members who want to get out of the military as a Conscientios Objector (someone who’s opposed to war).
- Seattle Draft & Military Counseling Center – Provides accurate, comprehensive, and objective information about Selective Service, military law, military regulations, and administrative procedures to anyone in need of this service, and to assist them in applying this information to their own situation and goals. Part of the GI Rights Hotline network.
Military Law
- Center for Constitutional Rights
- Citizens’ Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq – War tribunal in Tacoma to present Lt. Ehren Watada’s case that the Iraq War is illegal. Includes report and audio/video from January 2007 tribunal.
- “Doing the right thing: What to do if you’re issued an unlawful order,” by William H. McMichael, Army Times (24 May 2004).
- Department of Defense Directive 1326.5 on dissent & protest
- Department of Defense Directive 1344.10 on political activities
- Department of Defense Directive 7050.6 on whistleblowing
- Discharge and Personnel Regulations for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces
- A Duty to Disobey Unlawful Orders by Larry Mosqueda
- Geneva Conventions
- Military Law Task Force of the National Lawyers Guild assists those working on military law issues as well as military law counselors working directly with GIs. It trains and mentors counselors and beginning military law attorneys in all aspects of military law through training materials and direct communication. Its Web site also includes comprehensive links to legal and other resources of interest to military personnel.
- Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)
- U.S. Army Field Manual 27-10: The Law of Land Warfare
Take Action
- An Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to their Congressional Representative and US Senators to urge an end to the U.S. military occupation. Appeal for Redress will continue to collect signatures until all active duty, Guard, and active reserve soldiers are out of Iraq.
- Bring Them Home Now! is a campaign of military families, veterans, active duty personnel, reservists and others opposed to the ongoing war in Iraq, galvanized to action by George W. Bush’s reckless “Bring ‘em on” challenge to the Iraqi resistance. “Our mission is to mobilize military families, veterans, and GIs themselves to demand: an end to the occupation of Iraq and other misguided military adventures; and an immediate return of all US troops to their home duty stations.”
- Citizen Soldier is a GI/veterans rights advocacy group founded during the Vietnam war. They have recently provided legal defense and public advocacy for Gulf War refusers.
- Different Drummer is a GI Coffeehouse/café at Fort Drum, New York.
- Iraq Veterans Against the War was founded by veterans in 2004 to give a voice to the large number of active duty service people and veterans who are against this war, but are under various pressures to remain silent. From its inception, IVAW has called for an immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces in Iraq; Reparations for the destruction and corporate pillaging of Iraq so that Iraqi people can control their own lives and future; and Full benefits, adequate healthcare (including mental health), and other supports for returning servicemen and women.
- Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the nation’s first and largest group dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilian supporters of those Troops and Veterans.
- Sir! No Sir! Film on GI resistance during the Vietnam War, including an extensive library of the GI underground press (including Fort Lewis):
- Soldiers for the Truth to make sure troops have the right leadership, training and equipment to meet their assigned missions and to make it home alive and in one piece.
- Support Our Returning Troops to educate and provide therapeutic assistance to returning war veterans and their families, whose health has been affected by their wartime experiences.
- U.S. Heros of the Iraq War - honoring those soldiers who risked loss of liberty, economic deprivation, and social ostracism.
