Center for Conscience in Action

Today, we celebrate the life and birth of Martin Luther King Jr. We celebrate his legacy as a radical activist and anti-imperialist, who rightfully saw militarism, capitalism and fascism as the root causes of injustice in our society, and across the world.

While his calls for nonviolence and peace are often shared wildly, and remain incredibly powerful guides and tools for us all, his words that critique the government, military and capitalism are far too often ignored.

In his famous speech The Three Evils of Society, King stated: “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”

As the US continues to fund the Israeli military’s murder of tens of thousands of Palestinians, these words could not ring truer today. The foundations of the Israeli state—Zionism, racism, and supremacy—are part and parcel of the global systems of imperialism that oppresses people around the world.

In the words of lives:

“As we resist the fascist leaders of Israel who are committing genocide against the Palestinian people, we remind our selves that across the world, no human deserves genocide and oppression. Just like we continue to fight for the collective liberation of Black people who deserve the opportunity to be free, to thrive, to feel safe in our homes, communities, bodies, so do our siblings in Palestine.”

May we strive to live by these as we continue to fight for the liberation of Palestinians—and for all people. A better world is possible.

WRI exec statement: on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire As a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel comes into force, we can only begin to imagine the relief of all those who were being bombed yesterday, but are not being bombed today.

Martin Luther King at the UN for an Anti-Vietnam War Demonstration (15 April 1967) From the Archives: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. makes a speech in front of UN Secretariat Building at the Anti-Vietnam War Demonstration. Crowd marching carrie...

I'm giving serious thought to submitting a bold proposal to President Joe Biden (for his hopeful consideration after the election but before he leaves office) --- to pardon all US servicemembers who went AWOL (or committed other acts of nonviolent civil disobedience) during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

I think Biden's departure from office presents a unique opportunity for the peace movement since he is looking to establish his legacy. I think this kind of pardon might fit the bill. It would also be a major positive step for our country, but also for the hundreds of servicemembers whose lives have been set back by either court-martial convictions or the threat of future arrest (especially for those who went to Canada and other third countries). I have had a few dozen clients over the years who would be affected by this, and it would be a really big deal for them.

I will be needing help to make this happen. Some of these tasks include:

1. Endorsements from organizations, religious communities, etc.
2. Assistance with drafting the actual pardon request and the draft pardon language that we want Biden to use,
3. Help with lobbying President Biden to take this action.

If you or a group you are part of would be interested in joining this effort, please be in touch.

Also, if you are a war resister from this era, please consider writing a statement explaining how such a pardon would effect you, as we would need these statements as evidence to present to the White House.

Tagging: Courage To Resist Military Law Task Force of the National Lawyers Guild, Center on Conscience & War, Veterans For Peace, About Face: Veterans Against the War

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/26/world/europe/ukraine-draft-consulate.html

(a non-paywall link for this story: https://archive.ph/RC2f9 )

It is very disappointing (but not surprising) that the US is backing Ukraine in violating the human rights of Ukrainian conscientious objectors.

Excerpt: As American officials pressed lawmakers in Washington to deliver more military aid for Ukraine, they also pressed the government in Kyiv to address problems with its draft.

James O’Brien, the assistant U.S. secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, noted on a visit to Kyiv this week that the country’s mobilization efforts were every bit as critical to stabilizing the front and turning the tide of war as artillery.

“Ukraine needs to make sure it has the people necessary to fight,” he said at a news conference.

archive.ph

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/gop-rep-tim-walberg-suggests-gaza-handled-nagasaki-hiroshima-rcna145752

We need to be clear about this.

Rep Tim Walberg is advocating for and is promoting the commission of . He is now trying to dodge these accusations but he is forgetting something very important: the atomic bomb attacks on and were war crimes. Unfortunately, the US got away with this crime, but it doesn't change the fact that the atom bomb drops were among the most vile and depraved acts committed by the United States of America.

GOP Rep. Tim Walberg suggests Gaza should be handled 'like Nagasaki and Hiroshima' The Michigan congressman said his comments were intended to convey his desire for Israel and Ukraine to "swiftly" end their wars "without putting American troops in harm's way."

https://nlgmltf.org/military-law/2024/petition-launched-to-support-survivor-of-military-recruiter-abuse/

Please consider signing this petition in support of one of my clients, Lavender Gunderson, a survivor of military recruiting abuse.

This petition has three main prongs:

1. Expressing support for Lavender's discharge upgrade case with the Board of Corrections of Naval Records (BCNR) so that she will be eligible for VA care in the future,
2. Demanding Congress take further action to stop recruiter abuse,
3. Demanding the Executive branch (including President Joe Biden, the Secretary of Defense, and the branch secretaries) take action to implement further regulations to prevent recruiter abuse.

And after you sign, please share the petition.

P.S. This petition will be presented to BCNR as part of Lavender's discharge upgrade application packet, but also will be shared with government officials this fall.

Petition launched to support survivor of military recruiter abuse - Military Law Task Force We are sharing this petition from our friends at Courage to Resist. —————————————————————————————————————– To sign the petition – click here. Lavender Gunderson, a survivor of military recruiter sexual abuse, is seeking di...

https://www.startribune.com/dozens-detained-as-russian-soldiers-wives-call-for-their-return-from-ukraine/600340803/

Dozens detained as Russian soldiers' wives call for their return from Ukraine Follow the StarTribune for the news, photos and videos from the Twin Cities and beyond.

Sharing with permission from Ian Chinich:

"Democracy" in the US was initially based on a Greek system where there was no standing armies and in fact standing armies were seen as the biggest threat to liberty. Even societies that were renowned for war like Sparta didn't have a standing army according to scholars and had a militia it could call up in times of war.

https://cajundiscordian.medium.com/please-no-terminators-d9d5dc26d13a

Sharing this from one of my friends, a combat veteran who also has extensive background in the work of AI.

(I'll share a link in the comments with some verification of his claims about the use of AI in the war)

Excerpt: However, these are in fact not Kumbayah times and the government of Israel has in my opinion crossed a CLEAR boundary line. They have reportedly deployed truly autonomous weapons systems in Gaza where the AI is deciding who to suggest that they kill. That’s not a slippery slope. That’s the whole slide down. The MOMENT we are asking the AI who we should kill, even for suggestions, we have crossed the Rubicon and entered a world in which I do not think many of us want to live.



Tagging: Military Law Task Force of the National Lawyers Guild, Courage To Resist, About Face: Veterans Against the War, Veterans For Peace

Please no Terminators I am a combat veteran with PTSD and have tried to avoid coverage of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Not because I don’t care deeply about…