Please join the Center on Conscience & War as we seek to extend and defend the rights of conscientious objectors. We will host our annual Advisory Council gathering and Military Conscientious Objector Act Lobby Day on May 15-16 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Methodist Building in Washington, DC. This is a wonderful way to celebrate International CO Day, which falls on May 15, and support conscientious objection. So mark your calendars now!

This year’s speaker will be Peter Goldberger. He is a former professor at Villanova Law School and Whittier Law School and an active member of the National Lawyers Guild, the Military Law Task Force, and the ACLU. He has been listed for more than 10 years in “Best Lawyers in America.” Goldberger is also the attorney for military CO Agustin Aguayo, who is currently seeking discharge from the Army for his CO beliefs. His experience actively supporting conscientious objectors, both military and civilian, since graduating Yale Law School in 1975, has qualified him as an expert in his field of supporting this religious freedom.

Other events of the day will include:

§A workshop addressing the Supreme Court petition of Agustin Aguayo, led by Peter Goldberger and J.E. McNeil.

§A history of conscientious objection in the United States, presented by Bill Galvin.

§An update on the state of Truth-in-Recruiting, with John Judge of CHOICES.

§An introduction to our new lobbying campaign for the Military Conscientious Objector Act (MCOA).

On May 16 there will be a brief discussion on the MCOA followed by lobbying members of Congress by conference attendees. There will also be a screening of the documentary “Soldiers of Conscience.”

Click here for the updated lobby packet and helpful advice as you prepare to lobby in support of conscience.

Register here.

Click here for a schedule of the events over the two days.

Click here for a map and directions for the events.