Through workshops, actions, and an international conference, Operation Refuse War will highlight the difficulties that current conscientious objectors face as well as help build relationships and connections between the various communities within the anti-war movement. The focus of the events is on supporting contemporary American conscientious objectors and their families, as well as examining the current potential of conscientious objection (in its various forms) as a strategy for building an anti-war movement. In addition, Operation Refuse War will bring together international and American conscientious objectors to share their experiences and ideas.

 

International Conscientious Objectors Strategy Session
New York City – May 11-12, 2006

Bringing together conscientious objectors from across the globe, this intimate session will focus on building international strategies for supporting the right to refuse to kill. Please contact us for more information about participation.

youth@warresisters.org

 

Operation Refuse War: An International Conference of Resisters to Global War
Washington, DC – May 12-14, 2006

Operation Refuse War will be an opportunity for conscientious objectors, anti-war activists, and military families to come together to share strategies and build community.

Workshop Topics Include:
•    Conscientious Objection as a Movement-Building Tool
•    Building Support for COs From the Outside
•    What does an International CO Movement Look Like?
•    Personal Stories of Conscientious Objection and Draft Resistance
•    Connecting Resistance within the Coalition of the Willing
•    All Wars or This War? Conscientious Objection as a Political or Moral choice
•    Building Bridges with Military Families

To register, Click Here.

CCW Advisory Council Meeting

Washington, DC – May 15, 2006

 

CCW’s Annual Advisory Council meeting, which gives an opportunity for constituents to get updated on CCW’s activities in the past year and planned program in the coming year. The meeting will include a word from J.E. McNeil, Executive Director and from Jonathan Ogle, Board Chair. Also included is a plenary session and workshops on conscientious objection, military draft, military recruitment, war-tax resistance, and lobbying for CO rights.

 

To register: Click Here.

Registration is Free

 

National Lobby Day for Conscientious Objector Rights

Washington, DC or Locally – May 16, 2006

 

As part of Operation Refuse War and International CO Day celebrations, people of conscience will speak out to make their voices heard in the halls of Congress for the rights of conscientious objectors in the military. On May 16^th, 2006 the Center on Conscience & War (CCW), along with the National Campaign for Peace Tax Fund is holding a national lobby day to protect the rights of conscientious objectors to war and to educate Congress about conscientious objection. Participants will meet in Washington and others will lobby locally at their Congress members’ district office.

A law to protect the rights of conscientious objectors (CO) in the military is needed. With no end in sight to the brutal wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places around the globe the number of COs in the military is increasing. The GI Rights Hotline has experienced a sharp increase in the number of calls from those seeking a CO discharge. The current military policy for COs is not working: they face harassment, they are forced to violate their beliefs and they are denied CO status for arbitrary reasons. A law passed by Congress is needed to fix the broken system and to put specific procedures in place for the CO discharge process. May 16^th will be a day for voters to make their voices heard for the proposed bill, the Military CO Act.

Come to Washington, DC or lobby your Congress member locally.

Click Here to register.

Registration is Free

 

Other Events on the same weekend Include:

Eyes Wide Open Exhibit, GI Rights Hotline Gathering, Silent March Against the War in Iraq, 24 Hour Vigil to end the war (Code Pink), and Congressional Briefing on Conscientious Objection