OCC is thrilled to be working with IVAW and the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild to help organize and promote Winter Soldier Austin, hearings using testimony from soldiers to tell the realities of the war in Iraq. Several of our members will be participating, either by providing testimony, providing support services, or live-blogging the proceedings.
Background on Winter Soldier here.
We are outreaching to Iraq War vets in Oklahoma who would be willing to testify at the hearings. Please use the contact form on this site to email us.
if you can help us support these vets, and get them to Austin for testimony, donations would be much appreciated.
WINTER SOLDIER HEARINGS COME TO AUSTIN, TEXAS
WHAT: Winter Solder – South Central Region, Eyewitness Accounts by Iraq Veterans Against the War
WHO: Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), with support from many local groups
WHEN: Saturday, February 28, 1PM-5PM
WHERE: Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. 8th Street (Brazos & 8th), Austin, Texas
In March of 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War held a national Winter Soldier event in Baltimore, Maryland. Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan featured testimony from U.S. veterans, giving accurate accounts of the true nature of those occupations. This four-day event brought together veterans from across the country to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan – and present video and photographic evidence. In May of 2008, for the first time since the Iraq war began, boots-on-the-ground veterans testified under oath before Congress about the effects of the occupation. Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War presented their testimony to the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Winter Soldier hearings continue to be held regionally across the U.S. Now Iraq Veterans Against the War, will bring Winter Soldier hearings to Austin. Veterans from New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas will join together to publicly share the experiences of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the tradition of other Winter Soldier events, live testimony, panel discussions, along with supporting video and photographic documentation, will focus on the human impact of war. This event is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.
Winter soldiers, according to founding father Thomas Paine, are the people who stand up for the soul of their country, even in the darkest hours. The event was named Winter Soldier in honor of a similar gathering in 1971. The “Winter Soldier Investigation” was a media event sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War and was intended to publicize war crimes and atrocities by the United States Armed Forces and their allies in the Vietnam War. A complete transcript of those hearings was later entered into the Congressional Record by Senator Mark Hatfield, prompting the Fulbright Hearings in April and May 1973, convened by Senator J. William Fulbright, chair of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
For more information, go to www.austinivaw.wordpress.com.
We are asking Oklahoma activists, veterans and family members to help promote the event by printing and distributing the flier among their networks.
Winter Soldier flier for Oklahoma, 2 up