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GUESTS: Agustin Aguayo, Iraq war resistor, Helga Aguayo, Agustin’s wife

With military recruitment hitting new lows, Iraq war resistors and veterans have reasons to be optimistic. Recently war resister Agustin Aguayo returned home to Southern California after serving 8 months in a military prison in Germany. Aguayo is a former Army medic who spent nearly three years struggling with the US Army to be recognized as a conscientious objector. Aguayo went AWOL on September 1st 2006 and missed his unit’s deployment to Iraq. On September 26, 2006 he held a press conference in LA at “La Placita Olivera” where he expressed his beliefs against killing and war before turning himself in. His wife Helga spent months telling her husband’s story and organizing for his release. Now that Aguayo has been freed, he has begun touring the country, telling his story.

Agustin and Helga will be speaking this Friday at the United Teachers of LA Building at 3303 Wilshire blvd in Los Angeles on the 2nd floor. There will be an art exhibit at 6pm of art donated to benefit Aguayo’s cause. The presentation will start at 7 pm and will include a 10 minute film. The event will be MCed by Iraq war resistor Pablo Paredes. Also speaking will be Fernando Suarez del Solar, father of the late Jesus Suarez.