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GUESTS: Bob Watada, Rosa Sakanishi

In June 2006, Army Lt. Ehren Watada refused to deploy to Iraq on the grounds that the Iraq War is illegal. He became the first officer to publicly refuse to serve in Iraq, saying “My participation would make me party to war crimes. The Iraq War is not legal according to domestic and international law.” The Army filed charges, held a hearing, and recommended a court martial. The charges filed include “conduct unbecoming an officer, missing movement, and contempt toward President Bush.” If convicted of all charges, Lt. Watada could face over eight years in prison, more than six of them for publicly voicing his opposition to what he considers an illegal and immoral war. Ehren Watada’s father, Bob Watada, and his wife Rose Sakanishi are currently in Southern California to generate support for their son.

For more information, visit www.thankyoult.org

Events in Southern California:

Tues 10/3 – 12:00p – Glendale Community College Krieder Hall 1500 No. Verdugo Blvd., Glendale – Contact: .Jo Takarabe 323-788-3171 jtakarabe@yahoo.com

Tues 10/3 – 7:00pm – ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) – 1800 Argyle Ave. #400, Los Angeles / Contact: Carlos Alvarez 323-464-1636; answerla@answerla.org

Wed 10/4 – 12:00-2:50pm – Angela Oh’s Korean American Experience Class – Life Sciences Bldg, RM 4127—UCLA Westwood Campus Contact: aeola@earthlink.net

Wed 10/4 – 2:00pm – Asian American Studies Center RM 3321 Campbell Hall Meg (310) 825-1006

Wed 10/4 – 7:00pm – Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research – 6120 S. Vermont Ave. (between Slauson and Gage), LA Contact: So Cal Library 323-759-6063; mwelsing@socallib.org

Thurs 10/5 – 10:00am – Korean Americans for Peace Press Conference at KIWA – 3465 W. 8th Street, LA Contact: Younghui Kim (213) 386-9557 younghuikim@hotmail.com

Thurs 10/5 – 5:00pm – World Can’t Wait March & Rally (March starts at noon at Pershing Sq/ Bob speaks in front of Federal Bldg 300 N. Los Angeles St. @5pm) Contact: Nicole Lee 323-462-4771; la@worldcantwait.org

Fri 10/6 – 7:00am – Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP) – Immanuel Presbyterian Church 3300 Wilshire Bl., LA Contact:/ Thia 626-683-9004; icujp@pacbell.net

Fri 10/6 – 12:30pm – San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center – SFV Japanese American Community Center, 12953 Branford St. Pacoima 91331 Contact: Phil Shigkuni (818) 893-1581, cell: (818) 357-7488; pshig2000@yahoo.com.

Fri 10/6 – 4:00-6:00pm – CODEPINK Cocktail Party Fundraiser with Jane Fonda ($100 reception) RSVP Anedra@codepinkalert.org (310) 827-4320

Sat 10/7 – 2:00-4:00pm – Welcome Reception for Bob Watada – JACCC Garden Room, 244 S. San Pedro St., LA / Contact: NCRR 213-680-3484; ncrrla@yahoo.com

Sat 10/7 – 6:00-8:00 pm – An Evening of Discussion and Learning hosted by Rev. Phyllis Tyler – 11326 Cherrylee Dr., El Monte (Rev. Tyler is Sr Pastor of Sage United Methodist Church, Alhambra) Sponsored by the Nat’l Japanese American UM Church Caucus and NCRR Contact: NCRR 213-680-3484; ncrrla@yahoo.com

Mon 10/9 – 9:30am-2:05pm – Political Sciences and Communications Classes Santa Barbara City College – 721 Cliff Dr., Santa Barbara Contact: Gil grobl@cox.net

Mon 10/9 – 7:00 pm Veterans for Peace (Chapter 112) and Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions – E.P. Foster Library, Topping Rm., 651 E. Main St.,Ventura – Contact: Michael Cervantes 805-486-2884; mcervant@mindspring.com

Tues 10/10 – 7:00 pm An Evening Discussion hosted by Veterans For Peace (Ch# 54) – Unitarian Society, 1535 Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara – Contact: Donnis Galvan (805) 453-6374; galere@sbceo.org

Wed 10/11 – 7:00-9:45pm – CSULB Asian American and Chicano & Latino Studies Classes – Dr John Tsuchida and Dr. Juan Benitez, 1250 Bellflower Bl, Long Beach

Thurs 10/12 – 11:30am -Occidental College Ashley Hiestand 216-262-4149; ahiestand@oxy.edu.

Thurs 10/12 – 6:00pm – Whittier Area Coalition for Peace & Justice, Mark Twain Club Potluck ($3 donation) Bob speaks at 7:00 pm, First Friends Church of Whittier, 13205 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier Contact: Robin 562-943-4051; rmclaren@charter.net

Sat 10/14 – 6:00pm – Lt. Watada Dinner San Diego (suggested donation: $15) – Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito, 1036 Solana Drive, Solana Beach Contact: Reiko Obata 858-483-6018; watada@san.rr.com for San Diego events

Mon 10/16 – 4:30-5:30pm – National Lawyers Guild of San Diego
Room 300, Thomas Jefferson Law School, 2120 San Diego Ave, San Diego

Tues 10/17 – 7:00pm – Chapman College 1 University Drive, Orange, Contact: Tiffany Curtis curti106@chapman.edu