Free Republic

Norfolk-based sailor uses Web to channel opposition to war By LOUIS HANSEN, The Virginian-Pilot © November 5, 2006 NORFOLK - Jonathan Hutto graduated from Howard University with a degree in political science and a résumé of social activism. He worked for the American Civil Liberties Union and Amnesty International after college. He whipped up grass-roots protests against police departments and college administrators. One day in 2003, broke and seeking direction, Hutto enlisted in the Navy. The Navy couldn't have known it then, but they know it now: They had signed up a sailor strongly opposed to the Iraq war. Seaman...

1,997 U.S. troops have already been killed in this Iraq war. At 7 p.m. on the day after this grim count reaches 2000, come to Grand and Lindell to express your sorrow and outrage that this illegal, immoral, reckless war goes on and on and on, long after every shred of a pretext has vanished. Bring your family, your neighbors, your co-workers, your friends. Let's join voices across the nation, organized by Gold Star Families for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, American Friends Service Committee, and hundreds of other groups United for Peace and Justice,...

In Ireland there is a season of Marches. In DC, there is a season of protests, fall, usually starting with the IMF protest. This season started earlier, mid August. A mother said she stood alone in Crawford Texas. Her political affiliations continue to out her being part of something bigger, planned earlier, by others. But then, heigh-ho the derry-o, so did the cheese in "The Farmer In The Dell" nursery rhyme claim to stand alone. Cindy Sheehan is an umbrella member of United For Peace and Justice, organizer of anti-administration protests, including the one weeks away. September 24th. Members of...

WASHINGTON — Pentagon police on Wednesday turned away family members of troops killed in Iraq who wanted to confront Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on the reasons for the war in Iraq. The group of about 20 was stopped before entering Pentagon property by about a dozen officers, who told the protesters they did not have the proper permission to enter the building. Organizers said they have been petitioning for the meeting for weeks, but department officials are ignoring their requests. “The man who was too busy to personally sign the Killed in Action letters these families received is apparently...

Dear MFSO I used to have a son in the Army. Spc Casey Austin Sheehan was killed in an ambush in Sadr City on 04/04/04. Our family was against this "war" from the beginning. We cannot believe that the American people think this is a good thing. But our son joined the Army in 08/00. He loved it and did well and he was a good soldier. He reenlisted for another 4 years and was looking forward to changing his MOS. He was a mechanic, and according to his superior officers a great one, but he was going to go...

Busloads of antiwar demonstrators from a hundred American cities rallied in the District yesterday, calling for an end to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq and demanding an immediate withdrawal of American troops. Protesters from Maine and Colorado beat drums and chanted "Bring them home and impeach Bush" as they marched past the White House and the Justice Department yesterday afternoon. Many carried homemade placards that read, "Never Prouder to be a Non-Republican" and "Bush Lied — Americans Died." Some donned fanciful costumes to underscore their views. Dr. Alan Meyers, a pediatrician from Boston, came to the rally dressed as a...

Families of U.S. troops have long adhered to a clan code that prohibits speaking out against a war. Now some are going public over Iraq.PHILADELPHIA — In Love Plaza, about 75 people mingled in bright sunshine, chatting noisily while one speaker after another droned on at a campaign rally. Vendors hawked T-shirts, and children frolicked in a fountain opposite ornate City Hall. Then Celeste Zappala stepped onstage. Standing between columns of red, white and blue balloons, she held up the Purple Heart awarded posthumously to her oldest son. The plaza fell silent. In calm, measured tones, Zappala talked about her...

Report from a group meeting with our Enemies My husband and I did something that I never imagined we would do, we along with other military parents attended a Military Families Speak Out meeting. No, we haven't turned left wing but just took an opportunity that will probably never occur again.  An ad ran in our local paper that a Chapter for Military Families Speak Out was forming in our area. They invited all parents with concerns over the war to attend. We considered this an opportunity because we do have concerns over the war with children deployed even though we...

President Bush's flight into Baghdad may have been dangerous, but he has told friends the part of the Iraq war he dreads the most is writing letters to the families of slain soldiers. The notes, however, are cherished by the grieving families. "It was a brief note, probably a form letter, but the President took the time to thank me and remember Brian's sacrifice, and that does make a difference," said Ronald Slavenas of Genoa, Ill., whose son, helicopter pilot 1st Lt. Brian Slavenas, 30, died Nov. 2. "Nothing makes up for the loss, but it is good to know...

US military families push to bring Iraq troops home WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 — A group of about 600 U.S. military families, upset about the living conditions of soldiers in Iraq, are launching a campaign asking their relatives to urge members of Congress and President George W. Bush to bring the troops home. ''We're growing more and more disturbed about the conditions that are developing. Our concerns are both for our troops and the people in Iraq,'' said Nancy Lessin, a founder of Families Speak Out, formed last fall to oppose the war in Iraq. Susan Schuman, whose son Justin is...