Iraq Veterans Against the War

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Iraq Veterans Against the War marching in Boston, October 2007.
Iraq Veterans Against the War marching in Boston, October 2007.
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Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is an advocacy group of active duty military personnel, Iraq War veterans, Afghanistan War veterans, and other veterans who have served since 9/11 who are opposed to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. The organization advocates immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces in Iraq, reparations to Iraq, and full benefits, more healthcare benefits (including mental health), and other support for returning servicemen and women.

Contents

[edit] Membership

The membership is made up of recent veterans, active duty servicemen and women from all branches of military service, National Guard members and reservists, who have served since September 11, 2001.[1] Prospective members are required to provide proof of service.[2]

The group was founded in July 2004, at the annual Veterans for Peace convention in Boston. The founders were current Executive Director Kelly Dougherty (US Army), Tim Goodrich (US Air Force), Mike Hoffman (USMC), Alex Ryabov (USMC), Jimmy Massey (USMC), Isaiah Pallos (USMC), and Diana Morrison (US Army), all Iraq veterans.[3] In August 2007 the group elected Camilo Mejia as the chairperson of its board of directors.[4]

IVAW currently has 42 chapters around the United States and in Canada, 4 of which are on active duty Army bases. The four active duty chapters are on Fort Drum, New York; Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Hood, Texas and Lawton-Fort Sill, Oklahoma.[5] Members of the organization reside in 48 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Canada, and on numerous bases overseas, including in Iraq itself. Membership is currently over 1,000 persons.[6]

[edit] Truth in Recruiting

IVAW has actively begun participation in the nationwide Truth in Recruiting campaign aimed at countering alleged misconceptions of military service propagated by recruiters. Currently many IVAW members are involved in "equal access" policies at high schools across the country.[7]

[edit] Stop-loss policy

IVAW has protested the military's stop-loss policy, which is an extension of soldiers' contracts by the Department of Defense which requires selected soldiers to stay in the service longer even after their contract is up. Several tower-guard vigils against the stop-loss have been held in various places including Colorado Springs, Colorado; Bellingham, Washington; and Washington D.C.

[edit] Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

Main article: Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan was an event in Washington, D.C. in March 2008, run by IVAW, at which U.S. veterans spoke about their experiences during the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan (2001–present). It was inspired by the similar 1971 event put on by Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

[edit] Controversy

Jesse Macbeth, formerly affliated with IVAW,[8] falsely claimed to have committed atrocities in Iraq. In fact, he never completed Army basic training, and was never deployed outside the U.S. He was convicted of falsely claiming veteran's disability benefits. Afterward, Macbeth's actions were disavowed by IVAW and his membership was revoked. All members of IVAW have since been required to submit documentation of military service.[9]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Nothing Short of Criminal, Sarah Manski, Liberty Tree Journal, Volume 2, Issue 3, page 6.
  2. ^ Verification of Service | Iraq Veterans Against the War
  3. ^ Founders | Iraq Veterans Against the War
  4. ^ Democracy Now! | War Resister Camilo Mejia Elected to Chair Iraq Veterans Against the War, Group Encouraging War Resistance
  5. ^ Chapters and Regions | Iraq Veterans Against the War
  6. ^ Iraq Veterans Against the War
  7. ^ Nothing Short of Criminal, Sarah Manski, Liberty Tree Journal, Volume 2, Issue 3, page 6.
  8. ^ "Statement on Macbeth Video", Iraq Veterans Against the War, retrieved June 2, 2006
  9. ^ Membership Information | Iraq Veterans Against the War