War Moratorium and Teen Cemetery
Military Casualty Demonstration at SBCC September 17
A “cemetery” of the U.S. Military Teen casualties is planned in Santa Barbara, California on Friday, September 17, 2010.
The actions here, across the country and world mark the continuation of the War Moratorium, to unite individuals and groups who act to end Wars on the Third Friday / weekend of every month.
The local Teen “Cemetery” will begin at 10am in Santa Barbara, California at Santa Barbara City College on the West Campus lawn across from the campus library overlooking Leadbetter Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The newly formed, SBCC Peace Now! Club will also meet @ 12 noon @ the Calden Overlook on the West Campus, near the Teen “Cemetery”.
The Teen “Cemetery” is sponsored by the SB Vets for Peace Chapter 54, and partially funded by the Fund For Santa Barbara. The event will consist of “Tombstones” of the U.S. Military Teen Dead, from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. To date we have information on 359, 18 & 19 year old casualties from both conflicts.
The “Tombstones” will be set up by volunteers from the SB Vets for Peace Chapter and SBCC students. Individuals passing by on the walkway between the East & West campuses will be asked to come down on the lawn to place a placard of the color photo & information of a teen casualty on the “Tombstones.” Information about the cost of war and the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq & Afghanistan will be shared. Also free books, newsletters & DVD’s on the cost of war will be available, donations will be accepted.
An SBCC form for students to be taken off the military recruitment list, in opposition to the Solomon Amendment will be given out. The Solomon Amendment allows Colleges & Universities to give student names, phone #’s and other private information to 17 components of the U.S. Military Service each term. Students can prevent the release of their information to the Military Recruiters by using the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA), of 1974 to withhold the release of their “Directory Information” to the military and others.
Two Petitions are currently being circulated at the memorial to be sent to Congress to:
1. Stop the Military Use of Depleted Uranium for VFP, Chapter 116, P.O. Box 96, Albion, CA 95410
2. Withdraw our military from IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN immediately for American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), 637 Dearborn, 3rd Fl., Chicago, IL 60605