Columbia County Citizens for Human Dignity

Special guest, Benji Lewis, will be joining us as he tours the state prior to reporting for his 3rd Tour of Duty in Iraq.  On the day he is due to report for reactivation, he will instead hold a press conference explaining his decision to decline to serve.

Benji served 4 years on active duty in the Marine Corps, including two combat tours in Iraq.  He was given an honorable discharge, moved to Corvallis, got a part-time job, and enrolled at LBCC.  Last October he got a letter notifying him that he was being involuntarily recalled to active duty, and would be sent back to Iraq again.  Instead of just ignoring the notification, Benji reported to the screening muster as directed to document that he was fit for recall.  He now has orders to report to Camp Pendleton on May 18th.  He wants to make a political point by going through the process to show that he could serve, but that he is going to refuse to serve.  On May 18th, instead of reporting for duty, he will be holding a press conference at the Corvallis Library at noon to publicly announce his resistance.

Until that time, Benji would like to speak to as many groups as possible across Oregon to educate them about the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) system that allows for involuntary reactivation, GI rights, and resistance in general, and to gather support and attention for his resistance.  10,000 members of the Marine Corps alone, are being recalled to active duty every year. Benji wants to let people know about this.

Benji Lewis is a Marine Corps veteran who served two tours in Iraq including the first siege in Fallujah.  Hear the personal testimony of his service and why he is publicly refusing involuntary activation after being honorably discharged in 2007.

We will gather at the St Helen’s house of Eloise Bates (59536 Catarin Street) at 6:30 p.m. and share good food and company by mingling for the first hour.  Eloise has great outside space so if it ends up being a gorgeous evening, you can mingle outside.  Around 7:30 p.m. we will look at the community building projects being considered for 2009-2010 (have a great idea – bring it!)   We will also introduce the current CCCHD board and see who might be willing/able to step up for the next year (no nasty ballot battles anticipated!)  We are looking at a year of positive projects like community gardens, Spanish/English language exchanges, a fantastic 2010 Winter Gala, joint work with new group LUFM (Latinos United for a Better Future) and ways to insure that local business and local solutions are held up for local support.  Come join us in building progressive community.

When: Saturday, April 25th

What: Potluck Salon, from 6:30 – 9:30 pm

(Bring a dish or finger food and come for lively conversation with progressive neighbors.)

Agenda: CCCHD will review plans for the year and celebrate the recent victory in the courts.
Benji Lewis will speak from 8-9 pm

Where: At the home of Eloise Bates – 59536 Catarin Street, St Helens, OR

Directions to 59536 Catarin Street, St Helens, OR
Hwy 30 from Scappoose to St. Helens, adjust if arriving from the North.

Go through the traffic light at McDonalds and the on at BurgerVille. Continue to Kentucky Fried Chicken. You will turn left here onto Vernonia Road. Go 2/10 of a mile to a 4 way stop. Go 1/10 of a mile to Sherlock’s 7-11 store. Go another 1/10 of a mile to where the road curves to the left. You will still be on Vernonia Road. Continue for another 2/10 of a mile where Vernonia Road road will curve to the right. Continue on Vernonia Road another 2/10 of a mile to Oakwood Drive. Turn left onto Oakwood Drive. Go 1/10 of a mile to Catarin Street. Turn right onto Catarin Street. I am the third house on the right. Total mileage is right around one mile from Hwy 30 to my address.

Marcy Westerling – marcy@rop.org

Rural Organizing Project & United Vision for Idaho
www.rop.org, www.uvidaho.org