Adopt
A Deserter
Desertion. Support
it. Encourage it. The war in Iraq is wrong.
Just about every war the U.S. engages in these days is wrong.
Flat out wrong.
Those who joined the U. S. Military made a big mistake.
Those who join and desert because they don't want to kill innoncent
people are worthy of our support.
Instead of sending chocolate chip cookies to those U.S. soldiers who
haven't yet deserted, we choose to send support to the deserters, their
friends and their family.
In these times, going AWOL is a good, moral choice, worthy of our
support.
___________________________________________________________________________
Recent News:
(January, 2005) Read about Sgt.
Kevin Benderman of Hinesville, Geogia.
Recent News: (January 2005) Read about Carl Webb.
____________________________________________________________________________
What can we do?
Write a note of support and send it to Camilo's mother. Her address is:
Maritza
Castillo (Camilo's mother)
201 178 Drive # 323
Miami, FL 33160
Here are her words:
My name is Maritza Castillo and
I'm an active member of Military Family
Speak Out (MFSO). I'm also the mother of Staff Sergeant Camilo
Mejia.
On March 24, 2004, Louis Font, my
son's lawyer informed me about the
charges
that my son is being accused of. This is what he told me:
"Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia, 28, of
Miami, Florida was charged by his
commanders at Ft. Stewart, Georgia with desertion on Wednesday,
March 24,
2004. He will be tried by a Special Court Martial, which means
that the
maximum sentence he can receive is one year imprisonment and a
Bad Conduct
Discharge."
I've also learned that army
officials have restricted Camilo to Ft.
Stewart
and have barred him from conducting face to face interviews on
the base with
the media. Louis Font, his civilian attorney, plans to challenge
this
"gag" order, arguing that my son's rights to free speech are
being abridged.
President Bush does not give any
explanation about the weapons of mass
destruction that have not been found and for which he invaded and
bombarded
the people of Iraq and sent our young soldiers to die in this
illegal and
immoral war. Instead he makes a mockery about the reasons he's
had to spend
the money of the American people in this bellicose adventure.
When he is
asked about the weapons of mass destruction and the chemical
weapons, he
responds with vulgar gestures.
It is in this context that the
army ignores the conscientious objection
application that my son Camilo submitted to this institution.
Instead they
accuse him of desertion.
I'm addressing the people of the
United States of America, the Hispanic
Community and the world to express my deepest sorrow and
indignation about
the injustice that is being made against my son. I want to ask
you to
continue giving him your support. Please write letters to Camilo
expressing
your support towards his cause. Send letters to the Army
Officials and to
the Congress of the United States demanding that his conscientious
objection application be accepted.
Camilo's
Address:
Ssg. Mejia Camilo
A Company USAG MED-HOLD 865
Hase Road,
Ft. Stewart, GA 31315
Commanding General, Fort Stewart's Address:
Major General William G. Webster, Jr.
Commanding General, Fort Stewart,
42 Wayne Place,
Ft Stewart GA 31314
Peace and Solidarity to the world.
Maritza Castillo
Military Families Speak Out http://www.mfso.org
---------------------
Letter from Camilo's aunt, Norma Castillo
As you should know, Camilo
was found guilty of desertion and was
sentenced to one year in prison. Many injustices happened during
that trial. The defense was not allowed to present arguments that
would have demonstrated Camilo's conscientious objection. They
did not let him talk about his moral beliefs. Now they have sent
Camilo to Fort Sill in Oklahoma, far away from where his family
lives, only to isolate him from us. This, of course is not going
to happen, because we will be wherever they take him. And we will
continue this struggle until justice prevails.
There are many things that
you can do to continue helping Camilo.
It is imperative that
people write letters to General William G.
WebsterJr., him to expedite the transcript of the trial. People
can also request him for clemency, he has the power to reduce the
sentence. Camilo is a true prisoner of conscience. It is because
of his moral and religious beliefs that he is in prison right
now. Please make sure to let people know that they need to send
copies to Louis Font (Camilo's lawyer) of the letters they write
to General. Webster, Jr. I will write the addressees down below.
People can also write
letters directly to Camilo showing him
their support. Also, make sure people mention in the body of the
letter that they are sending a copy of that letter to his mother
Maritza. This is a way to make sure these letters get to him.
I'll also write down these two addressees. Thank you so much for
everything you're doing.
Addresses
Major
General William G. Webster, Jr. Commanding General,
Fort Stewart 42 Wayne Place Ft.
Stewart, GA 31314, USA
Louis Font (Camilo's Lawyer)
Font & Glazer
62 Harvard Street, Suite 100 Brookline,
MA 02445, USA
Pt. Camilo Mejia
Building 1490
Randolph Rd. Fort Sill,
OK 73503, USA
Maritza Castillo (Camilo's mother)
201 178 Drive # 323
Miami, FL 33160
-----------------------------------
Support Our
AWOL Troops
------------------------------------
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2210 S. Abbott Ave.
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