[imc-st.louis] Fundraiser: will you help?
parys flytrap
parys-flytrap at hotmail.com
Sun Feb 4 19:43:52 PST 2007
hey folks,
Would anybody out there want to help do a fundraiser at Black Bear for Tina?
Sounds like another good reason for warm homemade soup and friends at our
local bakery. I would also like to organize a letter writing on this same
nite. We can do them in advance and have them ready for people to sign and
support this fight.
Email me or call 306-1001. parys-flytrap at hotmail.com
thanks Ben for the update!
Let's pull together as a community and make a difference loud and clear.
Please help out with this!
thanks,
parys
>From: Ben <westbywest at riseup.net>
>Reply-To: "organizing the independent media center in st. louis
>"<imc-stlouis at lists.indymedia.org>
>To: "organizing the independent media center in st.
>louis"<imc-stlouis at lists.indymedia.org>
>Subject: [imc-st.louis] [Fwd: [stlimc-editorial] Project Occupation]
>Date: Sun, 04 Feb 2007 18:11:09 -0600
>
>
>--
>Ben West
>westbywest at riseup.net
>http://savetheinternet.org
>From: MFSOMOEvents <mfsomoevents at aol.com>
>Reply-To: dealing with editorial issues for st louis
>indymedia<imc-stlouis-editorial at lists.indymedia.org>
>To: tina at grassrootsmissouri.org
>Subject: [stlimc-editorial] Project Occupation
>Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2007 14:16:57 EST
>
>Project Occupation Begins Feb. 5th
>
>I hope everyone knows about Project Occupation. It is supported by
>numerous peace organizations including Military Families Speak Out.
>
>I guess I began the project last week. My son, Corporal Cloy Richards, a
>two-time Iraq war veteran (click here for his background), received a call
>from the Marine Mobilization Unit (MMU) on Monday while many of us were in
>D.C. lobbying congress to support the troops by defunding the war.
>
> Cloy with his sister in St. Louis on Day President Bush arrives
>
>Background on the Back Door Draft: September 2006
>
>In September, Donald Rumsfeld authorized the call up of the Marine's
>Individual Ready Reserves, as well as National Guard and Army Ready
>Reserves (These are men and women who opted to inactive status and forgo
>additional aid or help from the military I exchange they would only be
>called up during a time of insurrection or foreign invasion) in order to
>fulfill their commitment in Operation Iraq Freedom. The restrictions
>placed on whom they would call up were very strict. Only 2,500 at a time
>could be called up. Only those that have been out more than a year, but
>less then three and only from five MOS's (their specialty they have been
>trained in). This left 4,479 on this list. Cloy falls within all parameters
>and has trained in 3 of 5 of the MOS's they need. He is on the short list.
>Cloy started to receive emails from the MMU the next day to ensure they
>knew where he was and his status. This has been the usual contact from
>them. I started a petition then to bring awareness of what was happening
>to our military and this supposed, "All Voluntary Forces", in the hopes if
>enough pressure was shown, they would not change my son's status and send
>him back as well as thousands of others. I was joined by other MFSO
>members and we attempted to deliver a petition on November 9, 2006 to the
>Pentagon where we were turned back by police and refused the opportunity to
>deliver the petition. We have lived a phone call away from him going back
>to Iraq since then.
>
>January 30 to present: The Phone Call
>When my son called me in DC on Monday night and told me the MMU and asked
>him if he was ready for deployment, we immediately reacted with the fear of
>his imminent deployment for a third time. As I stood up in the Senate
>Judiciary Hearing (click here), Cloy told the MMU he was certified disabled
>by the VA and should remain in the IRR. He is hoping that his evaluation
>on February 9th with the VA will be completed before they find out he is
>still in the process of being evaluated (we have worked on this for nine
>months). There is no guarantee we will accomplish this. Unfortunately,
>our sons and daughters with PTSD are still being sent to Iraq. During this
>process, we have many resources to draw upon including hiring an attorney
>if Cloy chooses that help. If he chooses not to accept this help, there is
>nothing anyone can do short of bringing them all home.
>
>Since that time, my senators Claire McCaskill and Kit Bond received
>numerous requests to stop Cloy from being sent back to Iraq. Their offices
>have contacted me and assured me they would work on Cloy's behalf. I feel
>very fortunate they are willing to work for him; however, when I asked if
>they will vote no on the emergency supplemental so that thousands of others
>like Cloy won't be sent and tens of thousands of others can come home, they
>told me no.
>
>Objective: Stay in DC
>
>Cloy has told me he does not wish to accept their help. If they were
>working to bring all his brothers and sisters home, he would accept it.
>Anything else would be dishonorable as does not want to be their political
>pawn. I told him his voice will be heard in congress. I returned home to
>spend the weekend and my birthday with my son. He told me he was sorry
>that Iraq keeps interfering with my birthday with either deployments or
>recalls. This is the first time since he was 17 that we could be together.
>He is thankful my passion to end this war has given us so many resources,
>"for us to fight this terror threatening to tear us apart again."
>I feel obligated to stay in DC and speak with the Sub Committee of Defense
>Senators and Representatives and request they let the families that have
>been so hurt by this war testify at their hearings in order to help give
>voice to the thousands of mothers and loved ones of the people who they are
>sending to Iraq. Their voices have been quiet at these hearings.
>One way or another I want our voices heard.
>
>Only two representative have met with me. Ike Skelton and Jo Ann Emerson
>of Missouri. I read Cloy's poem and Jo Ann told me she has not decided how
>she is going to vote. It is a 50/50% chance I will either hate her or love
>her. She said no one else has contacted her or even brought up the subject
>of Iraq and as she represents her constituents, she must hear from them in
>order to decide. I am encouraged that it was only a remote chance before
>my meeting.
>When Ike Skelton insisted President Bush have an exit strategy prior to the
>war, Bush wrote him and told him he didn't need his vote, he had enough
>votes without his. He would not tell me how he will vote, but as one of the
>few with sons over there now, I know it has to tear him apart.
>
>Project Occupation's goal is to ensure every representative and senator has
>heard from us and that it rips their heart out before they vote to either
>ensure two more years of escalation or to bring them home.
>
>Action to Take: Letters
>
>Since that day, I have been walking the halls of congress personally
>requesting meetings with the decision makers and leaving a request for an
>appointment and Cloy's poems (Click here to see Cloy read them). When
>constituents have joined me at these meetings, I have received a chance to
>speak to their Legislative Advisors. Many others have told me as I am not
>a constituent, I cannot obtain a meeting. Even though their vote will
>directly effect my son, they don't owe responsibility to meet with me.
>
>I am asking everyone to write a letter of introduction to your
>congressman/woman and Senator and requesting they meet with me (form letter
>suggested below, but be creative). I will hand deliver them to your
>representative. So when they tell me it is not their concern, I can say
>there are people from their district that want their voices heard.
>
>Cloy's story is not unusual. Unfortunately this story has been told many
>times before. Many have gone through much worse then what we have.
>However, sometimes a personal story can change a person's mind. And when
>we change the minds of the decision makers, we can change the course of our
>country. We have seen over the last four years some of the staunches
>supporters of the war change their mind 180 degrees citing a single story
>that changed it. Remember the Freedom Fries representative?
>
>"Support the Troops, Defund the War"
>
>When I first heard the expression, "Defund the War" I was very skeptical.
>I heard there were many wonderful bills being introduced to achieve our
>objective of bring home our troops. But after studying the realities (I
>was a poly/sci major in College), I realized not one will receive a veto
>proof majority no matter how wonderful they are. The only true way to
>bring them home is to cut off the funds for the war. As the mother of
>someone who still might be over there when the funding will end, this is
>not a decision I made lightly. There is enough money in the pipeline to
>bring them all home safely and if more is needed they can allocate a small
>amount to finish. This will force the Bush administration to deal with
>this diplomatically. Our troops have done everything asked of them. They
>have accomplished every mission they were sent to achieve. We need them
>home so they can heal.
>
>Our last best hope is to Defund the War. Anything else will ensure at
>least two more years of war and escalations.
>
>Donations Needed
>I will be in Washington D.C. in support of the nation-wide Project
>Occupation. My target is the Senate and Congressional Sub Committee of
>Defense. I have put my life on hold for the last four years and my funds
>are low. I have received many requests to stay on for the entire eight
>weeks and have received enough funds to last four weeks. Please send
>letters, call their DC offices and send donations so I can continue my
>objective of letting other families and myself that are so hurt by this war
>testify before they vote to fund this war another two years. I feel this is
>the only way to ensure my son and others aren't deployed. I know I am
>asking for a miracle, but I have seen them happen before.
>
>
>
>Tina Richards
>MFSO Midwest Events Coordinator
>CEO Grassroots Missouri, A non-profit corporation
>MFSOMOEvents at aol.com
>Fax: 573.729.2474
>
>InsteadofWar.org is collecting checks and cash donations
>GrassrootsMissouri.org accepts Paypal donations
>If anyone has airline miles so can come home on weekends or have my
>children join me in DC during the next eight weeks, I would really
>appreciate it. I've never been away from my kids more then a couple of
>weeks except Cloy's time in the Marines.
>
>If you receive an actual appointment time, please email be at
>TMRSalem at hotmail.com, as I will be able to receive these immediately.
>If you wish to join me or are going to be in the DC area, please contact
>me. I will help to provide lodgings.
>A special thank you to all who have sent in funds, Instead of War, St.
>Louis and the Mt. Rainier, Maryland Neighborhood United for Peace and
>Justice for all your help. This is not possible without you.
>
>
>
>Dear Sen. (Rep.) your rep.'s/sen.'s name Feb. 2, 2007
>
>I am a constituent from your state / district. I would appreciate it very
>much if you could briefly meet with Tina Richards. Her son, Cloy Richards,
>is a Marine who served in combat in Iraq. Cloy served honorably, and now
>suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. He is seeking help from the
>V.A. Cloy was recently notified that he may be re-activated to go back to
>Iraq. He is a phone call away.
>
>I know you care deeply about our country and those who serve it to the best
>of their ability, just as you do. Cloy Richards has done that. I know Tina
>Richards would be extremely grateful for an opportunity to meet with you as
>soon as possible.
>
>Thank you for any and all consideration given this request.
>
>
>
>Sincerely, your name
>
>
>
>Freedom of speech - Use it or lose it
>
>When they took away the 4th Amendment,
>we were quiet,
>because we didn't deal drugs.
>
>When they took away the 6th Amendment,
>we were quiet,
>because we were innocent.
>
>When they took away the 2nd Amendment,
>we were quiet,
>because we don't own guns.
>
>Now they have taken away the 1st Amendment,
>and very soon,
>If we continue to be quiet,
>we will have no choice,
>BUT to continue to be quiet.
>
>
>
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