“By putting my weapons down, I chose to reassert myself as a human being,� said Camilo Mejia, the first US soldier to actively resist the Iraq War. The former US Army staff sergeant went AWOL in October 2003 while home on a two-week leave. It wasn't until March 15, 2004, that Mejia turned himself in to military commanders and filed for discharge as a conscientious objector, becoming the first veteran from Iraq to publicly challenge the morality of the war. In May 2004, he was convicted of desertion, and sentenced to nine months in the brig. Having recently been freed, Mejia is now on a speaking tour of the West Coast, and will visit Santa Cruz, on Wednesday, May 4th, 7 p.m. at the Veteran's Memorial Building, 846 Front St. , next to the post office. Immediate wireless translation from English to Spanish translation n will be available.

Meanwhile, in San Diego, CA, Navy sailor Pablo Paredes' request for conscientious objector status has been denied. His court martial is scheduled for May 11, inside the San Diego 32nd St. Naval Station. Various support activities and protests are being planned for May 10-13 in San Diego.

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Indybay coverage: SF Bay Area Events

President Loonie-Tunes Leads His Gang Of Mental Defectives In A Jihad Against Freedom.

Shortly after a cake was cut on May 1, 2005 to celebrate 100 years of the IWW, Robert Norse encouraged people to support Roger Mentch on Monday, April 1 at 8am in front of the Santa Cruz County Courthouse.

FRSC Interview with Barry Bachrach, attorney for Leonard Peltier

For two and a half years, residents in Felton, CA have been battling with German energy giant, RWE, the world's third largest private water utility, over that companies buyout, of the local system. On Wedneday, April 27, Santa Cruz County Supervisors unanimously agreed to hold a special election, and let Felton voters decide on an 11 million dollar bond to purchase the system from Cal Am/RWE. A special mail-in ballot deadline has been set for July 26.

The California Public Utilities Commission has scheduled a public hearing for May 13 at the Felton Community Hall to take testimony on Cal-Am/RWE's proposal to consolidate the Felton and Monterey water districts.

Audio: Felton Residents Fight Water Privatization

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