Nationally-Known Author/Military Mom Cindy Sheehan to Speak; Eugene Mayor Lends Support

At 11:30 AM today, Wednesday, May 27, 2009, military families, veterans, and Oregonians from all walks of life will hold a news conference on the State Capitol steps demanding a vote on HB 2556, the "Guard Home" bill. The bill, which is supported by both Democratic Rep. Chip Shields (Portland) and Republican Rep. Dennis Richardson (Central Point) with proposed amendments, directs the state to deploy the National Guard for federal activity only with a valid Congressional enactment. Members of the year-long "Campaign to Keep Oregon's Guard in Oregon" believe that there are enough votes to pass the bill in the Oregon House, and are calling on the Legislature to hold a work session and a vote immediately.

Speaking for Veterans for Peace will be Leah Bolger, a 20 year Navy veteran who is both the national Vice President of that organization and a member of the Corvallis chapter. Also appearing will be Benji Lewis of Corvallis, who served in Fallujah and Haditha with the Marines and is now with Iraq Veterans Against the War. Other Oregon military families and veterans are expected as well. Joining the Oregonians supporting the bill will be author and activist Cindy Sheehan, who came to national prominence after her son, Casey, was killed in action in Iraq and she camped out at former President Bush's ranch in Crawford, TX.

Recently lending support to the campaign is Mayor Kitty Piercy of Eugene, the second largest city in Oregon, who wrote letters Tuesday to Eugene's legislative representatives calling for a Work Session and vote on HB 2556. Last Thursday, the Medford Mail Tribune gave "cheers" to Richardson and Shields for "working to give the state more say in the deployment of Oregon National Guard troops to wars overseas."

In January, Campaign organizers delivered the signatures of roughly 7200 Oregonians to officials along with a demand that the state's militia not be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. The Campaign is part of the national "Bring the Guard Home! It's the Law" campaign, with activities in 22 states and legislation which has been introduced in 12 of those states, including Oregon.

"Oregon has the chance to be the national leader on this, as we have been with other laws like the bottle bill, the Death with Dignity law and public beaches," said Bolger. "But to pass this law the Legislature must hold a hearing in the next two weeks or it will never get to the Governor's desk."

The Campaign particularly wants to focus on the legislation during the week of Memorial Day (celebrated on May 25, actual date May 30), and to call attention to the holes in the Oregon state budget that would not exist if the Congress in Washington, DC, would stop funding the ongoing military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan and bring the Guard, and all the troops, home.

More info:

For more information on the Oregon Campaign, contact Peace and Justice Works in Portland at 503-236-3065.

Areas of Focus:

Tags:

User Comments