STOP-LOSS Vigil Begins in DC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2007

CONTACT:

Marie Marchand, Executive Director
Whatcom Peace & Justice Center
(360) 734-0217 (office); (360) 920-4817 (cell)
Email: WhatcomPJC@fidalgo.net

VET’S WEBSITE: http://www.TowerGuard.org/

Iraq War Veteran Evan Knappenberger, 1st BDE, 4th Infantry Division, erected his 6 ft. scaffold on the Mall in Washington, DC this morning as part of a weeklong 24hr/day Tower Guard vigil. Knappenberger is drawing attention to the US military’s STOP-LOSS and INACTIVE RESERVE policies, which he submits are being used as a substitute for conscription in a political war. The vigil will run through Saturday, September 1st.

Knappenberger’s tower is located adjacent to the Washington Monument on the National Mall between Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive and 14th and 15th Streets, NW. This action, supported by various organizations including the Washington Peace Center, Iraq Veterans Against the War, CodePink, and DC Veterans for Peace, follows a successful 8-day/7-night Tower Guard in Bellingham, WA that garnered extensive media coverage from the AP; all major Seattle TV news networks; Democracy Now! and Air America.
”I spent a year in Iraq. I pulled 97 nights on tower guard,” explained Knappenberger. “Many of the friends I served with have completed their Active Duty contracts. Now, they’re being sent back to Iraq for their third or fourth tours. Tours have been extended from 12 months to up to 18 months. Some soldiers are getting called up after living years of civilian life. Stop-loss is an unethical policy.”

While fulfilling his duties, Knappenberger witnessed the full effect of the administration’s policies on military personnel and the Iraqi people, and began to question those policies. He was given a General Discharge under honorable circumstances in April 2007. Now that he is home, he is committed to doing everything he can to represent his fellow soldiers and address the wrongs being done to them and their families.

“Evan’s protest is a powerful, highly-visible action,” said Marie Marchand, executive director of Whatcom Peace & Justice Center, the non-profit organization that sponsored the Bellingham Tower Guard. “It is a creative way of educating the public about this widespread exploitation and abuse of our soldiers. Evan has seen this injustice perpetrated against his friends and comrades. The peace movement is invigorated by his leadership.”

During Tower Guard in Bellingham, WA, the community rallied around the 22 year-old veteran with an outpouring of support including help with night security, media outreach, meals, and solidarity. Organizational endorsements included Veterans Against Torture and Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) whose members drove hundreds of miles to stand with Knappenberger.

IVAW Chairman Garett Reppenhagen made this statement: “Iraq Veterans Against the War are encouraged by Evan Knappenberger’s courage to express his concerns regarding the current Stop-Loss and Individual Ready Reserve. This abuse of the men and women in the Armed Services should not be tolerated by our nation. Thank you, Evan, for finding a bold expression to wake-up America about our responsibility to use our military members honestly and fairly.”

Knappenberger invites the public to talk with him while he is on Tower Guard to learn more about the unethical Stop-loss policy. His action is a part of a month-long campaign of anti-war, pro-veteran protests taking place in Washington, DC and around the US.

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