February 16, 2005


Great news! Camilo Mejia Released from Prison

We were delighted to receive a phone call yesterday, February 15, from Camilo Mejia, letting us know that he has just been released from prison! Some of you might remember Camilo, a courageous soldier who spent 8 months fighting in Iraq, came home for a 2-week furlough, and decided that he could not--in good conscience--return to Iraq. He applied for Conscientious Objector status, and was declared a Prisoner of Conscience by Amnesty International. But the US military convicted him of desertion, and sent him to serve a one-year prison sentence in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

CODEPINK members have shown tremendous support for Camilo and his family. We attended his court-marshal trial, awarded him a Pink Badge of Courage, and many of you sent him financial aid and letters of support.

Camilo contributed a beautiful essay to our new book Stop the Next War Now . In it he says,"By putting my weapon down, I chose to reassert myself as a human being." And he urges us to join him.  "Let us, collectively, free our minds, soften our hearts, comfort the wounded, put down our weapons, and reassert ourselves as human beings by putting an end to war."

Camilo sends much thanks to CodePink, and said that after a much-anticipated reunion with family and friends, he would be joining us in traveling the country calling for an end to the war and occupation. We'll post his schedule on our site as soon as it's available.

In the meantime, let's celebrate his release, knowing that he has emerged from this ordeal more enlightened, determined and effective.

In peace,
Andrea, Carol, Claire, Dana, Gael, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Tiffany
www.codepinkalert.org February 16, 2005