Walk for Justice Concludes: 3 Arrested at U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command

By Jeff Leys, Voices for Creative Nonviolence
July 5, 2006

On July 5, three of us entered the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPCOM) to nonviolently resist the war in and occupation of Iraq. We sought to read the names of U.S. soldiers and Iraq citizens who have died in the war. Immediately upon entering MEPCOM’s property, we were met by base security. We began to read the names of the dead and were quickly arrested. Charged with trespass and facing up to six months in prison, our first court appearance is scheduled for July 20th.

The day began with a vigil at the North Chicago Veterans Administration medical center, just down the street from MEPCOM. Within easy view of each other are the start and end points of military careers—command headquarters for enlistment and hospitals to heal the wounded. We walked from the VA to MEPCOM, completing a 30 day, 320 mile trek from the steps of the Illinois state Capitol and National Guard headquarters. Upon arriving at MEPCOM, three of us entered the site and were arrested.

MEPCOM is the command headquarters of a system of 52 Military Entrance Processing Stations. Each person who enters the military takes their final oath of enlistment at one of these stations. MEPCOM is ground zero for nonviolently resisting our country’s war machine and to seek redress of the wrongs which our country commits against members of the military.

“Stop loss” orders and forced rotations must be ended. “Stop loss” orders require military members to remain on active duty beyond the original end date specified in the enlistment contract if the end date occurs within 90 days of scheduled deployment. They are required to serve the entire deployment and then may be required to serve an additional 90 days. As of today, 12,000 active duty troops, reservists and National Guard members are subjected to “stop loss” orders.

Our country must also be held accountable to provide for the well being of veterans and their families. Agree or disagree with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, our country chose to place soldiers in harm’s way. It is therefore incumbent upon our country to ensure that veterans and their families receive the type of high quality health care they deserve. Indeed our obligation is to ensure that all residing in the U.S. receive high quality universal health care.

The impact of war upon veterans is seen in the high numbers of veterans experiencing homelessness. According to the government’s own figures, at least 20,000 veterans from the 1991 Gulf war and the current war are experiencing homelessness.

Acting at MEPCOM is a way in which to express solidarity with those within the military who have chosen to resist the war. Risking prison on a trespass charge is a small act of solidarity with the likes of Kevin Benderman, Camilo Mejia, Katherine Jashinski and so many others in the military who openly refuse to participate in the Iraq war. The potential consequence we face of 6 months in prison is small compared to the risks taken by military refusers, but such acts must be taken none-the-less. If the war is to be ended, we must all learn to expand upon the risks which we take in our work to end the war.

Those arrested on July 5th include: Diane Hughes of Pax Christi in Springfield, Illinois; Ceylon Mooney of the Midsouth Peace and Justice Center in Memphis, Tennessee and long time organizer with Voices who traveled several times to Iraq to challenge economic sanctions; and Jeff Leys, currently Co-Coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence.

In addition, Mike Ferner, an independent free lance writer, was arrested after taking photos of the arrest and while on a public sidewalk which borders the base on which MEPCOM is located. He is charged with trespass, obstruction and resisting arrest.

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