For Immediate Release                                               Contact:
November 16, 2005                                                Mark Lewis (719) 471-9400
5:00pm                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Local activists challenge dishonest military recruiters in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, November 16, 2005 -- Local antiwar groups will take part the "National Stand Down Day", joining hundreds of protests around the nation. The local protest will gather at the military recruiter offices at Vickers and Academy, on Friday, November 18 at 10am.

Organizer, Jeff Englehardt, of Iraq Veterans Against the War, and recently featured in the ground breaking Italian video exposing the use of illegal Napalm and White Phosphorus in Fallujah, said, in exposing the truth that recruiters don't tell, "It seemed like just a massive killing of Arabs."

"We were told going into Fallujah, that every single person walking, talking, breathing, was an enemy combatant", he continued, "as such every single person that was walking on the street or in a house, was a target."

Kelly Dougherty, former Sergeant with the Military Police of the Colorado National Guard, and co-founder of Iraq Veterans Against the War said, "The way military recruiters attract students is by saying 'join us and we'll pay your college tuition.'  Yet look at me, I have thousands of dollars in student loans," she revealed, "things are working out very different from what I was told."

"As a military veteran, I can personally attest to the fact that often times recruiters mislead, and even purposely lie to young people to convince them to join the military." Sergeant Dougherty said. 

"Anyone considering joining the military deserves to be told the truth that our young people are fighting, killing, and risking death and serious injury," she continued, "in the hopes that they will receive an education, job training, health care, and housing." 

"Our youth deserve to hear the truth from military recruiters."

The US military spends over $2.5 Billion each year to recruit low income youth with commercials, video games, and slick brochures. Even though Africa Americans make up 12.4% of the population, they represent 29.8% of the Army.

33% join the military to get the GI Bill for college, but 57% of those get NO money, and another 23% only get half of what was promised.

The march, rally, "die-in", and parody recruitment street theater will be peaceful and lawful. The organizers encourage all in attendance to observe all laws and be peaceful in words and actions.


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