Wednesday 11 November 2009

Anti-war soldier arrested: Protest now‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER
No. 1125 11 November 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER
1) ANTI-WAR SOLDIER ARRESTED: PROTEST NOW
2) MILITARY FAMILIES DELIVER PETITION TO GORDON BROWN

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EMERGENCY PROTEST AT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
DEFEND LANCE CORPORAL JOE GLENTON
THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER, 5PM
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, WHITEHALL
(OPPOSITE DOWNING STREET)
Facebook Event - Please circulate: http://bit.ly/2h9IOf

*******************************

1) ANTI-WAR SOLDIER ARRESTED: PROTEST NOW

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, the soldier who faces desertion
charges for refusing to return to Afghanistan, has been
arrested and charged with five further offences for leading
Stop the War's demonstration in London on 24 October and for
expressing his opposition to the media in defiance of orders.

The new charges carry a maximum of ten years imprisonment in
addition to the sentence of three to four years that Joe could
get if the desertion charge is upheld.

Joe's mother, Sue Glenton, has spoken out against his arrest:
"You've got government ministers, army commanders and MPs
speaking every day in support of the war. What's so scary
about a Lance Corporal having his say? My son is only speaking
out for what he thinks is right."

Joe's arrest and imprisonment are signs of panic by the
government and military commanders, faced with an ever growing
majority of the British public opposing the war and an
increasing number of prominent voices in the media calling for
the withdrawal of British troops.

A poll published in the Independent shows that only one in
five voters believes that Britain's military presence in
Afghanistan is helping to protect the country from terrorism,
as Gordon Brown insists. The same poll shows that 48 percent
of voters think the war in Afghanistan increases the risk of
domestic terrorist attack.

Stop the War has launched a campaign to defend Joe Glenton and
his right to freedom of speech. (For updates see
http://www.stopwar.org.uk.)

A protest has been called outside the Ministry of Defence in
Whitehall on Thursday 12 November at 5pm and we list below
what you can do to support the only serving soldier who has so
far had the courage to stand up for what many in the army
believe; that this is a futile and unwinnable war.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

* EMERGENCY PROTEST AT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
If you live in London, please try to join the protest on
Thursday 12 November, 5pm, at the Ministry of Defence,
Whitehall (opposite Downing Street)
FACEBOOK EVENT (Please circulate): http://bit.ly/2h9IOf

* WRITE TO DEFENCE SECRETARY BOB AINSWORTH
EMAIL: defencesecretary@mod.uk or ainsworthr@parliament.uk
WRITE: Secretary of State for Defence, Floor 5, Main Building,
Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB
FAX: 020 7218 6538

* COLLECT PETITION SIGNATURES
The Defend Joe Glenton petition can be downloaded here:
http://bit.ly/10gDKb

* WRITE LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO JOE GLENTON
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton
Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC)
Berechurch Hall Camp
Colchester
Essex CO2 9NU

* EMAIL SUPPORT
defendjoeglenton@gmail.com

*******************************
2) MILITARY FAMILIES DELIVER PETITION TO GORDON BROWN

On 21 December, Stop the War's Bring the Troops Home Now
petition will be delivered to Gordon Brown at Downing Street
by soldiers, ex-soldiers and military families.

More than 15,000 have already signed, but we want to get many
more signatures
before 21 December. You can sign online but we are also
encouraging our supporters to download the petition and
collect signatures among friends, work colleagues, fellow
students, neighbours etc.

If you live in London, make a note of 21 December, as the
soldiers, ex-soldiers and military families would welcome the
widest support from the anti-war movement when they deliver
the petition to Gordon Brown. (More details to follow soon.)

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