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.)