The Pdx Peace Coalition has called on the Portlland City Council to consider declaring Portland a Sanctuary City for GI resisters.
If passed the resolution would prevent Portland Police from executing Federal warrants for soldiers absent without leave from the Military.
The activists spoke of the toll that the wars in Iraq and Afghaniatan are having on soldiers and the courage it takes to refuse to go. Over 5000 veterans are expected to committ suicide this year alone.
Soldiers in the US Military are required on a regular basis to committ acts that are war crimes under internationl law. Those who obey their conscience and refuse to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan face the risk of being jailled if caught by the police.
The coalition of peace activists sponsoring the resolution to have Portland become a Sanctuary say this is a tangible way to support military dissenters. More information can be found at Veterans Against the War , Veterans for Peace and at Military Families Speak Out.