Vermont Activists Shut Down Military Recruitment Centers for a Day

Williston, Vermont--On the heels of a campaign launched earlier this week from the halls of Mount Mansfield Union High School in Jericho, Vermont, a crowd nearing 75 on Friday, united under the banner, “Out of Our Schools – Out of Iraq,” and successfully closed down recruitment for the afternoon in Williston, Vermont. Students and Supporters Shut Down All 5 Branches of Military
Recruitment in Williston, VT

Vermonters Rally to Stop Lies, Save Lives Demanding an End to Predatory
Military In Schools and the Unjust and Immoral War in Iraq

Williston, Vermont--On the heels of a campaign launched earlier this
week from the halls of Mount Mansfield Union High School in Jericho,
Vermont, a crowd nearing 75 on Friday, united under the banner, “Out of
Our Schools – Out of Iraq,” and successfully closed down recruitment
for the afternoon in Williston, Vermont.

“The ‘Out of Our Schools—Out of Iraq’ campaign raises the bar for
students opposed to the war and military intimidation in our schools.
Today we said NO to lies that got us into this war, and the lies that
entrap youth into fighting and dying. We shut down recruitment at all 5
branches of the military today, beyond our goal and just the beginning.
This action was a huge success and we invite students throughout
Vermont and across the country to join us, to stand up, stop lies, and
save lives!” said Emily Coon of the MMU Peace Club.

Jaz Whitney was one of 3 minors cited with trespassing at the office in
an act of civil disobedience and explains, “Not one but two recruiting
offices were shut down for the day, we gained great visibility, and our
voices and messages were loud and clear. The situation inside the
recruitment office was nerve-racking, but I wasn’t going to back down
from something I believe in. This is a great segue into other actions,
we will stop this war and get the military our of our schools.”

Matt Howard, of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) was one of a dozen
activists who held their ground inside the Vermont National Guard
office and was eventually dragged out by police. “Organizations that
wage wars based on lies and deceptions will lie and deceive you. We as
IVAW fully support these students and will fight with them again and
again for their rights to have a military free education and to stop
this war.”

“Out of Our Schools – Out of Iraq,” is a campaign that does not end in
Williston today, organizers are clear that Vermonters opposed to this
war will continue to challenge the war and the military coercion of our
youth even more directly in the future.