IVAW members are leading a march to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, where they will deliver a folded flag and a letter calling on Barack Obama to endorse the three main goals of IVAW: Immediate withdrawal, full veterans benefits, and reparations for the Iraqi people.

Following a packed show at the Denver Coliseum where Rage Against the Machine and the Flobots encouraged the crowd of ten thousand to join IVAW's march, two squads of 25 IVAW members each formed up outside the venue and began marching to the Pepsi center. The squads are led by members in dress uniforms and combat uniforms, and as of 4pm, the crowd of supporters behind them continues to grow - already thousands have joined.

Recent press:
Thousands begin protest march in Denver USA Today
At least 2,000 join massive antiwar street march Rocky Mountain News

IVAW members took part in the first day of action in Denver on Tuesday, staging the largest Operation First Casualty to date. Read more about IVAW's action:
DNC: Vets Blitz Mall Lunch Hour with Anti-war Message Fort Collins Now
Iraq vet aims to fulfill mission at Tent State Rocky Mountain News
Staged military exercise shakes up lunchtime in LoDo Longmont Times-Call
Iraq vets take to the streets to protest the war The Oregonian
Photo Credit: Jon Orlando

IVAW members from across the country are taking action in Denver to bring attention to the ongoing illegal occupation of Iraq. On Monday, IVAW members delivered a letter to Senator Obama calling on him to support IVAW's three main goals. Click here to see the letter. On Tuesday IVAW members will be participating in the largest Operation First Casualty to date. And on Wednesday IVAW is sponsoring the Rage Against the Machine concert which will be followed by a four mile march from the concert to the site of the Democratic National Convention. Through all of these actions IVAW will bring the reality of the occupation home to the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, party delegates and the American people as we continue to build momentum towards ending the Iraq War and supporting our fellow brothers and sisters still serving in the occupation.

Download a press release on the call for Obama to endorse IVAW's three points of unity.

Now starts the two day journey to Austin, Texas.

After over eleven hours of driving, we headed into Baton Rouge. Sometime after two in the morning we pulled up to a house, deep in Cajun country, with a large Christmas-light peace sign over the garage door.

IVAW member Casey J. Porter out of Fort Hood, TX, sends his fifth video from Iraq. In his words: "Featuring statements from former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Former President Bill Clinton, The O'Reily Factor host Bill O'Reily, amongst many others. This is a look into the arrogance and lies of those who promoted, and continue to promote this war interlaced with combat footage straight from Iraq.  Included are scenes of Soldiers not only speaking their minds, but speaking the truth about the continued occupation of Iraq.  Also featured are some of the harsh realities of combat and in the midst of that combat, good Soldiers continuing to make the best out of it by helping their "adopted" child at their combat outpost.  This is an honest look into the minds of Soldiers, and an honest look into their lives during a deployment.  This is Deconstructed."

I imagined a bad omen chasing me as we drove south towards Georgia. I figured it was the curse of the "Marne Missile"- the bad luck that every 3rd ID soldier experiences when life has Fort Stewart involved in it in any way. Maybe it was just paranoia, but with the days getting progressively worse for me as I approached Stewart, I was afraid of what could happen when I finally got there. No A/C in the RV, GPS stolen, fire-ant attack, glass in the eye... All reminded me that- yeah, it could always get worse.

The Somdahls have established Alien Art Tattoo as a venue for IVAW members to practice with their bands, a distribution point for Sit-Rep and a place where IVAW can get discounted tats. With thousands of Marines on Camp Lejeune looking for custom art every day of the week, Alien Art has not only become the home away from home of members and allies, but the very foundation of our outreach in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

By the time we got to the tattoo studio, a line of active duty Marines from last nights concert were waiting for tats and benefits information from Bill Perry. Honestly, I felt strange seeing so many active duty guys feeling comfortable enough to speak their minds anywhere in a military town. My entire time in the service, I never felt like I could discuss war policies and the like with civilians in a public place. Camp Lejeune must be ready for some serious GI organizing!

We hit the ground running in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Due to a delayed shipment of outreach materials, the crew covered down and built signs advertising our events. But for two days, posted outside each of Fort Bragg’s three major gates were yard signs painted with information about the show for every Soldier to see.

At the end of the day, I remembered that if just one poster handed out resulted in an active duty Soldier finding the comfort of IVAW the way that I did because of the Base Tour 2007, that's worth nearly any sacrifice. So sweating until I was ready to pass out really wasn't anything.

On July 21, 2008, Robin Long became the first US war resister to be deported from Canada since the Vietnam war. Robin went AWOL from the Army in 2005 after realizing that he had significant moral opposition to the war.
Robin is currently being held in the El Paso County Jail near Colorado Springs. He will face a court martial in early September. If found guilty, he could face three years confinement, forfeiture of pay, and a dishonorable discharge from the Army.
You can help Robin right now by making a donation to his legal defense fund. You can also find out how to send him books and letters of support at the Courage to Resist website.

US Iraq War resister Jeremy Hinzman was informed on August 13th that his application to stay in Canada has been rejected. Jeremy served a tour in Afghanistan in a non-combat role after applying for conscientious objector status. When his unit, the 82nd Airborne Division, was to be deployed to Iraq Jeremy and his family decided to come to Canada. Jeremy is the first U.S. war resister to apply for refuge in Canada. He has been ordered to be deported by September 23rd. Jeremy is in Canada with his wife Nga Nuyen, and their two young children.

The decision to deport Hinzman comes just two months after the Canadian Parliament passed a motion calling on the government to allow US war resisters to apply for Permanent Resident status in Canada.

To support Jeremy, call or email Hon. Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and ask her to intervene in this case. Phone: 613.996.4974 email: finley.d [at] parl [dot] gc [dot] ca.