Thirteen Members of Congress sign letter of support for Matthis/War Resisters After a month organizing on the hill, 13 Members of Congress sent a letter of support for Matthis to President George W. Bush to "reaffirm our support for all military members who speak out, advocate or otherwise support efforts to bring the troops home." Download Matthis' letter of support from Congress.
July 7, 2008
MTV News: Army Veteran Awaits Fate After Refusing Call To Deploy To Iraq Matthis Chiroux was supposed to redeploy June 15 but says he won't participate in what he calls an 'illegal war.' Read the MTV News article on Matthis.
June 16, 2008
IVAW members Matthis Chiroux and Kris Goldsmith have been pounding the pavement in Washington DC, with the help of IVAW's DC chapter, to get members of Congress to support Matthis in his refusal to deploy to Iraq. Matthis was honorably discharged from the Army in 2007 after five years of service, but he received orders in February 2008 to return to active duty from the IRR for deployment to Iraq.
On Sunday, June 15th, the day he was due to report for active duty, Matthis stood with his father and supporters in DC and reaffirmed that he is refusing his orders on the grounds that the Iraq war is illegal and unconstitutional. Watch Matthis' statement. Read Matthis' statement.
Send a message of support to Sgt Matthis Chiroux at thankyoumatthis [at] ivaw [dot] org.
May 15, 2008
Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, who served in the Army until being honorably discharged last summer after over four years of service in Afghanistan, Japan, Europe and the Phillipines, publicly announced his intention to refuse orders to deploy to Iraq.
Sgt. Chiroux made made his announcement in the Cannon House Office Building Rotunda after members of Iraq Veterans Against the War testified before the Congressional Progressive Caucus during Winter Soldier on the Hill.
Sgt. Chiroux made the following statement to the press on May 15, 2008.
"Good afternoon. My name is Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, and I served in the Army as a Photojournalist until being honorably discharged last summer after over four years of service in Afghanistan, Japan, Europe and the Phillipines. As an Army journalist whose job it was to collect and filter servicemember's stories, I heard many stomach-churning testimonies of the horrors and crimes taking place in Iraq. For fear of retaliation from the military, I failed to report these crimes, but never again will I allow fear to silence me. Never again will I fail to stand.
In February, I received a letter from the Army ordering my return to active duty, for the purpose of mobilization for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thanks in great part to the truths of war being fearlessly spoken by my fellow IVAW members, I stand before you today with the strength, clarity and resolve to declare to the military and the world that this Soldier will not be deploying to Iraq.
This occupation is unconstitutional and illegal and I hereby lawfully refuse to participate as I will surely be a party to war crimes. Furthermore, deployment in support of illegal war violates all of my core values as a human being, but in keeping with those values, I choose to remain in the United States to defend myself from charges brought by the Army if they so wish to pursue them. I refuse to participate in the occupation of Iraq."
To donate to IVAW’s Legal Fund to support Matthis and other servicemembers who are refusing to support the occupation of Iraq, use our online donation form and select “Legal Fund” under special projects.
If you would like to send a message of support to Sgt Matthis Chiroux, email thankyoumatthis [at] ivaw [dot] org.
IVAW members Matthis Chiroux and Kris Goldsmith have been