Next Right to Serve events this week, Paula Zahn and local update

by Matt | September 26th, 2006 |

This is what is happening this week:
Tuesday, September 26
Washington, DC - two enlistees, sit-in if rejected
Spokane, WA - two enlistees, sit-in if rejected
Madison, WI - three young men who were reject return to sit-in with at least 30 supporters

Wednesday, September 27
Charlottesville, VA - two enlistees already rejected, one more enlistee on Wednesday, sit-in if rejected
Little Rock, AR - two enlistees including a young woman who was kicked out of the Marines under DADT, sit-in if rejected

Here is what has happened to date:
Number of cities that have tried to enlist: 13
Number of young adults rejected for being gay: 30
Services that have been applied to: Marines, Army, Army Reserves, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force
Cities that have had actions: Philadelphia, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Charlottesville, Milwaukee, Chicago, Madison, Oklahoma City,
Norman (OK), Austin, New York, Phoenix, Greensboro, Shreveport
Number of cities with arrests: 6
Number of arrests because of a sit-in: 25

For more see Right to Serve Weekly Updates

Also… Watch CNN on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 at 8pm EST. National co-organizer Jake Reitan and organizers from New York City and DC will be on the air with Paula Zahn.

As for a local update, there really isn’t much to update on besides media and blog coverage (which can be found here on a continuously updated list). Our court date for the September 21st attempted enlistment, sit-in and arrests will be October 23rd. Until then, we have been instructed to stay away from the Greensboro recruiting center, so I cannot say at this time whether another local action is going to be planned.

I can say, however, that you shouldn’t expect for this youth movement to die here in North Carolina. That message, of course, is the theme of my column, Don’t Ask (I’m Telling), in this week’s issue of The Carolinian (UNCG). The time for youth to make a change is now. I am currently talking with my colleagues and friends and those involved and supportive of the NC Advocacy Coalition about how we might be able to create a true movement for equality for the youth of this state. NC Advocacy is currently only a state PAC. If we wanted to deal with national issues I believe we’d have to become a federal PAC. I just don’t really know what the laws are in regard to this. I do know that if we wanted to do any sort of political direct action on federal issues or give money to federal candidates, we would have to be a federal PAC, but I do not know how the laws apply to demonstrations and actions which couldn’t really be considered lobbying. It seems to me that if Soulforce can do this sort of thing as a 501(c)3, then a state PAC could do it no problem. But like I said… I really have no idea. I’ll need to talk to someone.

My hope is that we can continue to be a PAC and support progressive and LGBT-supportive candidates while creating a new youth movement in North Carolina under the organization’s banner. We’ll see as time passes.

As for right now, however, I and the other youth involved in September 21st’s events are raising funds to help us cover financial and legal fine costs of our arrests and charges, if we should be fined anything. We have raised only about $48 so far, so we need to get on the ball and get some more fundraising going on. A HUGE thanks goes out to those who supported us (whether or not they gave us money) at the Triad Business and Professional Guild meeting on the evening of the 21st. The support and encouragement from the community is greatly appreciated.

Technorati Tags: Soulforce, Right to Serve Campaign, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Military, Paula Zahn, CNN

Posted in Politics |
Tags: Civil Rights, Dont Ask Dont Tell, Greensboro, Soulforce/Right to Serve