Does our increased militarization cause abuses of power both abroad and at home?
MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 22, 2016) — The Minneapolis chapter of Women Against Military Madness, in the spirit of the peaceful intentions of the original Armistice Day, present two events in the Twin Cities to address the questions, “Does our increased militarization cause abuses of power both abroad and at home?” and “Is counterterrorism counterproductive?”
Mass surveillance, indefinite detention, immorality of war, torture and our drone bombings are aspects that will be discussed. Both events are on November 10, 2016 and are free and open to the public. They will feature Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff for Gen. Colin Powell and Reverend Chris Antal, former US Army chaplain stationed in Afghanistan. The events are endorsed by Veterans for Peace, Chapter 27.
From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 100 E, Giddens Learning Center (1536 Hewitt Ave) at Hamline University, St Paul, Professor David Schultz will moderate a panel with Col. Wilkerson and Rev. Antal.
In the evening there will be two connected events at the First Unitarian Society (900 Mt Curve, Minneapolis, parking at the Walker Art Center).
From 6 to 7 p.m., Reverend Antal will lead An Interfaith Service of Lamentation and Hope. From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Col. Wilker-son will join Rev. Antal for a forum on this year’s themes.
Additionally, Veterans for Peace, Chapter 27 is planning a coffee at 10am November 11th with Col. Wilkerson, followed by their traditional Armistice Day bell ringing at 11am. Contact Tackling Torture for details.
Lawrence Wilkerson is a retired United States Army soldier and former chief of staff to United States Secretary of State Colin Powell. Wilkerson is an adjunct professor at the College of William & Mary where he teaches courses on US national security. He also instructs a senior seminar in the Honors Department at the George Washington University entitled “National Security Decision Making.“
Reverend Chris Antal was chaplain with the US Army in Kandahar, Afghanistan and later in the US Army Reserve. While in Afghanistan, he delivered a sermon that said “We have sanitized killing and condoned extrajudicial assassinations…” He nearly lost his job. This past April in an open letter to President Obama, he resigned his commission in protest over the use of drones, nuclear proliferation and our government’s claims of impunity to international law. He is minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Rock Tavern, New York. (http://www.democracynow.org/appearances/rev_chris_antal)
Tackling Torture began these annual Armistice Day forums last year with successful events at Hamline Univ. and the Univ. of Minnesota with guests John Kiriakou, CIA whistleblower, and Bradley Olson, instrumental in the American Psychological Association’s about-face on assisting the US Government with “enhanced interrogation.”
Contacts: Tackling Torture at the Top Committee: Thomas Dickinson, 612-822-9520 (ph/txt), Coleen Rowley, 952-393-0914 — First Unitarian Society: Rev. Kelli Clement, 612-889-3654, Church: 612-377-6608
