Lt. Ehren Watada's Parents Speak in Atlanta

VETERANS FOR PEACE
Greater Atlanta Chapter 125

Atlanta IVAW
Iraq Veterans Against the War

1Lt. Ehren Watada is the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to Iraq based on the illegality of the war. More information about Lt. Watada's case, as well as information about the unlawfulness of the Iraq war, can be found at the following links:

Photo by Mike Hearington

LT. EHREN WATADA'S PARENTS SPEAK IN ATLANTA . . . PLUS DAVE CLINE

Photo by Mike Hearington

Rosa Sakanishi, Lt. Watada's stepmother, speaking in defense of her stepson's honorable actions.

Program for the evening event featuring Bob Watada.

Bob Watada, father of 1Lt Ehren Watada, and his stepmother, Rosa Sakanishi, came to Atlanta on the last leg of a national speaking tour with their national tour coordinator, National VFP staff member Doug Zachary, which coincided with Lt. Watada on the Paul Zahn show on CNN the previous night. (Transcripts of that show can be found HERE.)

First on the agenda was a press conference in Atlanta, led by Reverend Timothy McDonald of First Iconium Baptist Church, originally planned to be held at Freedom Plaza at the reflecting pool at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center. However, King Center police and officials would not allow the press conference to be held at that location due to relocating the body of Coretta Scott King that day into a new crypt beside her husband. The press conference was then moved to the empty lot across from the old Ebenezer Baptist Church where MLK used to preach. It was a very successful press conference, however, the only known news media coverage that came out of it - in spite of good attendance by local news media -was the moving of Coretta Scott King's body into a new crypt with her husband's body.

The evening event at First Iconium Baptist Church was a very moving event with powerful speeches by Dave Cline, Doug Zachary, and Lt. Watada's father and stepmother. Rev. McDonald provided uplifting and inspiring leadership for the event and the New Generations Gospel Choir of First Iconium sang several invigorating songs.

Forthcoming articles by Doug Zachary of VFP and Susan Keith of the Atlanta Progressive News are anticipated. Links to articles will be posted when available.

Nov. 17, 2006

Photos of the speaking event at First Iconium Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA, featuring Bob Watada, father of 1Lt. Ehren Watada, along with his wife Rosa Sakanishi, National VFP President Dave Cline, and Bob Watada's National Tour Coordinator, Doug Zachary, presided over by Revered Timothy McDonald.

Photos of the morning press conference are available on the previous page linked above.

All photographs are by either Mike Hearington of Veterans For Peace (Memphis) or Al Viola of the Georgia Peace & Justice Coalition/ Atlanta.

Reverend Timothy McDonald in his usual place at the pulpit at First Iconium Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA.

At the keyboard, a musician of the First Iconium Baptist Church (name not currently available); seated: Dave Cline and Doug Zachary with the New Generations Gospel Choir behind them.

Local VFP event coordinator Debbie Clark acknowledging local support and leadership and giving introduction to VFP Natonal president Dave Cline.

VFP National President Dave Cline at the pulpit.

Doug Zachary is a former Marine turned Conscientious Objector during the Vietnam war and national tour coordinator for Bob Watada. Raised a Southern Baptist, Doug appears to be at home at the pulpit...

Bob Watada speaking. (This event was also videotaped by GPJC photographer Al Viola. Link to the video will hopefull be provided when it becomes available.)

Rev. Timothy McDonald with The First Generations Gospel Choir in the choir chamber. Shown seated, left to right, Bob, Rosa, and Debbie.

Patrick Bray, a member of both the Atlanta VFP and Iraq Veterans Against the War, asks Bob Watada why his son is facing so much prison time for his refusal to deploy to Iraq compared to other GI resisters such as Ricky Clousing. (Bob Watada replied, in part, that the reason is because there is the additional charge of Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman, which applies only to officers.)

Spanish Civil War and World War II vet George Sossenko, the much celebrated president of the Atlanta VFP, with his wife Birdie.

Dave has spoken from church pulpits many times, including from the one at Riverside Church where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his speech against the war in Vietnam. He also did two years of religious study with his church minister to earn the "God & Country" award from the Boy Scouts.

Dave is a permanently disabled veteran, wounded three times in Vietnam and awarded three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for bravery. Dave returned from the war to begin organizing GI's at Fort Hood, Texas against the war. He is a longtime coordinator of Vietnam Veterans Against the War and appears in the film documentary "Sir! No, Sir!"