Stop Loss: GI Resistance and Arrest
From IVAW:
Marc Hall is a father serving on active duty at Ft. Stewart, GA. He's already completed 1 tour of duty in Iraq and is set to deploy again in another week. Marc's military contract ends this February, but he has been Stop-Lossed for his unit's up-coming deployment back to Iraq.
Marc is also a hip-hop artist and recently recorded an angry song entitled "Stop Loss" as an artistic outlet for his frustrations about his situation. He explains on his website, "I am a political artist. I rap about real issues in life in hopes to recover a solution."
Marc's song here: http://marcwatercus.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/stoploss.mp3
News of the song reached Marc's chain of command at Ft. Stewart which claims that the song's lyrics amount to the "communication of a threat."
The Army placed Marc in jail last Friday charging him with an Article 134. We believe that Marc's right to freedom of speech is being violated. IVAW Field Organizer, Jason Hurd, has been in contact with Marc including phone and in-person visits to get more details of his story.
Here's how you can help Marc today:
Call the jail at 912-876-6411 to demand an end to his illegal confinement.
Send letters of protest to: CPT Cross, Commander, B 2-7 INF BN, Fort Stewart, GA 31314.
Marc Hall is a father serving on active duty at Ft. Stewart, GA. He's already completed 1 tour of duty in Iraq and is set to deploy again in another week. Marc's military contract ends this February, but he has been Stop-Lossed for his unit's up-coming deployment back to Iraq.
Marc is also a hip-hop artist and recently recorded an angry song entitled "Stop Loss" as an artistic outlet for his frustrations about his situation. He explains on his website, "I am a political artist. I rap about real issues in life in hopes to recover a solution."
Marc's song here: http://marcwatercus.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/stoploss.mp3
News of the song reached Marc's chain of command at Ft. Stewart which claims that the song's lyrics amount to the "communication of a threat."
The Army placed Marc in jail last Friday charging him with an Article 134. We believe that Marc's right to freedom of speech is being violated. IVAW Field Organizer, Jason Hurd, has been in contact with Marc including phone and in-person visits to get more details of his story.
Here's how you can help Marc today:
Call the jail at 912-876-6411 to demand an end to his illegal confinement.
Send letters of protest to: CPT Cross, Commander, B 2-7 INF BN, Fort Stewart, GA 31314.
7 Comments
peggedbeahttp://www.ivaw.org/node/5679
PsychologicSo I assume this means that the Army doesn't like songs about rounding up and executing military personnel?
He was obviously communicating threats, whether he was serious about them or not. "Free speech" has its limits.
Personally, I don't see anything that warrants imprisonment, but I don't know all of the details. I doubt his detention is "illegal" though.
NordlichReiterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop-loss_policy#Legal_basis
Fuck you its free speech. If you can't fill the quota don't start the war.
He is expressing his discontent with bad policy. The brass should be thankful they haven't found themselves on the business end of a Service Issued M-4.
Stop loss is the same as akin to a membership being forcible extended only you have to pay for it with money. In the case of stop loss, you pay for it with sweat and blood.
Fighting for what freedom? Freedom from whom?
I catch a helluva lot of flak for the line above. But I can't seem to find out how fighting in Iraq has had any bearing my freedom? Maybe its the rationalist typing but I will not buy into the foolish idea that sending Americans to the middle east is protecting me.
Don't even get me started about the draft I'll get straight to the point on that. Give me liberty or give me death.
rougyI'm really surprised that this shit has gone on for so long.
Friend of mine is heading out there soon.
He's a reserve in his late forties.
What the fuck. I mean just...what the fuck?
NordlichReiter>> ^rougy:
I'm really surprised that this shit has gone on for so long.
Friend of mine is heading out there soon.
He's a reserve in his late forties.
What the fuck. I mean just...what the fuck?
I would like to type for you you an excerpt from World War Z by Max Brooks
On second thought maybe you all should read the whole section, Pages 50 - 54.
"We were a volunteer army, and look what happened to our volunteers. How many stories do you remember about some soldier who had his term of service extended, or some ex reservist who after ten years of civilian life, suddenly found himself recalled into active duty? How many weekend warriors lost their jobs or houses? How many came back to ruined lives, or, worse, didn't come back at all? Americans are an honest people, we expect a fair deal. I know that a lot of other cultures used to think that was naive and even childish, but it's one of our most sacred principles. To see Uncle Sam going back on his word, revoking people's private lives, revoking their freedom..."
-Max Brooks World War Z Page 53 3rd Paragraph Down, Section Titled Vaalajarvi, Finland character named: Travis D'Ambrosia, Supreme Allied Commander.
Arsenault185Regardless of the military's reasons, he should be in jail for that bad rap song.
MaxWilderAs I understand it, active members of the military have severe restrictions on their freedom of speech. That is something that has been in place forever. You can't talk about battle plans in public, you can't criticize superiors in public, that sort of thing. I could be wrong, and I would appreciate it if someone with more knowledge would help me clarify this point.
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