Following community vigil, war objector who faced year in brig will be out in 29 days! Thank you to the 50 Courage to Resist supporters who contriubted the $2,000 to cover Ryan's legal expenses.

By James Branum, lawyer for Ryan Jackson. May 30, 2008

At the hearing, we argued that Ryan's actions were an act of civil disobedience that stemmed from his belief that all war is wrong and Ryan himself gave a moving statement in which he expressed his own views on the immorality of war and the necessity of breaking the law for the sake of conscience.

At today's court-martial hearing at Ft. Gordon, GA, Conscientious Objector Ryan Jackson was given a sentence of 100 days in prison. With time already served, he has only 29 days remaining!

Courage to Resist. May 28, 2008 update

GI Resister Army PFC Ryan Jackson will be court martialed Friday, May 30th for resisting war—"Free Ryan Now!"

• Join the vigil outside Fort Gordon (Augusta, Georgia) Thursday, May 29th, 7pm at Gate 1 (Selete "Read more..." below for info about attending the trial).
• Donate to Ryan's defense. We are still $1,000 short of the total projected expenses.
• Write Ryan directly at: Ryan Jackson; 1050 Remount Rd, Bldg 3107; Charleston SC 29406-3515
• Read Ryan's letters from the Charleston Naval Brig where he has been held in pre-trial confinement.

Ryan was formally charged with multiple counts of AWOL stemming from his attempt to be released from the Army prior to Iraq deployment. He will face a Special Court Martial—with a maximum one year prison sentence—on Friday, May 30. Since voluntarily returning to Fort Gordon on April 14 and formally applying for a conscientious objector discharge, Ryan has been held in pre-trial confinement at the Charleston Navel Brig.

PFC Ryan Jackson held in pre-trial confinement to mute criticism of war; supporters mount campaign protesting June 3rd court-martial

Courage to Resist
April 20, 2008

"Since I joined up with Courage to Resist and Iraq Veterans Against the War, my life has changed. I plan to write a book about all of this, and to make positive change in my community when I get out," said AWOL PFC Ryan Jackson, before turning himself in at Fort Sill, Oklahoma on April 4. He had been absent without leave since December when a local commander vetoed his pending discharged from the 35^th Signal Brigade at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

• Donate to Ryan's defense today via Courage to Resist by noting "Ryan Jackson" in the "comments and notes" field online, or on your check memo line.
• Write Ryan today:
  Ryan Jackson, 1050 Remount Rd Bldg 3107, Charleston SC 29406-3515
  Or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Select "Read more..." below for Ryan's story, including our audio interview with him.