Still going strong!

Apologies for the lack of website updates during the past several weeks. We're happy to report that the counter-recruitment movement is still going strong nationwide, and especially here in Austin. Below is a snapshot of a Daily Texan story about our joint protest with CAMEO, IVAW, and several other local groups of a recruitment fair that was held at the ACC Eastview campus yesterday. (The story was featured prominently on the front page in today's issue of the Texan.)

Some of you might have also seen a lengthy news segment that the local KVUE station aired last night about the Solomon amendment and the protest. I didn't see the segment myself, but I understand that KVUE might have portrayed us youth activists as being disorganized in some way. Here's the full story:

101X DJs, whose station was sponsoring the recruiters, repeatedly said on air in the days prior that their staff and the recruiters would be setting up at the ACC Rio Grande campus. A group of YAA members, other protesters, and the media all showed up on schedule outside the Rio Grande campus, but the recruiters were nowhere to be found. We got word that the recruiters had instead gone to the ACC Eastview campus, about a fifteen minute drive (or bike ride) away. After dropping a banner that read "Homophobic War Recruiters Off ACC" from the roof of a building opposite the campus, we all headed over to the Eastview campus.

There we found a 101X tent with military propaganda and two recruiters in the middle of a largely empty courtyard. As we held signs, engaged the 101X representatives in discussion, and chanted in protest, the recruiters stood off to the side talking with one another and doing nothing. A young guy working for 101X told me that they were told at the last second to switch locations from Rio Grande to Eastview - presumably by the recruiters. Sounds to me like the recruiters noticed the press release we sent out about our protest the night before and changed sites in a sad attempt to avoid us.

The protest was a success, then. We executed a targeted protest with extensive media coverage and the recruiters were denied the level of access to students that they've come to expect.

Here's a choice snippet of the Texan article:

The protest was in response to a campus recruitment fair that included two military recruiters and the radio station 101X. Protestors also targeted the station because of its involvement in the recruitment fair.

"If [101X] is going to affiliate themselves with the war, then they are part of the problem," said Will Martin, a Garza High School senior and a member of Youth Activist of Austin, one of the protesting groups.

"I think it is hypocritical of 101X to support the government's wars when they call themselves the 'alternative.' They aren't promoting the alternative, they are promoting the American ideal of war. We are supporting the alternative, peace."

Representatives of 101X would not comment.

The students protested that the Solomon Amendment supports the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" discriminatory policy. Students were also concerned with recruitment officers who promise recruits specific jobs or opportunities to avoid combat.

The next YAA meeting is in two days! We have several campaigns planned for the coming year - we'd love to see some new members come out.