Rachel Avila

Ms. Avila's only child, her son Ryan, was grievously injured in Bagdahd. She spoke about the suffering contained in just one number. Ryan enlisted in 2003, just before his 20th birtday. On October 7, 2003 he was deployed to Iraq. He survived his wounds though life is forever changed. She must fight with insurance companies to justify his continued care. They ask why they must pay for his medical treatment. She has answers in letters, telling them to ask Ryan's Commander-in-Chief. (10 min 41 sec)

Nadia McCaffrey

Ms. McCaffrey is the mother of Sgt. Patrick McCaffrey. He was killed in Balad, Iraq on June 22, 2004. She welcomed his coffin home and invited the media to do the same, defying the administration's ban on public views of coffins returning from Iraq. Ms. McCaffrey didn't think the welcome home for her fallen son would stir such controversy. She only thought that was what he deserved for sacrificing his life. (6 min 45 sec)

Lily Adams

Ms. Adams, from Veterans for Peace, served as nurse in the Vietnam War. She spoke as a mother and a military nurse about the wounded in the current War on Terror. She talked about the terrible effects on both soldiers and the staff that cares for them. She describes the restrictions on health care for veterans caused by budget cutbacks as war expenses soak up precious resources. Continuing medical care for the severely disabled is pushed onto military families. The sacrifice of injury is multiplied by the dismissal of wounded soldiers from public care and continuing sacrifice required of their families. (12 min 17 sec)

Medea Benjamin

Medea is co-founder of Code Pink. They've given pink slips to public representatives that haven't done their job. Code Pink has been a faithful presence at antiwar demonstrations. Medea has been thrown out of both national political conventions for unfurling stop the war banners. She has traveled to Iraq during the war four times so she knows a lot about what's happening there. (6 min 6 sec)

Samina Faheem Sundas

Samina Faheem Sundas is the Executive Director of American Muslim Voices. She spoke about the effects of the War on Terror on American Muslims. She concludes by hoping, "We want our America, one that helps people, empowers other nations, does not occupy." (5 min 57 sec)

Diane Rejman

She is manager for Annie and the Vets, and is herself a veteran. She is a member of Veterans for Peace and spoke on behalf of Iraq Veterans Against the War about the treatment of veterans. "We don't have a lot of veterans who've returned from Iraq because the government is sending them there and not letting them come home." (10 min 47 sec)

Michael Blecker

Mr. Blecker is the Executive Director of Swords to Plowshares. He spoke about how the war economy affects every single one of us, whether we have children over there or not. (9 min 20 sec)

Howard Wallace

Mr. Wallace is the Vice President for Community Activities for the San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO. He helped put Proposition 'N' on the fall ballot in San Francisco. The proposition states the City's demand to bring the troops home now. Mr. Wallace ends by mentioning labor's upcoming actions against the war profiteering company, Bechtel, headquartered in SF. (9 min 30 sec)

Annie and the Vets sing (MP3 files):
• Connecticut Yankee
• Smart Bombs and Stupid Leaders

You can buy their CDs at CDbaby.com and at Tower Records.
All proceeds go to Veterans for Peace.