“If you are a woman [soldier] in Iraq, you have a very high probability that you may be raped, and not raped just once, but several times.â€--U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D Calif.)
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This is a web site supporting the case of U.S. Army Specialist Suzanne Swift, a veteran of the Iraqi War and a survivor of systemic sexual assault during her military service.As you explore these pages you can learn many things, including the facts behind Spc. Swift's experiences while serving in Iraq, how deeply her courage in demanding a stop to her abuse has resonated among veterans groups and social justice organizations worldwide, and links to aid in the survivorship of those who continue to survive in circumstances that are criminally common.Spc. Swift, facing a redeployment to Iraq while serving under the command of the same individuals now under investigation for rape and sexual harassment, chose to go absent without leave rather than subjugate herself to the horrors she experienced during her first tour of duty.Spc. Swift's arrest on June 11 sparked a national outcry from all walks of life, both military and civilian. Veterans of military service and those who believe in basic human rights have organized to demand that the Pentagon protect the dignity of our soldiers and implement the changes the Pentagon's Joint Task Force on Sexual Abuse in the military recommended in a report to Congress in 2004.Supporters of Spc. Swift believe that sexual assault and harassment is widespread in the U.S. military, that the targets of these assaults are given little support, and that the perpetrators often go unpunished. This belief is based on the Pentagon's own findings and the stories of assault survivors, such as that of Spc. Swift. In real time, Spc. Swift's decision to call a halt to her own abuse has rallied the support of numerous assault survivors, both male and female, and some are finding strength in telling their stories. You can read them here.Accordingly, supporters of Spc. Swift dedicate themselves to insuring that any member of the U.S. Armed Forces experiencing such assaults will now be heard, be protected, and be cared for. These supporters further demand that the Pentagon immediately implement changes to constructively address the findings of the Pentagon's Joint Task Force on Sexual Abuse in 2004. It is our hope to end the military's long history of denying that the issue exists. That ignorance ensures the abuses will continue.We thank you for visiting. We implore you to take action, and join the hundreds of thousands across this country and the globe in ending this tragedy. Please sign the petition!http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/441448013
