Long Beach, CA– Black-listed peace activist and retired U.S. Army colonel Ann Wright will promote and sign copies of a new book she co-authored, Dissent, Voices of Conscience, at Los Altos United Methodist Church on May 30. Wright was one of three officials to publicly resign from the U.S. State Department in direct protest of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

In Oct. 2007, Wright and Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin were barred from entering Canada for an antiwar event because their names appeared on the FBI’s National Crime Information Center database. They were blacklisted for previous arrests for civil disobedience while protesting what Wright has referred to as a “war of aggression.”

Subtitled “Government Insiders Speak Out Against the War in Iraq,” Wright’s book could be timely reading for U.S. lawmakers, currently faced with a war spending bill that will decide the course of the occupation. Although the House of Representatives rejected the bill on May 15, the Senate resurrected it on May 22. H.R. 2642 is pending before Congress for further action.

Whatever the legislative outcome, Wright continues to inspire other former military personnel to advocate for peace. Maricela Guzman, Navy veteran and co-founder of Service Women’s Action Network, described Wright as “a woman who challenged the system in order to protect the rights of those who wear the uniform as she once wore herself.”

“Ann Wright is a leader setting the standard for other officers to follow… I hope they follow her path, recognize this is an illegal occupation and put an end to this war,” said Wendy Barranco, Army veteran and President of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Los Angeles Chapter.

“An Evening with Col. Ann Wright” will feature special guest speaker Raed Jarrar, Iraqi architect and D.C.-based consultant on Iraq’s humanitarian and political needs, and rock-pop-blues recording artist Kurt Hunter. Sponsored by Military Families Speak Out Orange County and South Bay Chapter, Code Pink Long Beach Chapter and Los Altos United Methodist Church, it will take place at the Church (address below). The event is free and open to the public.

The Los Altos United Methodist Church is located 5950 E. Willow Street, Long Beach 90815 and Colonel Wright will be signing books from 7-9pm.

Tags: colonel ann wright, events, iraq war, Long Beach, politics