From: Central Phoenix Area NOW: Inez Casiano
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lisa Blank Email: [email protected] Phone: 602-628-3344
Cindy Sheehan Speaks Out About Military Rape at the MST (Military Sexual Trauma) Garden, Phoenix, AZ.
Air Force Convicted Sexual Predator Not Welcome in Arizona
Cindy Sheehan, national peace activist, will speak out about military rape on Sunday, April 21st, 2013, 11:00 AM, at the Military Sexual Trauma Garden located in Garfield Garden Park on the NW corner of 6th street and Garfield in downtown Phoenix. The MST garden is a stop on Cindy Sheehan’s Tour de Peace. Cindy Sheehan is speaking to the unconscionable military decision to transfer a convicted sex offender, Air Force Lt. Col James Wilkerson, to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.
Air Force Lt. Col James Wilkerson, a former inspector general at Aviano Air Base in Italy, was convicted of sexually assaulting a civilian contractor in November 2012. Wilkerson was sentenced by a military jury of five to a year in jail, forfeiture of all pay and discharged from the service.
Three months later, in February 2013, Gen Craig Franklin overturned Wilkerson’s conviction, using the authority of Article 60 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Instead of serving his prison sentence, Lt. Col Wilkerson will be transferred to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ., the hometown of his victim. Even though Lt. Col. Wilkerson was found guilty of sexual assault, he will not be required to be registered as a sex offender. This guilty verdict has been completely erased from his record, and this convicted sex offender is able to continue serving, putting others at risk.
This event is sponsored by: Central Phoenix Area NOW: Inez Casiano, Military Rape Crisis Center (MRCC) and End The War Coalition.