Attention: Political Desk

Charge of rape by military recruiters of high school students proof SF voters
were right to pass 'College Not Combat' measure, says US Senate candidate
Todd Chretien

SAN FRANCISCO - Claims by two Mendocino County high school students that
they were raped by military recruiters illustrates San Francisco voters
were correct in passing last November's "College Not Combat" referendum to
keep the military out of the schools, said Todd Chretien, measure co-author
and now Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate.

The Ukiah students filed suit in San Francisco Wednesday, claiming they
were raped by military recruiters, and that the Marine Corps "fosters and
condones" sexual assault abuse. One of the plaintiffs told the news media
that the Marines tried to "cover" up the scandal and that she did not want
"this to happen to my younger sisters.''

"This sexual abuse against high school students is strong evidence that the
people of San Francisco were right to vote by nearly 60 percent to oppose
military recruiters in our public high schools and colleges," said Mr.
Chretien in a statement released late Wednesday.

"This lawsuit, and the fact that the recruiters in question were already
fired, lends great credibility to the plaintiffs' claims, and proves that
students, teachers and parents have legitimate reasons to not want the
military recruiters in our schools.

"While we should hold the individual Marine recruiters responsible for
their actions, I believe that responsibility for these crimes goes straight
to the top of the Marine Corps. Just last fall, the military brass put
their own recruiters on 'stand down' because they knew full well their
lower level recruiters were breaking the law and abusing recruits.

"It comes as no surprise to us that high ranking military officers who
train their troops to torture and abuse Iraqi captives send the green light
to military recruiters to 'do what it takes' to fill their recruiting
quotas," said Mr. Chretien.

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TODD chretien
US Senate
1-800-LeaveIraq www.Todd4Senate.org