Pfc. LaVena Johnson » ColorofChange

Press release from ColorofChange.org

Philip Barron — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:14:18 +0000

This week, advocacy group ColorofChange.org sent out a press release regarding LaVena Johnson and the petition to Rep Henry Waxman to a number of media and activist organizations. Readers here are encouraged to copy and send the text below to such news outlets and other parties which may be interested. As of yesterday, the petition’s signature count stood at 53,134 names.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

50,000 sign ColorOfChange.org Petition for Hearing into LaVena Johnson’s Death
Womens’ and veterans’ groups join campaign to urge US Rep. Henry Waxman to lead Congressional investigation into potential US Army coverup of rape-murders

Oakland, CA

Post-migration site issues

Philip Barron — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:14:08 +0000

This weekend, I discovered a couple of malfunctions in the website that resulted at least indirectly from this site’s move from Blogger to WordPress. The first involved incomplete posts – about ten percent of the entries on the site were oddly truncated, cut off after the first few lines. I can only think that this was an unintended result of the recent upgrade to the latest version of WordPress and its upgrade of the site’s database. Fortunately, I had archived versions of the shortened posts and was able to restore them.

The second miscue involved non-working links to files created by me – mini-pages that list contact information for the members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees (as on this page). Those mini-pages appeared as pop-ups when the links were clicked, but that was when the site was hosted on Blogger, where the JavaScript resided that made it possible. I have a solution in hand for this issue, however, ~~and will apply it as soon as time allows.~~ Note: the links have all been corrected.

ColorofChange.org launches LaVena petition

Philip Barron — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:27:00 +0000

The online grassroots organization ColorofChange.org, a black advocacy group founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, has lent its support to the family of LaVena Johnson. The group has launched a new petition addressed to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and its chairman, Representative Henry Waxman. From the petition page:

Justice for LaVena Johnson
Tell Congressman Waxman to investigate the Army’s cover up of Pfc LaVena Johnson’s murder.
While overwhelming evidence shows that LaVena Johnson was raped and murdered while serving in Iraq, the US Army refuses to acknowledge the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Join the Johnson family’s call for Congressman Waxman to hold a Congressional hearing that uncovers the truth behind LaVena’s tragic death.

ColorofChange.org is perhaps most widely known for its advocacy on behalf of the Jena Six – young African-American men facing racial bias and inflated charges of murder in Jena, LA. From the organization’s “About Us” page:

ColorOfChange.org is comprised of Black folks from every economic class, as well as those of every color who seek to help our voices be heard. Our members are united behind a simple, powerful pledge: we will do all we can to make sure all Americans are represented, served, and protected

Dr. John Johnson speaks on LaVena’s death at VFP event

Philip Barron — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 01:32:00 +0000

The father of Pfc. LaVena Lynn Johnson, Dr. John Johnson of Florissant, Missouri.

Dr. Johnson spoke in August 2007 at the Veterans for Peace speakout on sexual assault in the military outside the Robert A. Young Federal Building in downtown St. Louis. This was just one of many events and workshops comprising the 22nd annual national convention of VFP.

In the video embedded here, Dr. Johnson talks about learning of LaVena’s death, his suspicions about how she died, and the family’s attempts to get the Army to reopen its investigation. He is introduced by antiwar activist and retired Army colonel Ann Wright.

I ask you to help the Johnson family by signing the ColorofChange petition to Rep. Henry Waxman of the House Oversight Committee.