Finding Our
Voices facilitates discussion about
democracy, free speech and how individuals can
make a difference. Host a showing of the film
in your community, faith group, school or
home.
Camilo
Mejia continued
"By putting my
weapon down, I chose to reassert myself as a
human being. Let us collectively, free our
minds, soften our hearts, comfort the wounded,
put down our weapons and reassert ourselves as
human beings by putting an end to war." -
CAMILO MEJIA
CAMILO MEJIA, an immigrant
from Nicaragua and Costa Rica, joined the Army
for educational benefits serving four years
active duty during which he was decorated and
promoted. While serving in Iraq with the
Florida National Guard, he witnessed civilian
deaths and knew of prisoner abuse. On leave, he
went AWOL rather than return to Iraq
- five months later, he turned himself
in to call attention to U.S. policies. At
his court martial he was not allowed to present
the motivation for his actions in his defense.
Camilo served nine months of a year-long
sentence in military prison for
desertion.
More About Camilo
Mejia
Camilo Mejía was born
in 1975, the son of prominent Sandinista
revolutionaries.He grew up in Nicaragua and
Costa Rica before moving to the United States
with his family in 1994. Mejía served as an
infantryman in the active-duty army from 1995
to 1998 before transferring to the Florida
National Guard. His contract with the National
Guard was to end in May 2003, but he was
stop-lossed and sent to The Middle East. He
spent five months in combat in Iraq before
refusing to return after a two week furlough in
Miami. On May 21, 2004 he was sentenced to one
year in prison for refusing to return to the
fighting.
Mejía is a vegetarian
and the proud father of a seven-year-old
daughter. He currently lives in
Miami.
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