Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors
Encyclopedia
The Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors (CCCO) is a United States
organization founded in 1948 and dedicated to helping people avoid or resist military
enlistment
. It was active in supporting conscientious objector
s and draft dodger
s during the Vietnam War
.
CCCO's present activities include counter-recruitment
activism through its "Military Out of Our Schools" program, production of a youth magazine, AWOL! Youth for Peace and Revolution, in collaboration with the War Resisters League
, and a "Third World Outreach Program", which focuses on the issue of the "poverty draft," where some impoverished
young people, disproportionately
people of color, feel that they are coerced into military service by a lack of options.
CCCO has previously served as the clearinghouse of the national GI Rights Network
, which includes the operation of GI Rights Hotline. This work is currently in a state of transition, with CCCO continuing to play a significant role in the work of the Network. At present, over 2000 calls are received each month on the Hotline. CCCO formerly performed counseling to military members opposed to current wars as well as civilians faced with decisions regarding what to do about legal requirements for Selective Service registration, and formerly had offices in Philadelphia and San Francisco, but their activities are currently on hold due to the economic slump and now have but one office in Oakland which is currently reorganizing as of 2010. Their former counseling role is currently being filled by the GI Rights Hotline and by the Center on Conscience and War (formerly NIBSCO).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
organization founded in 1948 and dedicated to helping people avoid or resist military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
enlistment
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
. It was active in supporting conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
s and draft dodger
Draft dodger
Draft evasion is a term that refers to an intentional failure to comply with the military conscription policies of the nation to which he or she is subject...
s during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
CCCO's present activities include counter-recruitment
Counter-recruitment
Counter-recruitment is a strategy often taken up to oppose war. Counter-recruitment is an attempt to prevent military recruiters from enlisting civilians into the military. There are several methods commonly utilized in a counter-recruitment campaign, ranging from the political speech to direct...
activism through its "Military Out of Our Schools" program, production of a youth magazine, AWOL! Youth for Peace and Revolution, in collaboration with the War Resisters League
War Resisters League
The War Resisters League was formed in 1923 by men and women who had opposed World War I. It is a section of the London-based War Resisters' International.Many of the founders had been jailed during World War I for refusing military service...
, and a "Third World Outreach Program", which focuses on the issue of the "poverty draft," where some impoverished
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
young people, disproportionately
Institutional racism
Institutional racism describes any kind of system of inequality based on race. It can occur in institutions such as public government bodies, private business corporations , and universities . The term was coined by Black Power activist Stokely Carmichael in the late 1960s...
people of color, feel that they are coerced into military service by a lack of options.
CCCO has previously served as the clearinghouse of the national GI Rights Network
GI Rights Network
The GI Rights Network is coalition of nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that provide free and confidential information to United States military servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Most of the work of the Network is done through the GI Rights Hotline, but the Network also provides...
, which includes the operation of GI Rights Hotline. This work is currently in a state of transition, with CCCO continuing to play a significant role in the work of the Network. At present, over 2000 calls are received each month on the Hotline. CCCO formerly performed counseling to military members opposed to current wars as well as civilians faced with decisions regarding what to do about legal requirements for Selective Service registration, and formerly had offices in Philadelphia and San Francisco, but their activities are currently on hold due to the economic slump and now have but one office in Oakland which is currently reorganizing as of 2010. Their former counseling role is currently being filled by the GI Rights Hotline and by the Center on Conscience and War (formerly NIBSCO).