William Rivers Pitt is a teacher, writer and political activist who says he will fight injustice until “the day comes when we can once again stand in awe and pride before our flag, our government and our nation.”

Pitt went from being a high school English teacher to exposing the lies and manipulations of government in his book, War on Iraq: What Team Bush Doesn’t Want You to Know. In it, Pitt reveals how false information led to the U.S. starting the second Iraq War during the presidency of George W. Bush.

Pitt now works as an editor and columnist at the alternative, online news organization truthout.com and has written two other books: The Greatest Sedition is Silence and House of Ill Repute: Reflections on War, Lies, and America’s Ravaged Reputation.

His political work includes being press secretary for Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s 2004 presidential campaign, as well as an analyst for the Institute for Public Accuracy.

In his writings and public talks, Pitt documents collusion among government officials, military leaders and companies that make weapons to keep the U.S. in a perpetual state of war. He faults mainstream media for not adequately investigating the truth, and encourages ordinary citizens to find out for themselves what their government is doing.

“I’m a school teacher. I just started doing this because somebody had to do it. If I can do it, you can do it,” says Pitt.

Pitt was born on Nov. 9, 1971, in Washington D.C., but grew up in Alabama and Massachusetts. He graduated from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass., and taught high school until 2003, when he became a fulltime political activist and writer.

“I am one of those fools who think that the idea of America is one of the last, best hopes for humankind. When used properly, it can work wonders. The idea itself is in mortal peril…if you murder the idea, you have murdered America itself,” says Pitt, adding, “People of good conscience cannot surrender.”