Judge Bars Second Watada Court-Martial
[AP | Seattle Post Intellegencer | AFP]
NOVEMBER 1, 2007
Photos from October 27 Rallies
In 11 cities across the country, members of Veterans For Peace came out in full force to lead the opposition against the war and occupation of Iraq. The seperate rallies, sponsored by United For Peace and Justice were organized locally and each had their own flare and energy.
October 24, 2007
Veterans For Peace Gets Ready for Veterans Day
Last year, Veterans For Peace members in over 30 different cities either joined already existing Veterans Day parades, or held their own Veterans Day events. This year, we are hoping that many more VFP members join the ranks of Veterans and honor the real meaning of Armistice Day.
Veterans For Peace Chapter 140 is sponsoring their own Veterans Day parade in Meadeville, PA. Contact Sandy at sandkel@earthlink.com if you are interested in participating.
October 23, 2007
United For Peace and Justice and Brave New Foundation Releases October 27th Video
Getting ready for massive demonstrations in 11 cities, Brave New Foundation, along with United for Peace and Justice, have put together a fantastic video to encourage people to participate Saturday, October 27.
Veterans For Peace members will be in all 11 cities, both as speakers and participants. Come and join us!
October 19, 2007
"Raise Hell for Molly Ivins" as part of Iraq Moratorium
Veterans For Peace members have created a new campaign called, "Raise Hell for Molly Ivins." Similiar to the Iraq Moratorium in the fact that they take action on the third Friday of every month, but they have a very specific targert: CONGRESS!
The Raise Hell for Molly Ivins campaign is a group of grassroots activists that inspired by the jouranlist Molly Ivins. In her call to "Raise hell!" people are encouraged to wear black arm bands, join a pots and pans protest outside of a Congressional office, or take another action to show your opposition to the war and occupation of Iraq.
October 17, 2007
Fight Climate Change, Not War for Oil
Activists are gathering nation wide to support a world where oil consumption does not rule our drive for war!
No War, No Warming is working to escalate the public's stance on war and climate change by engaging in meaningful acts of civil disobedience October 20 through 22. There are local actions happening, so one doesn't have to travel all the way to Washington D.C., to participate!
October 16, 2007
VFP Board Election Ballots on their way!
Each year, Veterans For Peace documented members have the opportunity to vote for the new board of directors. The ballots have been mailed and if you are a documented veteran, you should receive yours in the mail soon!
Available online, is the ballot instructions and a list of those running for the board of directors. To see the list of current board member click here!
October 15, 2007
Oberlin Declares War on War
The original sponsors & main organizers were the Oberlin Chapter of Veterans for Peace, Oberlin Peacebuilders (the local umbrella peace group), & the Oberlin Peace Activists League (the major student activist group). About 300 non students & 70 students attended; the main speaker, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, 9th Ohio Congressional District, gave a detailed, most informative, and powerful anti-war address. She stressed, to a most supportive audience, how Congress, the U.S. military, the media,& the U.S. Constitution have all been hijacked by the fears generated by the Bush Administration's uninhibited willingness to mount lying attacks upon all opponents of the war or Bush's policies. It should be noted that Representative Kaptur was one of the few people who voted against the Iraq war from the very beginning. She impressed us all with her knowledge, passion and eloquence.
October 12, 2007
VFP Store Features and Sale Items
There are several items in the VFP store that have reduced prices. Check out the white sweatshirts, now available for $10 ($15 savings!).
We also have a pile of the Walkin' to New Orleans t-shirts (size large only) that are on sale for $5. As well as holiday cards that are on sale for $7.50.
OCTOBER 10, 2007
SOA Watch Preparation in Full Swing
On November 16, 1989, six Jesuit priests, their co-worker and her teenage daughter were massacred in El Salvador. A U.S. Congressional Task Force reported that those responsible were trained at the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA) at Ft. Benning, Georgia.
This set off a small group of active Jesuits and veterans as they gathered outside of Ft. Benning to both remember those killed and show opposition to the United States Training facility. The School of America Watch demonstrations began over 15 years ago, and the group has grown from a small handful to over 10,000 people who visit every November.
Each year, members of Veterans For Peace meet in Columbus, GA to show their solidarity for those killed by military trained at the SOA (now called Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation or WHINSC). Last year, David Cline was one of the featured speakers, and this year, Executive Director, Michael McPhearson will be speaking to the crowd of 10,000 plus!
OCTOBER 8, 2007
Must See Movies - "Soldiers of Conscience" and "In the Valley of Elah"
"Soldiers of Conscience" includes several members of the U.S. Army and their moral concerns for what they are asked to do in the military. Every military personnel has some very hard questions they ask themselves. The movie includes interviews with Aiden Delgado, Camilo Mejia, Kevin Benderman, and Joshua Casteel, as well as never before seen footage of Army bootcamp. You can see more information about "Soldiers of Conscience", as well as screening locations at http://www.socfilm.com/.
"In the Valley of Elah" follows a father of a soldier who has recently returned from Iraq and has since gone missing. While the military thinks he has gone AWOL the father, a military man himself, knows that something has happened to his son. His son's body turns up badly multilated and burned. You can learn more about the movie at http://wip.warnerbros.com/inthevalleyofelah/
"In the Valley of Elah" is based off of a true story of a soldier, Richard Davis, from the St. Louis, Missouri area. Days after his return from Iraq, to Fort Benning, GA, his body is found dead. You can learn more about Richard Davis at http://www.richarddavisforpeace.com. View the 48 Hours article here.
OCTOBER 4, 2007
War Resister Arrested, Then Released in Canada
On October 1, war resister Robin Long was arrestedin Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. After being transported to Vancouver, Robin was released on October 3. He still faces deportation from Canada back to the United States. You can help keep Robin in Canada by contacting the followig people. Ask them to make a provision to allow war resisters stay in Canada!
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Fax: 613-941-6900 | Email: pm@pm.gc.ca
Minister of Citizenship & Immigration Diane Finley
Phone: 613-954-1064 (between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.)
Email:
Minister@cic.gc.ca
Phone: 613-996-5789 | Email: dion.s@parl.gc.ca [Courage to Reisist | War Resisters Support Campaign]
OCTOBER 2, 2007
Rally in Syracuse, New York
Saturday, September 29, members of Veterans For Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War joined thousands of others in Syracuse, New York to show their dissent with the war. Being close to Fort Drum, the rally included speakers like Eli Wright, Scott Ritter, and Phil Aliff, as well as our own Elliott Adams.
OCTOBER 1, 2007
2007 Convention DVD Available
The 2007 Convention DVD is available through the VFP store, www.vfpstore.org. It is a five disc set that has video coverage of the opening press conference, opening plenary, the public speakout, banquet, farewell ceremony, and the march to the arch. DVDs are only $25 (shipping and handling not included).
september 25, 2007
Lt Watada Court Martial Begins October 9
When given orders to deploy to Iraq, Lt Ehren Watada begin looking into the reasons for the war and came to the realization that this war is illegal. He refused to serve with his unit in Iraq in June of 2006. Lt. Watada is facing four charges that could land him in jail for up to six years. His original trial was February of 2007 and after three days, the judge declared a mistrial. Lt Watada's lawyers are trying to get the charges dropped. You can learn more at www.thankyoult.org.
september 21, 2007
Veterans For Peace Recognizes Iraq Moratorium
The war and occupation of Iraq has contined for over four years. Today marks the beginning of the Iraq Moratorium. With the idea stemming from the Vietnam Moratoriumin 1969, every third Friday, people are encouraged to break from their daily routines, step outside their comfort levels, and do something to end this war.Some people will wear armbands, college campuses will stage walkouts, people will refrain from buying gas, and Congress will be flooded with phone calls.
This photo was taken outside the Veterans For Peace national office in St. Louis, MO. A coffin, pair of combat boots, jacket, and yardsigns were placed outside. Behind the tribute to the fallen troops is the Veterans For Peace flag and the U.S. casualty count. If you or your chapter participated in the Iraq Moratorium, please send photos and stories to breznicek@veteransforpeace.net.
september 15, 2007
David Cline We Salute You
David Cline passed away early September 15, 2007. Most of you know that David was a giant in the Veteran’s anti-war and peace movements. A national coordinator and long time member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War as well as former President of Veterans For Peace, David was a crucial part of the explosion in VFP’s growth and led us in our planning and actions as we have resisted the invasion and occupation of Iraq. David was a giant among people who motivated all of us to action by modeling leadership and providing inspiration.
David was my boss, mentor, friend and I loved him. He recruited me into VFP by simply being the person he was, a veteran working for peace. There are few people outside of my family whose death means such a loss to me personally. There are few in our nation whose loss means so much to our movement.
A quote David loved so much guided his thoughts and actions. He carried it in his wallet so that he could whip it out to motivate us at any time. Of course he also had it memorized.
"If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what a people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." Frederick Douglass
David Cline We Salute You.
Letter from Executive Director, Michael T. McPhearson
DONATE TO THE DAVID CLINE MEMORIAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES FUND
VFP has setup a fund to help Gladys Simer, David's life companion with burial cost and expenses. Donations will also help Gladys transition from her life with David sharing everyday expenses to a life without him in her presence, but now in her heart.
> See photos, memorials, and articles about David
september 20, 2007
VFP Joined IVAW in Stepping Up the Anti - War Movement
Last Saturday, September 15, member of Veterans For Peace traveled to Washington D.C. to join the ANSWER Rally and March. Much of the planning for the rally and march was driven by Iraq Veterans Against the War. The march began with a not so typical color guard, with the American flag hung upside down, and black flags painted with the logos of the giant corporations that are making a profit off of this war. As the march continued forward, many of the participants began a scheduled die-in, while other attempted to cross police lines. Over 190 people, including members of Veterans For Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the war were arrested.Photos & Blogs [ 1 | 2 | Gainesville, FL VFP | "A New Day in the Anti-War Movement" by Mike Ferner | "How to enjoy a DC Capitol Police All-Nighter Without Trying" by Ken Mayers | "Yesterday's Activities in D.C." by Patrick McCann | Our Peace Odyssey by Joseph Hayes]
Video [ Progressive Democrats of America | VFP Member talks about the Gathering of Eagles | Die-in, Speaking truth to Power | March on Washington, 9/15/07 ]
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