NEWSROOM
MAY 15, 2008
May 15 - Conscientious Objectors' Day
Thank a Conscientious Objector today! A Conscientious Objectors (CO) is someone who, on a religous, moral, or ethical ground, refuses to participate as a combatant in war. As the occupation of Iraq grows more intense, the number of those filing as COs are increasing. Below are some resource to learn more about Conscientious Objectors.
American Friends Service Committee
Central Committee for Conscientious Objection
National Lawyers Guild Military Law Task Force
War Resisters Support Campaign
MAY 12, 2008
Veterans Denied Rights By Veterans?
On April 14, 2008 Veterans For Peace, Delwin Anderson Memorial chapter
of Washington D.C. was officially accepted to join the National
Memorial Day parade on May 26, 2008. On April 28 Veterans For Peace
received notice that the organization did not meet the criteria
to participate. This notice was sent by the American Veterans Center
which is the organizer for the parade.
The parade director's revocation of Veterans For Peace participation
stated "Unfortunately, we cannot have elements in the parade that have
any type of political message or wish to promote a viewpoint."
Veterans For Peace responded with a request for reconsideration because
there was no agenda for presenting any type of political message or
viewpoint. Veterans For Peace has not received any further
communication from the parade director or the American Veterans Center.
APRIL 2, 2008
Washington DC Protest Wrap-Up
For the commemoration of the 5th year of the occupation of Iraq,
members of Veterans For Peace gathered in Washington D.C. to show their
opposition to the war.
MARCH 26, 2008
Thank You For Your Support of Iraq Veterans Against the War and Winter Soldier
March 13-16, 2008 Iraq Veterans Against the War held Winter Solider: Iraq and Afghanistan (Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupations) in Silver Springs, Maryland. The event was a great success and I would like to thank the greater anti-war/peace movements for your support in helping IVAW, Vietnam Veterans Against the War and Veterans For Peace in our efforts.MARCH 20, 2008
Veterans March Around the Nation
To commemorate the 5th year of the occupation of Iraq, members of
Veterans For Peace gathered across the nation to once again "Bring the
Troops Home Now!"
[A Sober Reminder of War - Miami | Local Chapter of VFP Stage Rallies Throughout Valley | Local Peace Activists Mark Anniversary of Iraq War - Bangor, Maine | Fighting for Peace | Vets Take a Stand For Peace - Oberlin | Vets Join Protesters at Rally - Tampa | Five Years of War Doesn't Go Unnoticed - Nashville | Vigil Held for Peace in Iraq - Danvers, MA]
Veterans For Peace members in Washington D.C. lead protesters on a March For Peace. They demanded the arrest of George Bush and Dick Cheney at the White House and the Department of Justice. At the National Archives, activists held a brief demonstration. Read the Stars and Stripes article here.
Video [Adam Kokesh Demands Impeachment | Union Station Protest | National Archive Protest - 1 | National Archive Protest - 2]
MARCH 18, 2008
Winter Soldier a Huge Success
This last weekend, over 100 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans spoke the
truth about the war and occupation. The event was attended by hundreds
of media, as well as military families and veterans from VFP and VVAW.
Nate Goldshlag, member of Chapter 009 (the Smedley Butler Brigade),
wrote the following:
"I have just spent an amazing and intense 4 days at the Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan hearings in DC. Many brave veterans spoke the truth about what is happening, a truth that is censored in the mainstream corporate media. They talked about the Iraqis and they talked about themselves and how the war and occupation has affected them and in some cases destroyed them. One vet spoke of trying to kill himself. It was so moving and we cried and the U.S. population needs to see and hear this. Iraq Veterans Against The War's site http://ivaw.org will have archived video, but their website is down today. I *urge* you to take some time and view the following on Democracy Now, a voice of truth in the media and one of the few. Mainstream corporate media was pitiful, including National Petroleum Radio (NPR) which some people mistakenly think is different. But you can view it here, and Amy Goodman will be carrying excerpts all week. [Friday | Monday]
One very good thing is that an AP report appeared in Army Times, Marine Corps Times, Navy Times, and Air Force Times. And Stars and Stripes did a pretty good piece. That will boost IVAW. But there is nothing like watching and seeing it as we did."
You can still watch the testimonies - visit the IVAW website at ivaw.org.January 6, 2008
RESULTS OF THE 2007 VFP BOARD ELECTION
There were a total of 962 ballots received by the National Office. Of these there were: 1 spoiled ballot (voted for more than four), 85 were received from unidentified senders
Thus, there remained 876 valid ballots which yielded the following results:
- Gary May 619 - Elected
- John Varone 543 - Elected
- Thomas Brinson 528 - Elected
- Patrick McCann 484 - Elected
- Lane Anderson 398
- Dan Shea 340
- George Johnson 276
The 85 unidentified when added to the 5th place holder's total falls short by one to the 4th place total. Therefore, the inclusion of any or all of the disallowed ballots would not have affected the outcome and we declare May, Varone, Brinson and McCann to be the winners. F Lincoln Grahlfs acted as Primary Election Judge
Submitted by Mike FernerVeterans For Peace National Secretary
January 1, 2008
From War to Peace: Why You Joined VFP
In an effort to build up our membership, we have asked several of our most active members what moved them from being someone who is willing to wage war, to someone who now wages peace, why did you join VFP, and what have been your successes in recruiting new members to VFP?
Here is part of what VFP Veteran Member, Leah Bolger has to say: "While I was on active duty, I believed that I wasn't allowed to join an organization like VFP. I knew I wasn't allowed to protest or speak out against our military policies. Although I believed in the values of VFP, I waited until I had been discharged to join. As our country has become more bellicose and misguided, I have become more outspoken and active with the peace movement. I am involved with several other peace organizations, but I feel that as a veterans' organization, we have more credibility and power in advocating for peace than some other organizations."
To include your submission on why you joined and how you recruit, please fill out the following online form.
January 1, 2008
2008 - What Do We Do Now?
Written by Executive Director Michael McPhearson
As we move towards commemorating the beginning of the 6th year of the Iraq Occupation/War, I am excited about all the work the peace and justice movements have accomplished. We have kept the issue of the Iraq Occupation in the forefront of U.S. national conversation. We have not allowed the Bush Administration and others who support the war to distort the fact that the war is illegal and immoral. We have turned a solid 30% minority of dissent against the war to a solid majority against the war. Due in large part to our efforts the Republican led Congress fell to the current Democrat leadership. While this accomplishment was not itself an intended result (putting Dems in office is not what we are trying to do) it does show the power of the people and that the anti-war/peace movements can have substantial influence on the outcome of local elections. Since the election in 2006 we have put tremendous pressure on Congress to end the war. This pressure has kept the war front and center in the minds of the US public and changed the political debate.
However, we have failed at the most basic task of ending the war and it is hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel in this regard. Right now it appears to me that the movements are in a kind of drift. We have lost momentum and we must regain what combat arms types call the initiative.
December 28, 2007
IVAW Requests no National Mass Mobilizations or DC Based Actions during Winter Soldier
As we approach the fifth anniversary of the quagmire known as the invasion/occupation of Iraq, many of us feel a need to mark this occasion with an appropriately momentous show of resistance. For the past few months, IVAW has been organizing "Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan." From March 13-16, 2008, we will assemble the largest gathering of US veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan in history, as well as Iraqi and Afghan survivors, to offer first-hand, eyewitness accounts to tell the truth about these occupations - their impact on the troops, their families, our nation, and the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.