NEWSROOM
january 5, 2010
ELLEN BARFIELD RELEASED FROM JAIL AFTER 25 DAY SENTENCE
"A great big THANK YOU to all of you who wrote me and/or sent good wishes my way during my 22+ days of incarceration, ended this morning at 7:30, on a 25 day sentence for telling the Senate to stop spending BLOOD MONEY to kill Afghans and Pakistanis. The guards and my sister inmates were of course amazed at the nearly 100 pieces of mail I received, as many as 25 in one day. I'll be writing about my experience and sending some individual notes in the coming days, but I just wanted to stop the flow of mail anyway!" Peace, Ellen Barfield
Ellen was sentenced to 18 months of probation, 75 days in jail, all but 25 suspended. This means she began serving her 25 days today. Should she be arrested within the next 18 months, or violate terms of her probation (which includes a stay away from the entire Capitol complex), she will be hauled before Judge Liebovitz who pledged to give her the other 50 days. > Read the original action story
> Read Ellen's statement to Judge Liebovitz:
December 27, 2009
SEVERAL VFP MEMBERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE GAZA FREEDOM MARCH
The Gaza Freedom Marchers were allowed only 100 participates to
enter into Gaza. After a period of time, most of the group denied this
request. Most people were calling for all the GFM to enter or none at
all. It has now been decided that they will hold a march and rally in
Cairo. Read a full article on the events here.
December 27 will mark the first anniversary of the Israeli attack and invasion of the Gaza Strip. And although the Israeli tanks have left, the complete closure of the borders continues. The Gaza Freedom March will show the residents of Gaza that the international community of citizens has not forgotten them, and will call worldwide attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Through this effort and other activities, we hope to force the leaders of our governments to tell Israel "enough is enough; open the borders!"
VFP members participating include:
Will Covert
Hedy Epstein (Honorary)
David Hartsough (Associate)
Mike Hearington
Tarak Kauff
Billy Kelly
Ken Mayers
Fred Nagle
Bill Perry
Terry Perry (Associate)
Louis Vitale
Ann Wright
Learn more about the Gaza Freedom March.
Read a Guest Opinion piece by VFP Member Bill Perry.
DECEMBER 10, 2009
LARGE MAJORITY OF U.S. PEACE ACTIVISTS EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT TO NOBEL COMMITTEE
Washington, DC - On December 9th, representatives of several dozen U.S. antiwar groups posted an open letter to the Nobel Committee expressing regret that President Obama, so close upon his receipt of this honor, has opted to escalate the U.S. war in Afghanistan with the deployment of 30,000 additional troops.
> Read full letter to Nobel Committee
NOVEMBER 30, 2009
UNITED ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT DELIVERS A LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA
Signed by over 30 different anti-war organizations, the letter calls for the war in Afghanistan to end now!
"In
short, President Obama, we will do everything in our power, as
nonviolent peace activists, to build the kind of massive movement
--which today represents the sentiments of a majority of the American
people--that will play a key role in ending U.S. war in Afghanistan.
Such would be the folly of a decision to escalate troop deployment and
such is the depth of our opposition to the death and suffering it would
cause."
NOVEMBER 20, 2009
VFP 2009 ELECTION REPORT
There are five positions open in this year's Board of Director's Election. By the voting deadline 938 ballots were received. Of these there were 21 for which it is impossible to verify that the sender was an eligible voter, 1 Associate Member, 1 duplicate and 10 late. The tally of the remaining 905 ballots yielded the following totals:
1. Michael Uhl - 742
2. Mike Ferner - 737
3. Cherie Eichholz - 694
4. Joey King - 460
5. Mike Hearington - 440
Tarak Kauff - 308
Chris Knight - 297
Sam Feldman - 288
Dave Wiley - 206
The committee who counted the votes were Reese Forbes, Woody Powell, Bob Schnieders and Bill Griffith.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael T. McPhearson
Executive Director
NOVEMBER 11, 2009
JOIN VFP IN THE EFFORT TO CLOSE THE SOA
Since 1990, under the
leadership of veteran and VFP member Roy Bourgeois, demonstrators have gathered
outside the gates of Fort Benning, GA to stand in solidarity with the people of
Latin America and the Caribbean, to close the SOA/WHINSEC and to change the
oppressive U.S. foreign policy that the SOA represents. Veterans For
Peace has been a part of this effort since close to the beginning and it's
contingent grows larger every year as the SOA Watch gets closer to closing the
School of Americas.
NOVEMBER 11, 2009
VETERANS / ARMISTICE DAY STATEMENT
Veterans' Day began as "Armistice" Day, to celebrate November 11, 1918 when the guns of World War One finally stopped - and what cause for celebration there was!
From August 1914 until November 1918, 30 million soldiers were killed or wounded and another 7 million were taken captive. Never before had people witnessed such industrialized slaughter. A hint of the wreckage can be glimpsed by visiting a Great War memorial in any European town and invariably seeing a list of names long enough to include every young man who lived there at the time - hence the "lost generation."
> Read moreNOVEMBER 6, 2009
VFP'S STATEMENT ON THE TRAGEDY AT FT. HOOD
Veterans For Peace extends our sympathies to the families and soldiers of Fort Hood. The pain and sadness felt by the community is shared by our members. Nearly every day in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other places across the globe tragedy strikes as a result of war. On November 5th, tragedy struck close to home.
The nation will mourn and try to make sense of this awful day. VFP does not pretend to know the answers, nonetheless as veterans, all who have trained for war and some who have seen death or taken life, we know that violence begets violence. The trauma of war stays with us and is passed on to others.
This event makes visible the countless hidden and forgotten tragedies. It shows us those tragedies are not restricted to the combat zone, but in ways big and small affect us at home, in our communities and as a people. It motivates us to work harder to end the madness of war.
NOVEMBER 5, 2009
MICHAEL MCPHEARSON, TO STEP DOWN AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF VFP
"I
write with mixed emotions of sadness and excitement to inform you that
I will be stepping down as Veterans For Peace Executive Director,
effective February 28, 2010. As of that date it will be a little over
five years working for one of the most important organizations in the
country. I have been blessed to be at the center of resistance to war
during one of the most critical times in U.S. history. I cannot imagine
a better place to have done this work."
> Read entire resignation letter
> Read Board President, Mike Ferner's statement
OCTOBER 27, 2009
VETERANS' GROUP CALLS ON MEMBERS TO REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO ENDING THIS CYCLE OF VIOLENCE IN AFGHANISTAN
Veterans For Peace urged its chapters to demonstrate opposition to the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan by doing two things:
1) Take the actions listed below within the next several days, before President Obama decides to escalate the war in Afghanistan, and
2) Plan acts of even greater resistance during the two days following any such decision.
- Continue writing and calling our representatives and demanding peace.
- If we've done that: take to the streets
- If we've done that: sit down in the streets
- If we've done that: sit down in Congressional offices
- If we've done that: sit down, clog up, incapacitate, call in sick, withdraw consent and generally bring the nation's business to a halt, wherever and whenever we can, with any peaceful means available.
> Read VFP's Letter to President Obama
> Members Take Action
OCTOBER 15, 2009
MAJA KAZAZIC CAME TO THE U.S. WITH HELP FROM VFP - SHE'S STILL MAKING HEADLINES!
The
October issue of Reader's Digest features one of the kids VFP brought to
the US during the Bosnian conflict on its cover. Maja Kazazic was one of the
early kids in the effort to save wounded kids there and bring them to the
States for treatment. The Fall 1993 issue of the VFP Journal kicks off
her story and each edition for the next couple of years covered later
developments.
From the Fall 1993 Newsletter: "Maja Kazazic, 16, of Mostar was hit by mortar shell fragments that severely wounded both of her legs and her left wrist. She underwent immediate surgery in a makeshift field hospital where her lower left leg was amputated without anesthesia. Maja was evacuated by a British nurse, Sally Becker, and was flown to Andrews AFB near Washington D.C. by the U.S. Air Force on September 8. VFP National Treasurer Bob Taft of Ft. Ashby, WV, Aleta Weaver, RN; Sophie Holbrook, interpreter; Bill Holbrook; Jim Smith, Photographer; and an ambulance crew met the plane and took her to Memorial Medical Center, Cumberland, MD for immediate surgery. Maja's prognosis is very good. She is accompanied by her aunt, Majda Paunovic."
OCTOBER 13, 2009
OCTOBER 12 - 16 MARKS "MILITARY RAPE AWARENESS WEEK"
Rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military is an epidemic but it is not being treated as one. This must change and VFP is contributing to making this change through the MRAW. During the VFP national convention, the Board declared October 12-16, 2009 Military Rape Awareness Week (MRAW). Tuesday, October 13 members of Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans against the War, Granny Peace Brigade, Codepink: Women for Peace, World Can't Wait, Artists Response Team and We will not be Silent stood outside the recruiting center in Times Square NYC to warn potential women recruits about the alarming rates of sexual assault and rape of women in the military. Sandra Lee, a survivor of military rape and Eve Ensler, internationally known playwright both spoke to the crowd and led the march to the recruiting station. > read press release
VIDEO FROM ACTION
PHOTOS
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| Ann Wright speaks to the crowd, VFP Board Member Leah Bolger getting ready to speak. |
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| Marching to Recruiting Center |
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| Playwright, Eve Ensler |
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| VFP Members approaching recruiting center. Unfortunately, there was a massive police blockade to the area. * All photos by Bill Perry |
Warning: Study says 1 in 3 Women RAPED in the Military
A.G. Sadler, et al., Factors Associated with Women's Risk of Rape in the Military Environment, American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 43:262-273 (2003). Important, see Erratum correcting study's rate of rape from 28% to 30%.
OCTOBER 1, 2009
COMMEMORATE OCTOBER 7TH INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN
See events in: Tampa Bay, FL | Chicago, IL | Santa Barbara, CA | Boston, MA | Port Angles, WA | Evansville, IN | Madison, WI | Corvallis, OR | Nashville, TN | Seattle, WA | Saratoga, FL | San Francisco, CA | Bellingham, WA | Daytona Beach, FL | Tacoma, WA
October 7 marks the 8th year of the war on Afghanistan. Join Veterans For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Military Families Speak Out
as we
continue to resist this ongoing war and occupation. Because of his
increase of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, this is becoming President
Obama's war and we must hold him accountable, however we must never
forget that citizen money and citizen silence allows the war in
Afghanistan to continue. Veterans For Peace encourages each chapter to
hold local events to actively resist this war and occupation. VFP has
been on the leading edge of those pressuring Obama to end this war -
HELP US KEEP UP THE PRESSURE!
OCTOBER 5, 2009
EIGHT VFP MEMBERS ARRESTED IN FRONT OF WHITE HOUSE
Hundreds of people gathered outside the White House for the National
Campaign for Non-Violent Resistance. Over 80 were arrested, with eight
of those being VFP members.
VFP members arrested include: Ward Reilly, Leah Bolger, Tarak
Kauff, Mike Hearington, Mike Ferner, Ken Mayers, Jim Goodnow, and Hans
Michael Bermeersch.
Those protesting were calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, ending the illegal bombing with U.S. drones, closing the Bagram prison, and ending indefinite detention and torture.
Board Member Leah Bolger had this to say:
> read more and see pictures"I was so proud to stand beside my VFP brothers and sisters yesterday. The VFP presence was significant and powerful. The three flag draped (Afghanistan, U.S. and Iraq) coffins evoked visceral reactions, and in carrying one of them, I felt solemn, serious, and mournful. At the same time, I felt a strong sense of community and fellowship being amongst so many committed, righteous activists. There is a great sense of gratification to work with others for the causes of justice and peace, and I am humbled and proud to be a small part of it."
OCTOBER 4, 2009
VFP JOINS MFSO IN SETTING UP FIRST AFGHANISTAN "EYES WIDE OPEN"
Members of Veterans For Peace help set up and attended Military
Families Speak Out "Eyes Wide Open" event in Washington D.C. October 3
& 4, 2009.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009
LT EHREN WATADA ALLOWED TO RESIGN FROM ARMY
LT Ehren Watada is finally being discharged from the Army. According to an Associate Press article, Ehren's lawyer, Kenneth Kagan said that he was being released October 2 "under other than honorable discharge."
In 2006, Ehren refused to deploy to Iraq stating that he would be participating in War Crimes. He got further attention from both the public and the Army when he spoke at the national Veterans For Peace convention in Seattle, WA. He was charged with missing his unit's deployment and withconduct unbecoming an officer. His later court-martial ended in a mistrial. Army officials later tried to give him a second court-martial, but a judge ruled it would violate double jeopardy, leaving Erhen's future in the balance until now.
> Read AP ArticleSEPTEMBER 24, 2009
VETERANS FOR PEACE JOINS PROTESTS AT G20 SUMMIT
Veterans
For Peace is joining thousands of people to voice opposition to U.S.
foreign policy in Iraq and Afghanistan and the general policies of the
G-20. These policies benefit the financial interests of corporations,
many of which profit from endless wars, rather than the common needs of
people in every nation. The original Veterans Style Encampment that was
originally part of the Women's Tent City was shut down.
On Friday, September 25 Veterans For Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War will be honoring the GIs, veterans, and civilians who have been killed, injured, displaced and otherwise harmed in the name of corporate profit. They will meet at 10AM at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial on 5th Avenue in Oakland in Pittsburgh.
Following the memorial, we will march to 5th and Craft Avenues to join the people's march in commemoration of the Bonus Marchers of the 1930s - World War I veterans who marched on the Capital demanding compensation from the government for their service.
> See Mike Hearington's Photos
> See Bill Perry's Photos Page 1 | Page 2
SEPTEMBER 21, 2009
TWO MEMBERS TRAVEL TO HONDURAS
Staff member (and Associate Member) Virginia Druhe traveled to Honduras with a delegation from Witness for Peace September 6 - 12 and Veteran Member Pat Tate also traveled to Honduras during the same time. They traveled with separate delegations, but you can read their individual stories here.
How can you demonstrate your solidarity? Here are three ways:
- Write a letter to the editor that exposes the violations in Honduras and dispels myths about the coup. Mainstream media coverage of the coup has been laden with misinformation, while human rights violations have gone largely unreported. Get the truth out in your community by submitting a quick letter to the editor. Click here to review our sample letter and easily send it to your local papers. And check out the suggested talking points below.
- Join us on a delegation to Honduras. From September 5-12, we took a delegation to Honduras to bear witness to the alarming human rights situation, show international solidarity with the Honduran social movements, and push the U.S. government to fully revoke support for the coup-plotters. To sign up or get more information about future delegations, please contact Ken Crowley: ken@witnessforpeace.org, 773-564-9535, 202-423-3402.
- Ask your representative to condemn the coup. House Resolution 630, currently with 44 cosponsors, echoes the resounding demands of thousands of Hondurans, the international community, and organizations like Witness for Peace: that President Zelaya be immediately reinstated as Honduras's legitimate leader. Ask your rep to cosponsor this resolution--click here for more info and a suggestion of what to say when you call your representative.
- Join the International Fast for Honduras - http://www.grassrootsonline.org/news/blog/fasting-honduras
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
TWO VFP / IVAW MEMBERS BENJI LEWIS AND JOSH SIMPSON TRAVEL TO VENEZUALA
Benji and Josh together Part 1
Benji and Josh together Part 2august 10, 2009
VFP CONVENTION A SUCCESS!
There were over 190 members of VFP, 45 members of MFSO, and over 80
members of IVAW that attended the national convention in College Park,
MD. You can see photos of the convention on VFP's Flickr page.
Additional video can be seen online thanks to WHYNotNews.
More details coming soon!
AUGUST 24, 2009
COUNTING TO THREE MILLION BY ONES -WRITTEN BY PAUL COX
"With moist eyes, Mr. Duan Ton Tat held a photo of his daughter,
Dam. She died a week before our visit. In 1969 Tat had been a soldier
sent down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to war in the south to reunite their
land. He had never been in the south before, and the view he got was
one of death and destruction; but his country needed him, and like
nearly every young man (and many women) of Thai Binh Province a hundred
kilometers southeast of Hanoi, he did his duty.
"Mr. Tat spent much time in herbicidepoisoned areas during his war in
the south. Tat married, built a house for his bride, and in 1987 they
had a daughter. However, Dam had physical deformities, and her skin was
not right. She was covered with sores and her skin constantly cracked
and flaked off. As she grew, it also became clear that she was mentally
retarded. She required constant, 24-7 care-a severe burden on a poor
family.
"This year, some sympathetic congressmembers will draft legislation to provide significant assistance to the Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange. VFP and the Campaign will need your assistance to make certain your representatives support this legislation. For more information, please go to the VAORRC website at www.vn-agentorange.org."
Originally published in the March 2009 Newsletter
JULY 7, 2009
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF AMERICAS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE MILITARY COUP IN HONDURAS
You can learn more about the military coup at Democracy Now! Join the School of Americas Watch as they encourage the State Department to take action to support democracy in Honduras.
july 1, 2009
RECENT PRESS RELEASES
July 1 - U.S. Military Veterans Condemn Israeli Seizure of Aid Boat in International Waters off Gaza
June 29 - Veterans Call for Release of Detainee Abuse Photos
JUNE 22, 2009
READ THE NEWEST "WAR CRIMES TIMES"
The June 2009 version of the War Crimes Times is now available for download. Click the graphic to download the pdf.
SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION TO CREATE A MORATORIUM AND BAN ON THE MILITARY USE OF DEPLETED URANIUM
Mendocino County Chapter 116 of Veterans For Peace (VFP) invites the
public to join us in our petition campaign to the U.S. Congress,
calling for a moratorium leading to a ban on depleted uranium (DU)
munitions. The petition is now circulating locally and nationally
through VFP chapters, participating groups, and individuals.
Download a PDF version of the petition for your chapter or local events
5 DAYS OF ACTION AGAINST TORTURE
Veterans For Peace is sponsoring five days of
action to stop the use of torture! Each day this week you will
receive an email with one important step you can take to Stop
Torture Now. Read Michael McPhearson's "Accessing Torture"
Day 1 - Picture No More Torture
Day 2 - Contact your Senators and Representatives
Day 3 - Call the White House
Day 4 - Write a Letter to the Editor
Day 5 - Veterans Sign on Against Torture
MAY 29, 2009
VFP MEMBER, ELLEN BARFIELD ARRESTED IN FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE CALLING FOR "NO MORE BLOOD MONEY"
Activists scatter blood money in Senate
hearing on Afghanistan
and Pakistan
Thursday, May 18 - A group of anti-war protesters challenged U.S. senators Thursday during a
foreign relations committee meeting chaired by Senator
John Kerry (D Mass.)
held at the Dirksen Building.
Four were arrested as the committee discussed future U.S. policy toward
Afghanistan.
Among those arrested, were DC resident Eve Tetaz,
77, Ellen Barfield, 52 of Baltimore,
Md., and Stephen Mihalis, 52 from Elmyria, Ohio who interrupted the
hearing by throwing money stained with the blood of Tetaz and Barfield in the
room.
"Stop
pouring blood money into warfare," Tetaz shouted as she and the two other
activists were quickly taken from the hearing and arrested.
DC resident, Pete
Perry, 39, repeated Senator
Kerry's own words spoken at the height of the Vietnam
War: "How do you ask someone to be the last American soldier to die for a
mistake?"
"We are here to tell the Senate they
must stop automatically approving more blood money for these disastrous occupations,"
said Barfield, a US Army
veteran. "Bring all the troops home now!"
Barfield, Mihalis,
and Perry are all members of the National Campaign for Nonviolent
Resistance, which has as its mission the ending of aggressive and immoral
wars and holding those in government, responsible for such policies, accountable
to law. This group is dedicated to the teachings of nonviolence of Gandhi, King
and Dorothy Day.
This week the
Senate is expected to pass its version of the war funding supplemental, totaling
approximately $91 billion. Last week the House passed a $96.7 billion version of
the supplemental, with only 51 anti-war Democrats voting against it.
Other anti-war
activists speaking out during the hearing included members of Code Pink Women
for Peace and Peace
Action, member groups of the United for Peace and Justice coalition.
Among this national coalition's demands regarding Afghanistan are the fact that
most Afghans want the US troops out, the realization that the presence of US
troops is the cause of violence for ordinary Afghans, not the solution, and that
an occupation by US military forces will not resolve the crisis.
This is Ellen's statement to Judge Liebovitz:
Good morning, your Honor.
It is a part of nonviolence training to calmly face whatever the system feels
it needs to do to the nonviolent activist who has challenged injustice. Nonviolence training is an important part of being a
peace and justice activist, and in my over 20 years of activism I have participated
in many trainings and group discussions on how to resist violence, both in
society and in oneself. I do not believe in violence of any kind, a conviction,
ironically enough, I began forming when I was serving as an armed potential
purveyor of violence as a soldier in the Army.
The subject of the hearing where my colleagues and I briefly spoke out was the
possible diversion of just a little bit of the enormous sums being spent on
killing and destruction to the human needs of the Afghan people. We doubted
that would happen, and we are now saddened to hear about nothing but troop
escalation and drone bombings killing Afghan and Pakistani families. Just a few
days ago the director of Care International's Afghan effort decried the
militarization of the small amount of humanitarian aid available, less than 10%
of that spent on the military. Aid is being distributed for military
counterinsurgency purposes. When soldiers and aid workers together visit a
village, the aid workers are distrusted and the village becomes less safe
because soldiers were seen there.
I have loved ones caught up in combat overseas right now. I must speak out in
opposition to the immoral, unjust, anti-social wars our nation has been waging
for so many years. I must urge my loved ones and my neighbors to refuse the
command to hate and kill Afghans and Iraqis. I refuse to hate the enemies our
government has designated, and I refuse to hate people with whom I disagree.
But silence is the voice of complicity, and I cannot be complicit with our
government's warmaking.
may 26, 2009
MEMBERS OF VFP HONOR ALL WAR DEAD ON MEMORIAL DAY
Members of Veterans For Peace held and attended special Memorial Day events this 2009.
Let's remember: This holiday is not Armistice Day, or Armed Forces Day, or the birthday of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard or Merchant Marine....it's Memorial Day
It is a day to mourn ALL who have died in war. A day to remember ALL
the victims, the vast majority of whom are our brothers and sisters who, by an
accident of birth, were born on the receiving end of the bombs and the
occupations. Mourn them. If you march, carry a sign saying so.
Mourn
our comrades. Mourn the dead and the wounded, the human beings who came back
dehumanized because of what their government sent them to do.
But this
day we mourn more than our own military dead. Yes, we are veterans, but we are
also VETERANS FOR PEACE.
Abolish war and all the mourning it
causes.
(Thanks to VFP Chapter 34, especially Jay Janson, for
reminding us.)
MAY 18, 2009
NORTHWEST REGIONAL CONFERENCE INSPIRES DELEGATES
Each March, VFP members in the Northwest convene to network,
inspire each other, generate ideas and make plans for the coming year. We gather in a regional conference, with a
different city hosting the event each year.
This year Seattle hosted the 5th Annual NW Regional VFP
Conference. The NW region encompasses
the states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Utah and
is represented by 22 VFP Chapters.
MAY 15, 2009
VFP LETTER TO OBAMA - "WE ARE ANGRY ABOUT AFGHANISTAN"
Veterans For Peace recently sent a letter to President Obama
regarding the increase of death and destruction in Afghanistan. >
read full letter here
In the letter, VFP Board President Mike Ferner wrote, "We are outraged by these actions, this practice of 'death from above' you are ordering, causing the killing and wounding of hundreds of innocent people, as exemplified by the recent horrific attacks in Afghanistan.
"We've been through this before, Mr. President, and I don't mean that in a rhetorical way. We have indeed been through this all before - unlike most of the people in our country or in your administration. We have seen and heard and smelled and felt what 'death from above' actually means, not in a briefing report but right there in our hands and before our eyes. We've seen the look in the eyes of the people we occupied. We felt their anger and their humiliation. We remember these things well, Mr. President, because they will not go away no matter how many years pass."
MAY 6, 2009
VFP/IVAW MEMBER BENJI LEWIS LAUNCHES "WE CAN SAY NO" SPEAKING TOUR IN OREGON
Benjamin (Benji) Lewis was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps in spring 2007 after serving four years of active duty, including two tours of duty in Iraq and the first siege of Fallujah. After he was discharged he moved to Corvallis, OR,enrolled at Linn-Benton Community College and got a part-time job at a local restaurant.
In October 2008, Benji received notification that he was being involuntarily recalled to active duty. Shortly thereafter, he announced his decision to refuse activation at the Winter Soldier Northwest Hearings held in Portland, OR.
"I am a direct witness to the horrors of this war, having experienced its atrocities at their source, and I have decided that I can no longer carry out these illegal and immoral policies," said Lewis on Veterans' Day 2008.
Since making his decision, Benji has become a dedicated peace activist and has recently begun a 15-city speaking tour across Oregon, entitled "We Can Say No." He has also done numerous radio interviews and has written several articles.
Benji's orders to report to Camp Pendleton on May 18th 2009 were recently cancelled. Now he's working to help other members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) understand their options if they are involuntarily recalled to active duty.
Benji is a member of VFP Chapter 132 in Corvallis Oregon, and has been instrumental in forming the Oregon chapter of IVAW. A calendar of his scheduled appearances can be found at www.vfpcorvallis.org.
MAY 5, 2009
ARMY EXPERIENCE CENTER BOWS TO PROTEST
The $12 million
marketing experiment in brand-selling the US Army to Philadelphia youth and
adults at the Franklin Mills Mall was forced to shut down for the afternoon on
Saturday, May 2nd. Over two hundred protesters -- many from Washington DC, New
York and other out of town locations -- expressed their outrage at tax dollars
being spent to seduce teenagers to join the Army with violent video games and
human-target shooting simulators.
Members of Philadelphia VFP Chapter 31 were joined by VFP members from the Long Island chapter in the photo below in front of Dave & Busters. VFP members Phil Reiss and Louise Legun from Lehigh Valley were there, as was Ann Wright and VFP Board Members Elliott Adams and Patrick McCann. VFP member Bill Perry was there with his Delaware Valley Veterans For America group. At least two IVAW members were part of the march.
[See pictures | Seven Arrested at Philly Mall - Press Release | Deadly Games - Written by Camillo "Mac" Bica]
APRIL 22, 2009
IVAW MEMBER, MATTHIS CHIROUX RECEIVES "GENERAL DISCHARGE UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS"
Yesterday, Sgt Matthis Chiroux faced a military hearing after several
months of refusing an order to join a unit headed to Iraq. Chiroux, a
member of IVAW, had been honorably discharged and placed in the Individual
Ready Reserves before he was called back to serve in the Army in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Chiroux refused the orders based on the
illegality of the war and occupation of Iraq.
Member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans For Peace, as well as members of the St. Louis peace and justice community gathered outside the hearing to show their solidarity. After several hours of testimony, the Army discharged Chiroux with a "general discharge under honorable conditions."
Later in the evening, Chiroux and two other members of IVAW shared their experiences and testimonies with the community at a public event. See more photos
MARCH 23, 2009
VFP ACTIONS FOR THE 6TH YEAR OF THE WAR AND OCCUPATION OF IRAQ
From San Francisco to Washington D.C., members of Veterans For Peace
gathered in crowds big and small to demonstrate against more than six years of
war and occupation in Iraq.
- VFP Press Release regarding the 6th commemoration of the war and occupation of Iraq
- VFP actions nationwide
- Joint Statement between IVAW, MFSO, and VFP - "Our Troops are Still Dying"
- VFP Board President, Mike Ferner, statement at March on the Pentagon
MARCH 5, 2009
SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER - VFP VANCOUVER TOUR
Members of Veterans For Peace, including Gerry Condon, Board
President Mike Ferner, and Board member Elliott Adams, will be
visiting Vancouver, Canada to meet
and speaking with and about War Resisters. The tour is sponsored by
Vancouver Resisters War Committee and will take place March 10 and 11,
2009.
february 27, 2009
VETERANS' GROUP SAYS LEAVING 50,000 TROOPS TO CONTROL IRAQ IS NO "WITHDRAWAL"
Veterans For Peace objects to calling President Obama's announcement on Iraq a "withdrawal," adding that keeping troops there and Afghanistan will "put the nail in the coffin of America's economy."
VFP, referring to several published reports that the Obama plan will leave 50,000 or more troops in Iraq, and pointing to the buildup already underway in Afghanistan, warned that such policies will have the same effect on the new President as the Vietnam War did on Lyndon Johnson's plans for the Great Society.
FEBRUARY 26, 2009
NATIONAL MOBILIZATION IN NYC, APRIL 4, 2009
It is Time to End the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
It is Time to Address the Economic Crisis by Cutting Military Spending
We will march on April 4 because the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan must be ended now! We will march on April 4 because a critical piece of addressing the economic crisis must be cutting military spending, starting with ending the flow of our tax dollars into these wars and occupations. We will march on April 4 because 'Beyond War, A New Economy Is Possible!'
On April 4, 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic speech
against the war in Vietnam at NYC's Riverside Church. One year later, Dr. King
was assassinated in Memphis while there to support striking sanitation workers.
Dr. King's work linked the most pressing issues of his day; his life was about
taking public action in the service of the struggles for equality, freedom,
justice, and peace.
We will march on
April 4 filled with hope. Now is the time that our movements for racial justice
and economic equality; our movements against the wars and occupations in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Palestine and elsewhere; our movements for a new economy based on
people's needs, green union jobs and sustainability will ALL come together to
say YES WE CAN! Yes We Can move beyond war! Yes We Can build a new world of
justice, equality and peace!
Today, we ask you to join United for Peace
and Justice as we prepare for this timely mobilization.
FEBRUARY 24, 2009
TO THE PENTAGON AND WALL STREET, WE MUST MARCH
The next 5 weeks are very important to the anti-war and peace movements. March 19th, the 6th Commemoration of the U.S. invasion of Iraq is less than four weeks away. On March 21st, two days later comes the March on the Pentagon mobilization and then April 4th, two weeks later is the Beyond War; A New Economy is Possible mobilization on Wall Street in New York City. This is a lot of action in a short period of time. It is as it should be. There is much to protest and much to change.
FEBRUARY 13, 2009
ANN WRIGHT REPORTS BACK FROM 48 HOURS IN GAZA
Retired Col. Ann Wright recently spent 48 hours in Gaza with two other members of CodePink. She reports back the devastation on the lives, homes, and economy of the people of Gaza. Read her article at CommonDreams.
FEBRUARY 12, 2009
VFP SAYS: "CONGRESS MUST FACE ESCALATING MILITARY SUICIDES"
The United States military is scrambling to head off what has turned into an epidemic of suicides. As reported on CNN, 24 service members killed themselves in January of this year, six times as many as in January of last year. 2008 was the fourth consecutive year of increases in soldier suicides.
Veterans For Peace Executive Director Michael McPhearson said this is not a surprise to him. "It is tragic. It is the culmination of years of continuous deployments and general stress the Armed Services have been put under because of an invasion and subsequent occupation that should have never happened."
The Army Times reports that Army Secretary Pete Geren has ordered a February 13, 2009, one day halt to recruitment activities, also known as stand-down of the Army's entire recruiting force, and a review of almost every aspect of the job in the wake of a wide-ranging investigation of four suicides in a Houston Recruiting Battalion.
One vivid example of this equation comes from the Houston Chronicle, which reported on May 18, 2008 that an Army investigation attributed the 4 recruiter suicides to a combination of work environment, stress and personal issues. The latest was the March 6, 2007 death of Sergeant Nils Aron Andersson who shot himself in the temple less than 24 hours after his wedding to Cassy Walton. Cassy killed herself the next day.
Veterans For Peace is asking our members to visit with their Congressional Representatives and Senators next week to discuss these suicides, how the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan contribute to the deaths and how our economy must transition from a reliance on war spending to human needs spending.
FEBRUARY, 10 2009
VFP JOINS 67 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ASKING OBAMA TO REVIEW U.S. POLICY ON LANDMINES
Leaders from 67
national organizations representing a wide cross-section of American values and
constituencies issued a strong call today for President Obama to reconsider
U.S. opposition to global treaties
prohibiting the use, transfer, and production of antipersonnel landmines and
cluster munitions. The signers include the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the head of Evangelicals for
Social Action, the President and CEO of CARE, the heads of communion of seven
major U.S. churches, two
former U.S. ambassadors, and one former
senator.
According to the letter, "Reconsidering these two treaties-and eliminating the threat that U.S. forces might use weapons that most of the world has condemned-would greatly aid efforts to reassert our nation's moral leadership."
The letter was organized by the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines (USCBL), a coalition of religious, veterans, medical, peace, humanitarian, and human rights organizations and thousands of individual members who support U.S. participation in the Mine Ban Treaty. The campaign also encourages the government to increase U.S. funding for mine clearance and landmine victim assistance programs. The USCBL, a member of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines, is coordinated by and based at the Friends Committee on National Legislation in Washington, DC.
January 26, 2009
BRING THE GUARD HOME WEBSITE LAUNCHES
January 21, 2009 marked the day that the Bring the Guard Home! Campaign launched it's new website.
State campaigns are active in Alaska, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington D.C., Wisconsin, and new states are joining all the time. For updates on state legislation ending Guard deployments to Iraq and/or Afghanistan click here.
National sponsors include AfterDowningStreet.org, Cities for Peace, CODEPINK, Courage to Resist, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Liberty Tree, Military Families Speak Out, Peace Action, Progressive Democrats of America, United for Peace and Justice, Veterans For Peace, and U.S. Labor Against the War
JANUARY 22, 2009
UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE TO LAUNCH "YES WE CAN!"
UFPJ has launched the ‘Beyond War, A New Economy Is Possible: Yes We Can! campaign.
The campaign builds on UFPJ’s unceasing call to end the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan by seeking to connect the issues of war and poverty,
the way that militarism abroad also impoverishes our communities at
home. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘Beyond Vietnam’ speech at
Riverside Church in 1967 will guide the work of UFPJ during this
campaign, and we will lead our work up to a national mobilization on
April 4th on the anniversary of Dr. King’s speech.
Events are going to include:
March 19 - Local actions on and around the 6th commemoration of the war and occupation of Iraq.
March 31 - Possible day of local actions on Cesar Chavez's Birthday
April 4 - National March in NYC calling for a re-ordering of economic priorities
Aptil 6 - Delegation and press event in Washington D.C. to deliver signatures to Congress and White House
JANUARY 20, 2009
"WAR CRIMES TIMES" HANDED OUT AT NEWSEUM
At 11:30 AM, Saturday, January 17th, at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, activists will surprise and delight tourists as they distribute the Inaugural Issue of a 12-page tabloid called War Crimes Times, and display a huge banner saying, "ARREST BUSH AND CHENEY /CORPORATE MEDIA: PARTNERS IN CRIME / READ WARCRIMESTIMES.ORG" Two dozen members of Veterans For Peace and supporters will conduct the action as part of an ongoing campaign.. "Our goal is to have George Bush and his administration prosecuted for war crimes, no matter how long that takes. There is no statute of limitations on war crimes," said Tarak Kauff, VFP member and coordinator of the event at the Newseum.
Kauff, a former Viet Nam war paratrooper, added, "We have come to
the Newseum, the showpiece home of the corporate media, to distribute
the War Crimes Times, a newspaper created to fill the void left by the
corporate media's failure to report the Bush administration's numerous
and severe war crimes. We are also here to demand the Obama
administration vigorously and unconditionally prosecute Bush and all
members of his administration responsible for these crimes."
The War Crimes Times features articles by Michael Ratner, President of
the Center for Constitutional Rights; Colleen Rowley, former FBI agent
and one of Time magazine's Persons of the Year for exposing FBI
mishandling of September 11 information; Ann Wright, retired U.S. Army
Col. and career foreign service officer; Lawrence Velvel, Dean of the
Massachusetts School of Law; Jesselyn Radack, former U.S. Department of
Justice Ethics Adviser; and Elaine Brower, mother of a young Marine
deployed in Iraq.
JANUARY 16, 2009
VFP MEMBERS GET READY FOR END OF BUSH REIGN & OBAMA INAUGURATION
While members of VFP are excited to see an end to the Bush Regime, there is a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation over Barack Obama's presidency. However, members remain focused to bring the Bush Administration to justice for War Crimes. While some members will be attending the Obama inauguration, some will participate in a rally outside the FBI Building in Washington D.C. calling for an "Arrest Bush 2009". Read more at http://www.arrestbush2009.com/
For more peace and justice related inauguration events, check out http://www.washingtonpeacecenter.net/civic/
JANUARY 7, 2009
NATIONAL VFP STATEMENT ON GAZA
VFP does not take the side of any government, but rather takes the side of all people in the region who are victims of the most recent outbreak of violence raging between Palestine and Israel.
As U.S. military veterans all too familiar with the horrors of war, Veterans For Peace must shout "HALT" to the violence, restating our position that attacks on civilians are never warranted. Neither Israel nor Hamas is justified in attacking the civilian population of the other. Bombings, rocket attacks, blockading medical supplies and military invasions will not lead to peace and security but will perpetuate the cycle of death, destruction, fear and insecurity among the people of all countries, including the U.S.
JANUARY 5, 2009
VFP JOINS CAMP HOPE - CHICAGO, IL
Camp Hope kicked off January 1 in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood as a way to reach out to President Elect Barack Obama on issues like education, health care, and the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans For Peace helped hold the vigil in 16 degree weather all day on Thursday, January 8th. Following the vigil there was a speaking event including Executive Director Michael McPhearson, VFP member Ret. Colonel Ann Wright, and award winning journalist Stephen Kinzer. See Photos here
JANUARY 5, 2009
SUZANNE SWIFT IS FINALLY OUT OF THE MILITARY!
This is a joyous email from Sara Swift, Suzanne's mother who has tirelessly worked for justice for Suzanne.
"December 31 marked the last official day of Suzanne Swift's active military duty. She sent me a text message after she finished handing in her signed paper work, "DONE" it read.
"I wanted to write one last email to you all to thank you for your care and support through the past few years. It has been a long long haul. You emails and prayers have been crucial in helping Suzanne get through this and she is now finished.
"What are Suzanne's plans? To come home, go to school and put her life back together. She is optimistic about her future and looking forward to becoming more active in "real" life.
"Once again, happy New Year and thank you for your support."
JANUARY 2, 2009
VFP KICKS OFF 'STOP TORTURE' EVENT FEATURING JAMES YEE AND DEMISSIE ABEBE
VOICES OF TORTURE: PERSPECTIVES FROM A WITNESS AND A SURVIVOR
January 9, 2009, St. Louis, MO
Featuring the former U.S. Army Chaplain at Guantanomo Bay, Captain James "Yusof" Yee and Ethiopian torture survivor and current Executive Director of TASSC, Demissie Abebe