FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 8, 2011
Contact: Mike Ferner 314-337-8871 Gene Marx 253-653-4423
Approximately 50 members of Veterans For Peace participated in a march this afternoon from Freedom Plaza to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum on the National Mall. The museum was featuring an exhibit on unmanned drone bombers that a group of about 250 people from the October2011.org encampment at Freedom Plaza intended to protest.
The marchers ascended the museum steps, chanting, “When drones fly, children die.”
They opened the doors at one of the three entrances, and when that entryway became full, they went to the second and third entrances.
VFP Acting Director Mike Ferner said, “I was at the first entranceway, holding the door open for people to enter. I saw a police or security officer in a white shirt hold his hands up, telling people to stop. The marchers continued and the officer began pepper-spraying everyone. From everything I saw until that moment, there was no reason for the pepper-spraying. The door of the museum clearly said 'free admission.' It did not say 'Free admission if you are quiet' or 'Free admission unless you have opinions contrary to government policy.’
“This was a clear abuse of authority and a use of force far beyond what was called for. Our members are consulting with National Lawyers Guild attorneys who are working with the october2011.org encampment.”
“We are aware that one of the marchers shoved aside one of the officers. We do not condone this behavior.”
Veterans For Peace is one of several groups organizing the October2011.org encampment. VFP is an organization composed of U.S. military veterans from WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq wars and every period in between.
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Military personnel, their families and veterans to ask President Obama, “Where’s Our Beer Summit?” Sunday, October 9th, noon
WHAT: Where’s our beer summit? President Obama met with Sgt James Crowley and Henry Louis Gates Jr. in August 2009. Military families and veterans who oppose the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan want to have their 'beer summit' and talk with Obama. Do we not count? After ten years of war in Afghanistan and eight years of war in Iraq, veterans, military families and military personnel want to know why US forces are still in both countries and have a beer to discuss this with President Obama. Currently the American public is overwhelmingly in favor of troops leaving both countries, especially in light of our economic crisis where funds for veterans’ care are needed because of the continuing casualties and families are devastated by long-term care for their wounded. 'We want some answers, and President Obama is the commander-in-chief; he owes answers to those who sacrifice much everyday and have sacrificed in the past for this country. Col Ann Wright (Ret.) says, 'It’s high time that President Obama met with military families, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and veterans from other wars who don’t agree with his polices on war and their effects on veterans and families.'
WHO: Military Personnel, Military Families Speak Out, and Veterans
WHEN: Sunday, Oct 9, 2011; March starts at 11:30 AM, arrive White House at 12:00 noon
WHERE: Veterans and Military families will march from Freedom Plaza to Lafayette Park, and then to the front of the White House.
This article was published at NationofChange at: http://www.nationofchange.org/veterans-protesting-smithsonian-met-pepper-spray-1318176700. All rights are reserved.