U.S. MILITARY VETERANS TO LEAD CIVIL RESISTANCE AT WHITE HOUSE
by
Veterans For Peace, 314-725-6005 | 12.14.2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information: before 12/16: Mike Ferner, 419-360-3621; Elaine Brower, 917-520-0767
on 12/16: Ellen Davidson, 917-297-8076
News conference Wednesday, Dec. 15, 3:00 p.m., Institute for Policy Studies, 1112 16th St. NW #600
Featuring Daniel Ellsberg, Pentagon Papers; Mike Ferner, Veterans For Peace National President;
Leah Bolger, Veterans For Peace Vice-President and retired Navy Commander; Mike Prysner,
Iraq vet and co-founder of March Forward!; Ray McGovern, retired CIA official.
WASHINGTON, DC--Military veterans will lead a nonviolent act of civil resistance at the White House
Thursday, Dec. 16, at 10:00 a.m. to protest the ongoing U.S. wars and occupations. Veterans For Peace (VFP)
organizers expect this to be the largest veteran-led resistance since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began.
Veterans are ready to risk their own personal liberty and are calling on others to do the same. VFP President
Mike Ferner sent a letter to President Obama Dec. 3, saying: "We will come in person to the White House to
meet with you or until we are dragged away in full view of our nation and the world--military veterans,
carrying their nation's flag, seeking a meeting with their President in the season of peace."
"We have killed over a million innocent people in these wars and made millions more homeless," says the
former Navy hospital corpsman, adding "Millions of Americans are out of work and literally out in the cold.
Clearly, our war economy values empire and death over jobs and real security. We are taking a stand for peace.
The troops, mercenaries and drones must come home now!"
After a brief rally at Lafayette Park, veterans and supporters from around the country will proceed to the White
House to deliver postcards to the President from thousands of Americans who want these wars stopped. Rally
speakers will include Daniel Ellsberg of Pentagon Papers fame; Ray McGovern, retired CIA analyst; Mr.
Ferner; Chris Hedges, author and former New York Times war correspondent; Mike Prysner, Iraq vet and co-
founder, March Forward!; and Dr. Margaret Flowers, Congressional Fellow for Physicians for a National
Health Program. The speakers will then join the other resisters at the White House.
"The purpose of this demonstration is simple and clear. We are showing that resistance to these wars and
occupations will continue until they are ended--whether those wars are conducted by soldiers, mercenaries or
drones in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan or Yemen," declared Elaine Brower, antiwar military mom and one of the
event's main organizers.
"Children are being orphaned, maimed or killed every day, in our name, with our tax dollars; soldiers and
civilians die in order to generate profits for the corporate war machine that is draining the country dry," said an
anguished Tarak Kauff, former U.S. Army paratrooper. "How long are we going to let this go on?"
###
Veterans For Peace is a national organization that since 1985 has been dedicated to exposing the true costs of war and militarism. Its
members are from all eras and conflicts including WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Veterans For Peace, 314-725-6005, veteransforpeace.org, stopthesewars.org
.jpg)
Comments
Post new comment