VETSPEAK.org: Dec 18, 2010

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Washington D.C. 12-16-2010: Veterans Move from Mobilization to Resistance

These are the times that try men's souls...

The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Thomas Paine, The Crises, 12-23-1776.

Bill Homans (Watermelon Slim) A 21st century Winter Soldier, chained to a White House light pole in protest against the war in Afghanistan 12-16-2010

Slim (VVAW Ms) was in D,C. in the company of other VVAW members, who were there in support of Veterans For Peace's call to action for Civil Disobediance; that of chaining themselves to the White House fence at the end of a march from Lafayette park, to the White House. Slim had come to town with Zach Choate, a SouthEast Region IVAW member, that is an Operation Recovery activist and spokesperson.
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Those in this photo (courtesy of Bill Perry), are Al Kovnat, Dr Jon Bjornson, Sam Adams, and Bill Perry of the Philly Chapter of VVAW, and Jim Baldridge (holding the flag staff) of the Baltimore Chapter. I have no idea who it was that is kneeling in front, or holding up the flag tip on the right side; but, thanks for being there with my brothers. These folks joined with others at the White House fence, and handcuffed or chained themselves to it in solidarity, and with unity of purpose; that of ending the continuing war in Afghanistan...all were arrested, as seen in the compelling video (below) of the speech by Chris Hedges, and the accompanying arrests of all Winter Soldiers present and accounted for...
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Watermelon Slim (VVAW) rallies the troops

Mike Hearington (VFP), Zach Choate (IVAW); CDn' at The Fence

In all, 131 activists from VFP, VVAW, and IVAW, including Daniel Ellsberg and members of supporting organizations were arrested as a result of their Civil Disobedience. It is reported that two-thirds were Veterans, and the remainder were from Code Pink and other organizations that were there to Take A Stand For Peace On Earth. They were unified in purpose in calling for an immediate end to the continuing war in Afghanistan;
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NOT TOMORROW - NOT NEXT YEAR - NOW!