Exposing the True Costs of War and Militarism Since 1985 VETERANSVETERANS FORFOR PEACEPEACE Organized locally. Recognized Internationally. VFP NEWSLETTER veteransforpeace.org WINTER 2019 STAYING HUMAN: Deported Veterans provide aid to asylum seekers at the Tijuana border By Mike Tork how bad things get. Seguiré siendo humano. Meet your Deported Veterans Before I share what I saw What started out as a trip to learn firsthand what was regarding the asylum seek- happening on the border and help provide a little aid to asylum ers, I want to remind every- seekers ended up being much more. one that the veterans I met First and foremost, I would like to thank Hector Lopez, Lupita with in Tijuana are just that. Cibrian, Robert Vivar, Blanca Viramontes, and Jan Ruhman for They served their county not only welcoming me, but also helping me understand, and honorably, many in combat, see, what was happening along the Tijuana border. many highly decorated, but Lupita, Robert, and Blanca prepare What I saw was a very strong community of Deported Vet- were deported for mistakes sandwiches for asylum seekers. erans (Unified Deported Veterans/VFP Sgt. Barrios Memorial they made after being dis- Chapter 182) and supporters who unselfishly set aside their charged—mistakes like those made by so many fellow veterans own struggles to help asylum seekers. I also saw a community after returning home. Although others of us have been forgiven of veterans supporting each other through difficult times, shar- for our mistakes, they have not. They remain deported, sepa- ing what they can. It inspired me to remain human—no matter rated from family and friends, without the opportunity to make amends or move forward. They continue to pay a very high price #NeverAgain for something they did a long time ago. I am not talking about serious mistakes, but relatively minor ones. Veterans and allies turn out in These men grew up in the U.S., went to school in the U.S., played high school sports in the U.S., worked in the U.S., and force to Reclaim Armistice Day paid taxes in the U.S. They did not necessarily join the military just to become citizens, as many of them felt like they were already citizens. They joined the military because they felt like it was their duty, and the fact that they were deported after serving their country is incomprehensible. These are the exact people I want as neighbors and fellow citizens. Delivering aid Deported Veterans and VFP members from San Diego (Chapter 91) delivered food, water, toilet paper, blankets, gloves, socks, backpacks, and wool caps to asylum seekers at the Barretal Shelter. Things went well because it was inten- tional, organized, and thought out. We didn’t want to create Read all about it on pages 6–7, and in the Chapter Reports. continued on page 25… President’s MessAGE VFP was also busy on the “War at We made real progress in rebranding We Can End the Home” front. Most notably, our Uni- Veterans Day as Armistice Day in 2018, fied U.S. Deported Veterans chapter in with actions in many cities [see pages “Forever Wars” Tijuana, Mexico, worked hard to provide 6–7]. Chapters began to step up their material support for the wave of Central efforts to distribute our great quarterly in 2019 American asylum seekers [see story on newspaper, Peace In Our Times, more I am writing this letter on January 1, page 1]. San Diego members helped de- widely, and our weekly VFP eNews did the first day of 2019, feeling glad for a liver humanitarian aid across the border, a wonderful job of celebrating achieve- New Year—2018 was rough! even as they continued with their “Com- ments of VFP members throughout the Multiple “forever wars” dragged on, passion Campaign,” providing sleeping past year, locally, nationally, and interna- unconfronted by any really large antiwar bags to hundreds of people sleeping on tionally. mobilizations. There was lots of confu- the streets of San sion about how we ended up with a right- Diego. VFP also wing racist running amok in the White provided leadership House. Boris and Natasha were accused in the campaign to of posting a lot on Facebook, and even Save Our VA from “hacking” the election. And he was so privateers. distrusted, when Trump made tentative A bunch of us moves toward peace, few applauded. traveled to Viet Peace activists were confused about Nam for another how to respond to the regime change very moving visit, war in Syria. Some thought the CIA- coinciding with an backed “rebels” were the good guys. As exhibit in Hanoi of for Latin America, some progressives U.S. war resisters. were disoriented by the propaganda war We continued to ad- against the governments of Venezuela vocate on behalf of While in Washington, D.C., on Armistice Day, VFP President Gerry and Nicaragua, who, with Cuba, make up Agent Orange victims Condon joined three of VFP’s women veterans in laying a wreath John Bolton’s “troika of tyranny,” and are in Viet Nam, as well at the Viet Nam Women’s Memorial. L to R: Sabrina Waller, Gerry, in the gunsights of U.S. imperialism. as U.S. veterans and Ellen Barfield, and Madeleine Mysko. The memorial is dedicated to U.S. women who served in Viet Nam, most of whom were nurses. In this difficult political environment, their offspring. Madeleine served as a burn unit nurse during that era. Veterans For Peace persevered in 2018. We enjoyed a We were not distracted by “Russiagate”; fantastic 2018 convention in St. Paul, In short, Veterans For Peace had an we kept our eye on the ball. Ours was Minnesota! Aida Touma, a leading Pales- outstanding year of action! All this good one of the first peace groups to issue a tinian writer, activist and member of the work will continue in 2019, but we will do public statement applauding Trump’s Israeli Knesset, was a featured presenter. even more to strengthen our presence in announced withdrawal of U.S. troops Indigenous presenters included Dr. Chris the antiwar movement. from Syria (which apparently has been Mato Nunpa, a Wahpeton Dakota from Veterans For Peace is in a good posi- reversed by the “adults in the room”). We the Upper Sioux Community in southwest- tion to lead. We should continue to join continue to call for an end to U.S. wars ern Minnesota, who enlightened us about the initiatives of other peace groups and and occupations in Syria, Iraq, Afghani- the Doctrine of Discovery and the Papal coalitions. We should also be planting stan, Pakistan, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Bulls that sanctioned the slaughter of our own flag to rally more people to the Niger, and Chad (the nine countries Indigenous peoples and the theft of their cause of peace. Veterans For Peace is bombed by the U.S. in 2018). land by European “discoverers” as early highly respected in many quarters—and Veterans For Peace participated in as 1493. And there was so much more. we are everywhere! There are active VFP scores of antiwar actions in 2018. We Partly due to ongoing concerns about chapters in over 100 U.S. cities. helped found the Coalition Against U.S. sexism within the ranks, the VFP Board Let’s begin to flex our collective Foreign Military Bases and participated in presented a Code of Conduct for mem- muscle by organizing regular days or the First International Conference Against bers to discuss at the convention, which weeks of coordinated actions. This U.S./NATO Bases in Dublin [see p. 23]. was well received and has now been would make VFP more visible, attracting We followed the lead of our Okinawan incorporated into our Policy Manual. We new members while strengthening the friends to demand an end to the environ- will continue to encourage respectful peace movement, locally and nationally. mentally disastrous construction of a U.S. dialogue in 2019, to engender a safe en- Internationally, Veterans For Peace now Marine base at Henoko. vironment for all within our organization. has chapters in seven other nations—the 2 Veterans For Peace | Winter 2019 latest being Russia!—with more to come. In order to maximize these international connections, VFP is planning an Interna- VFP NATIONAL STAFF BOARD OF DIRECTORS tional Veterans Peace Conference, and Michael T. McPhearson gerry Condon, President hope to host an initial meeting later this ExECUTIVE Director Adrienne Kinne, Vice President year. We have been invited to attend the Shelly Rockett Russian VFP conference in May. Daniel Craig BUSINESS MANAgER Michael Dempsey Veterans For Peace will be in Wash- Colleen Kelly ington, D.C., for an anti-NATO march and communications COORD. Marti guyDowning rally on Saturday, March 30, and con- gail Aquino Willie Hager nected actions Wednesday and Thurs- VFP OFFICE STAFF george Johnson day, April 3–4, when NATO leaders will be Doug Zachary Joey King in town celebrating the organization’s 75 MEMBERSHIP/development COORD. Barry Ladendorf years. NATO has become an international Samantha Ferguson Maurice Martin interventionist force for the Western pow- ProgRAM AND EVENT COORD. Patrick McCann ers who wish to continue their colonial Helen Jaccard Jesse Medvan legacy around the world. This must end. gOLDEN rule project MANAgER We are looking forward to another [email protected] AdvIsorY BOARD great VFP Convention, August 15–18, 314-725-6005 2019, in the heart of beautiful downtown Edward Asner Spokane, Washington. We have negotiat- NEWSLETTER Andrew J. Bacevich ed decent prices at the Doubletree Hotel Medea Benjamin ($150 per room, including taxes—up Becky Luening NEWSLETTER EDITOR / LAYOUT ARTIST to 4 people per room).