VFP eNews: Take Action April 4th, Free Issa, Apply for Delegation to Cuba
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50th Anniversary of Beyond Vietnam Speech: Sign Up for the ThunderClap!
April 4, 2017 will be the 50th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence. In confronting the deeply rooted racism, militarism and materialism of the United States, Dr. King described the United States as the greatest purveyor of violence in the world.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the reading of Martin Luther King’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech, we are asking local VFP chapters to organize speech-reading events.
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Pivot Toward War: US Missile Defense & the Weaponization of Space
Veterans For Peace member Will Griffin created a video about the Organizing Conference & Protest April 7-9, 2017 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Learn more about this conference at the Global Network Website
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Veterans For Peace Delegation to Cuba
Veterans For Peace is excited to be leading a delegation to Cuba May 2nd-9th! VFP is dedicated to challenging US military bases around the world. VFP members continue to speak out against the U.S torture program, specially demanding the closure of Guantanamo Bay Prison.
As part of these efforts, VFP will lead a delegation to Cuba from May 2nd-9th, 2017 to attend the Fifth International Seminar on Peace and Abolition of Foreign Military Bases that will be held in Guantanamo, Cuba May 4-6, 2017.
As a part of the conference, we will visit an overlook to see into the US Guantanamo Bay military base where the prison in which torture of prisoners has occurred.
If you are interested in joining the delegation, please e-mail Casey Stinemetz casey@veteransforpeace.org or call the national office at 314-725-6005. The delegation will have a maximum of 15 delegates.
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Golden Rule and Chapter 13 Hosting Internships for Two Youth
Net admission proceeds and donations at this show will go toward scholarships to send two local young people on internships aboard the Veterans for Peace sailing ship, Golden Rule, where they will develop sailing, teamwork and peacekeeping skills. The participating youth will be selected through the Nonviolence Legacy Project.
Also just a reminder that The VFP Golden Rule Project is accepting applications for captains and crew. The Crew Selection Committee will begin meeting in January. If you are interested in joining the crew to San Diego or on the Gulf Coast, whether for a week or a month, please let us know. Experience is preferred, but intrepid novices may also apply. Click here for the application.
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Shut Down Creech in April 2017!
Join actvists April 23 - April 29, 2017 at Creech Air Force Base, Indian Springs, Nevada for a 2nd national mobilization of nonviolent resistance to shut down killer drone operations in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan,Yemen, Somalia and everywhere.
In the last two years we had nearly 150 activists each year join us from 20 different states across the country, including over 50 veterans. In a very successful resistance action, we were able to interrupt business as usual for nearly an hour, with 34 activists ultimately arrested. Let's make SHUT DOWN CREECH 2017 an even more powerful stance against illegal drone killing. Please join us, and help spread the word. Together we are PEACE!
Bay Area Forum Addresses Question of US-Russia Relations
On Saturday March 11, over 125 people came out to hear a blockbuster lineup of speakers addressing the question “US-Russia Relations: Where Are We Headed?”
Veteran for Peace member Ray McGovern gave the keynote address. He talked about the decline in US-Russia relations over the past three years. McGovern described how upset neoconservatives were when Obama worked with Russians to avoid launching war on Syria. Since that time, there has been a steady drumbeat of anti-Russia news and accusations leading to the current new cold war.
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Shop VFP! No Drones! Organizer Bundle
10 'End Drone Warfare' buttons and 10 'Ban Killer Drones' stickers.
Package includes VFP statement of purpose cards and other VFP materials.
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New Autobiography on Charles Liteky Published
On July 29, 1986, Charles J. Liteky placed the Congressional Medal of Honor he received for his service in Vietnam at the base of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. In his posthumously published autobiography, Renunciation, Mr. Liteky explains his reason for returning this award at a significant time in his life as he was taking the next step in his personal pilgrimage from a Roman Catholic priest, military chaplain and Vietnam hawk to a civilian warrior for peace.
Read the reviews of the book, which feature many VFP Members!
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In This Issue:
50th Anniversary of Beyond Vietnam Speech: Sign Up For the ThunderClap!Petition: No Troops in SyriaPivot Toward War: US Missile Defense & Weaponization of Space Conference
Save the Date! VFP Annual Convention!
VFP Delegation to Cuba
VFP Endorses FreeIssa Campaign
DC Chapter Deliver Letters to Asian Pacific American Caucus
Golden Rule and Chapter 13 Host Fundraiser for Two Youth Internships
Shut Down Creech in April 2017!Bay Area Forum Addresses US-Russia Relations
VFP Member, Mike Hastie: "My Lai Massacre, 49 Years Later"
ShopVFP: No Drones! BundleNew Book on Charlie Liteky Published
Save the Dates: Upcoming Events
Petition: Stand with @RepBarbaraLee: No to U.S. Ground Troops in Syria
Sign this petition today from Just Foreign Policy:
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) has introduced a bipartisan bill to block additional U.S. forces from being sent into Syria. [1] H.R. 1473 prohibits the Department of Defense from funding any attempt by the administration to expand our presence in Syria by putting U.S. combat boots on the ground. Under the bill, the Pentagon would be prohibited from using funds to send troops to Syria for ground combat operations, award a contract to a private security firm for ground activity or otherwise establish or maintain a presence of U.S. troops or a private security contractor in Syria.
Save the Date! VFP Annual Convention
The VFP Annual Convention is titled "Education Not Militarization" and will be held in Chicago, Aug 9-13 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.
Tabling/ Registration begin on Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Workshops will be held on Thu/Fri (Aug 10-11th) Saturday - business meeting/banquet Sunday: Late concert
More details to follow!
National office contact is Shelly Rockett
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VFP Endorses Free Issa Campaign
Palestinian activist Issa Amro, who has been recognized as a Human Rights Defender by the European Union and the United Nations, is undergoing Israeli military trial1 on 18 charges dating all the way back to 2010.
Mr. Amro’s case is an example of widespread targeting of human rights activists using old and exaggerated charges in a military court system whose conviction rate for Palestinians is over 99%.
As civil and human rights advocates and faith groups, we ask that you call on the Israeli government to drop the politically-motivated charges against Issa Amro and allow him to continue his important work of protecting human rights in Palestine.
P.S. The recent VFP delegation to Palestine had the opportunity to meet Issa Amro. Read Matt Hoh's reflection that was recently published in Mondoweiss.Back to Top
DC Chapter Deliver Letters to Asian Pacific American Caucus (APAC)
On March 2 and 3 Veterans For Peace DC chapter members delivered letters addressed to congressional leaders on the Asian Pacific American Caucus (APAC), asking for their support in getting the US government to eliminate the Takae helipads and stop construction on the new Henoko base.
It would be very much in the US’s interest to resolve this issue by abandoning this boondoggle project, and to utilize other options for the 1st Marine Air Wing- preferably to the continental US where some communities are protesting military sequestration in their regions, or failing that, to request that the Japanese Government find a more equitable location somewhere in Japan proper, upon a community that welcomes them.
Reqd the Full Report and Download the full letter and send a version to your congressional leader!
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VFP Member, Mike Hastie: "My Lai Massacre, 49 Years Later" | |||
Veterans For Peace, 1404 N. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102
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