Wednesday, November 28, 2018

From The Living Archives Of Boston Veterans For Peace-They Ain't Your Grandfather's Veterans-Civil Disobedience And The Boston Common VFP Encampment On Memorial Day, 2018 As Part Of The Poor People’s Campaign-War Economy Week


From The Living Archives Of Boston Veterans For Peace-They Ain't Your Grandfather's Veterans-Civil Disobedience And The Boston Common VFP Encampment On Memorial Day, 2018 As Part Of The Poor People’s Campaign-War Economy Week  

[Ralph Morris who has lived in Troy, New York most of his life, been raised there and raised his own family there, went to war, the bloody, horrendous Vietnam War which he has made plain many times he will never live down, never get over what he did, what he saw others do, and most importantly for the long haul, what his evil government did with no remorse to people in that benighted country with whom he had no quarrel never was much for organizations, joining organizations when he was young until he came up a group formed in the fire of the Vietnam War protests -Vietnam Veteran Against the War (VVAW) which he joined after watching a contingent of them pass by in silent march protesting the war in downtown Albany one fall afternoon. Somebody in that contingent with a microphone called out to any veterans observing the march who had had enough of war, had felt like that did to “fall in” (an old army term well if bitterly remembered). He did and has never looked back although for the past many years his affiliation has been with a subsequent anti-war veterans’ group Veterans for Peace.  

Sam Eaton, who has lived in Carver, Massachusetts, most of his life, been raised there and raised his own family there, and did not go to war. Did not go for the simple reason that due to a severe childhood accident which left him limping severely thereafter he was declared no fit for military duty, 4-F the term the local draft board used. He too had not been much for organizations, joining organizations when he was young. That is until his best friend from high school, Jeff Mullins, died in hell-hole Vietnam and before he had died asked Sam that if anything happened to him to let the world that he had done things, had seen others do things, and most importantly for the long haul, what his evil government did with no remorse to people in that benighted country with whom he had no quarrel. As part of honoring Jeff’s request after Sam found out about his death he was like a whirling dervish joining one anti-war action after another, joining one ad hoc group, each more radical than the previous one as the war ground away, ground all rational approach vapid, let nothing left but to go left, until the fateful day when he met Ralph down in Washington, D.C.

That was when both in their respective collectives, Ralph in VVAW and Sam in Cambridge Red Front, were collectively attempting one last desperate effort to end the war by closing down the government if it would not shut down the war. All they got for their efforts were tear gas, police batons, and arrest bracelets and a trip to the bastinado which was the floor of Robert F. Kennedy stadium which is where they would meet after Sam noticed Ralph’s VVAW pin and told him about Jeff and his request. That experience would form a lasting friendship including several years ago Sam joining Ralph’s Veterans for Peace as a supporter, an active supporter still trying to honor his long- gone friend’s request and memory.

No one least of all either of them would claim they were organizing geniuses, far from it but over the years they participated, maybe even helped organize many anti-war events. One day their friend, Josh Breslin, who writes a by-line at this publication, and who is also a veteran asked them to send some of events they had participated in here to form a sort of living archives of the few remaining activist groupings in this country, in America who are still waging the struggle for peace.

Periodically, since we are something of a clearing house and historic memory for leftist activities, we will put their archival experiences into our archives. As mentioned above Sam and Ralph “met” each other down in Washington, D.C. during the May Day anti-war demonstrations of 1971 when out of desperation clots of anti-war radicals, veterans and civilians alike, tried unsuccessfully to shut down the government if it would not shut down the war. They “met,” their in forever quotation marks not mine, on the floor of Robert F. Kennedy football stadium after they had been arrested along with members of their respective collectives, Ralph’s VVAW and Sam’s Red Front Brigade after getting nothing but tear gas, police batons and a ride in the paddy wagon for their efforts. What they were doing, what for each of the them, according to Josh Breslin who met them shortly after they got “sprung,” also then a member of VVAW and also arrested by had been held in a D.C. city jail, were their first acts of civil disobedience. The first of a long time of such actions which is the lead in to the archival material presented in this piece.

Josh, who introduced the pair to me several years ago when I first came on board to manage the day to day operations of this publication after Allan Jackson, aging and ready to retire, brought me on board for that purpose so he could work on where the publication was heading. He mentioned the Washington action as their calling card although then, in 1971, I was about a decade too young to have realized what they were doing and how important it was for their future political trajectories, their political commitments to “fight the monster,” their term, on the questions of war and peace and other social issues. Not have realized, not having done any such actions how important civil disobedience, or the threat of such actions was, is to their political perspectives.

[By the way, as Josh was at pains under pressure from Ralph and Sam, to report to me that May Day action was not the first attempt by either man to “get arrested,” to “put their bodies on the line” as Sam articulated it to me one night when we were putting this piece together. May Day was just the first time when the cops, National Guard, Regular Army was willing, with a vengeance, to take them up on the offer. Both men had tried repeatedly to get arrested “sitting down” at their respective local draft boards in Carver and Troy in order to warn off young men on signing up for the draft. Maybe it was the nature of the times but the local police would not arrest them.]

As the following action announcement centered on Memorial Day, 2018 indicates they have never stopped “putting their bodies on the line.” Josh told me that the only difference between 2018 and 1971 is that they, and he include himself in this point, was that rather than do an action to court arrest they had changed their attitude to one of doing whatever action they were committed to doing and accepting the consequences. That would be Sam and Ralph’s position on Memorial Day when the local VFP leadership decided to encamp on Boston Common overnight as part of War Economy Week” (week three) of an on-going Poor Peoples Campaign on-going project.      

Mention of the Poor People’s Campaign should both ring a bell and be explained since the 2018 task were, are directly linked those in 1968. None of the men had had any connection to the original campaign in 1968 which had been organized and promoted by the late Doctor Martin Luther King before he was assassinated in April of that year and which was continued by other civil rights and social justice leaders after that into the summer of 1968. Josh was on in California as part of his extended Summer of Love experience before he got nailed by his draft board in Olde Saco, Maine. Ralph was in Vietnam and Sam was still busy supporting his mother and four sisters after his father had died suddenly. This point is important since none of them were active back then they grabbed onto the upcoming events with every hand.    

At every level it was a “no brainer,” Josh’s term for VFP to get involved with the 50th anniversary edition of the PPC since some many of the projected actions, including week three’s War Economy Week which would highlight the Military Industrial Complex (MIC) role in perpetuating war and draining resources from the continuing vexing social problems, social needs, around housing, homelessness, education, jobs and the whole smorgasbord of needs, especially as related to veterans who have increasingly been among those who are in need of a whole range of social services.

The idea of the forty-day Spring 2018 campaign was to have each week centered on a particular social issue, organize around that weekly issue and be committed to some very public social actions-including publicity catching civil disobedience. That is where the idea of the veterans’ encampment came to the fore which had some precedents with the Veterans march on Washington in the 1930s (suppressed by General “Dug Out” Doug MacArthur) and later in early 1971 on the National Mall. This is where the new-found notion of our guys of doing and action and accepting the consequences got a good work-out. They would keep the encampment overnight without permit (or rather overstaying the permit) and let the devil take the hinter-post) and see what happened. The big effort thus was to get enough veterans and supporters to made a splash and to defend the encampment-hence the plethora of announcements (In the event they said they could have gone either way-have the encampment stay overnight or have the police arrest veterans on sacred Memorial Day, the former happened). Site Manager Greg Green]   
 

In the interest of completeness, in the interest of archival norms we are including all of the announcements concerning the Memorial Day, 2018 activities mentioned above:

People Get Ready The Peace “Train” Is Coming-  If You Want To Join The Fight Against The Military-Industrial Complex Up Close And Personal-Looking For Night Owls- We Need Peace Team Members To Protect Our Poor People’s Campaign-VFP Encampment Monday Evening May 28th

Forward to anybody you think could help us Monday night into Tuesday
morning.

As all should be aware of by now we are planning an overnight encampment on Boston Common starting at noon on Monday Memorial Day May 28th and extending to about 11 AM on Tuesday May 29th - we need people who plan on staying overnight to be part of a peace team during the latter part of Monday from 6 PM through Tuesday morning around 9 AM -we expect to need 12-15 people in two or three person teams in shifts of two to three hours to protect the encampment and raise the alarm if necessary if something untoward happens during the night.    






Can you help by circulating this message to your network of contacts of people who might show after a personal appeal-thanks Al  


If You Want To Join The Fight Against The Military-Industrial Complex Up Close And Personal - Veterans For Peace and Supporters All Out- Memorial Day Monday May 28th and Tuesday May 29th  War Economy Week On Boston Common Are Your Days To Shine In Support Of The Poor People’s Campaign


Veterans for Peace and The Poor People’s Campaign Wants You - All Out!


This is a special appeal for all Veterans for Peace and their supporters in the Boston and New England area to show up and support the activities on May 28th and May 29th on historic Boston Common for at least part of either day. Al Johnson for the Smedley Executive Committee
********
The Smedley Butler Brigade, Chapter 9, Veterans For Peace has been a proud co-sponsor of the Poor People’s Campaign now in the midst of a forty day campaign to highlight the plight of the poor and oppressed peoples and communities in the United States (and internationally). We have already had two weeks of Monday actions in Boston.


Week three, War Economy Week, is obviously our week to shine since it will highlight the connections between the bloated war economy, the endless wars and the attempts to privatize the Veteran Administration services all of which directly affect the lives of the poor and oppressed. This week, these associations, and the huge possible impact are what we have been looking for now for many years. Here is your chance to be to on the front line of the fight against the Military-Industrial Complex.     


On Monday May 28th Memorial Day starting at noon on Boston Common members of Veterans for Peace, the Poor Peoples Campaign and their allies will conduct a day-long program centered on these issues. We intend to camp overnight in order to bring our concerns to various governmental agencies on Tuesday when those offices are open for business.


We will be pitching tents during this encampment, have literature tables, and have a speakers’ platform to let various organizations and individuals give their perspectives on the war economy and what to do about it. Since the State House will be closed that day for the holiday this week’s actions will be extended to a morning speak-out on the Common and a rally in front of the State House on Tuesday May 29th at 2 PM.

 Our Annual Memorial Day for Peace program will start at 3 PM at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial up the hill from the encampment.


We need you since we have many tasks that need to be taken care of now and on those two important days.   So, attention please - use this e-mail to volunteer for any of the following: helping set up tents, canopies, flags, banners, tables, chairs, and supplies; act as peacekeepers and marshals; help patrol the site during the night; help set up sound system and stage; contact other veterans and veterans organizations; make up banners, and help keep the site clean and clean up after our actions are completed.


Please, if you are planning on attending the activities either day or wish to help out with tasks now or then e-mail Dave Lucas  at davidlucas34@comcast.net    


Check our Facebook page and the Smedley Butler Brigade website for updates and other information during this coming week.  


We Are Getting Close- A Special Appeal - Veterans For Peace and Supporters All Out- Memorial Day Monday May 28th and Tuesday May 29th  War Economy Week On Boston Common Are Your Days To Shine In Support Of The Poor People’s Campaign


Veterans for Peace and The Poor People’s Campaign Wants You - All Out!


This e-mail sent is a special appeal for all Veterans For Peace and their supporters in the Boston and New England area to show up and support the activities on May 28th and May 29th on historic Boston Common for at least part of either day. Al Johnson for the Smedley Executive Committee
********
The Smedley Butler Brigade, Chapter 9, Veterans For Peace has been a proud co-sponsor of the Poor People’s Campaign now in the midst of a forty day campaign to highlight the plight of the poor and oppressed peoples and communities in the United States (and internationally). We have already had two weeks of Monday actions in Boston.


Week three, War Economy Week, is obviously our week to shine since it will highlight the connections between the bloated war economy, the endless wars and the attempts to privatize the Veteran Administration services all of which directly affect the lives of the poor and oppressed. This week, these associations, and the huge possible impact are what we have been looking for now for many years. Here is your chance to be to on the front line of the fight against the Military-Industrial Complex.     


On Monday May 28th Memorial Day starting at noon on Boston Common members of Veterans for Peace, the Poor Peoples Campaign and their allies will conduct a day-long program centered on these issues.


We will have literature tables, and have a speakers’ platform to let various organizations and individuals give their perspectives on the war economy and what to do about it. During the afternoon we will also have our annual Memorial Day for Peace program. Since the State House will be closed that day for the holiday this week’s actions will be extended to a morning speak-out on the Common and a rally in front of the State House on Tuesday May 29th at 2 PM.


We need you since we have many tasks that need to be taken care of now and on those two important days.   So, attention please - use this e-mail to volunteer for any of the following: helping set up tents, canopies, flags, banners, tables, chairs, and supplies; act as peacekeepers and marshals; help set up sound system and stage; contact other veterans and veterans organizations; make up banners, and help keep the site clean and clean up after our actions are completed.


Please, if you are planning on attending the activities either day or wish to help out with tasks now or then e-mail davidlucas34@comcast.net

Check our Facebook page and the Smedley Butler Brigade website for updates and other information during this coming week.  




Looking For Night Owls- We Need Peace Team Members To Protect Our Poor People’s Campaign-VFP Encampment Monday May 28th

Forward to anybody you think could help us Monday night into Tuesday  
morning.

As all should be aware of by now we are planning an overnight encampment on Boston Common starting at noon on Monday Memorial Day May 28th and extending to about 11 AM on Tuesday May 29th - we need people who plan on staying overnight to be part of a peace team during the latter part of Monday from 6 PM through Tuesday morning around 9 AM -we expect to need 12-15 people in two or three person teams in shifts of two to three hours to protect the encampment and raise the alarm if necessary if something untoward happens during  the night    

If you can help us out (Jeff and David are in charge) please use this thread to respond –thanks- the Smedley Ex Comm






A Personal Special Appeal - Veterans For Peace and Supporters All Out- Memorial Day Monday May 28th and Tuesday May 29th War Economy Week On Boston Common Are Your Days To Shine In Support Of The Poor People’s Campaign

Veterans For Peace and The Poor People’s Campaign Wants You - All Out!

This private e-mail sent to you personally is a special appeal for all Veterans For Peace and their supporters in the Boston and New England area to show up and support the activities on May 28th and May 29th on historic Boston Common for at least part of either day. Al Johnson for the Smedley Executive Committee
********
The Smedley Butler Brigade, Chapter 9, Veterans For Peace has been a proud co-sponsor of the Poor People’s Campaign now in the midst of a forty day campaign to highlight the plight of the poor and oppressed peoples and communities in the United States (and internationally). We have already had two weeks of Monday actions in Boston.
Week three, War Economy Week, is obviously our week to shine since it will highlight the connections between the bloated war economy, the endless wars and the attempts to privatize the Veteran Administration services all of which directly affect the lives of the poor and oppressed. This week, these associations, and the huge possible impact are what we have been looking for now for many years. Here is your chance to be to on the front line of the fight against the Military-Industrial Complex.     
On Monday May 28th Memorial Day starting at noon on Boston Common members of Veterans F    or Peace, the Poor Peoples Campaign and their allies will conduct a day-long program centered on these issues. We intend to camp overnight in order to bring our concerns to various governmental agencies on Tuesday when those offices are open for business.
We will be pitching tents during this encampment, have literature tables, and have a speakers platform to let various organizations and individuals give their perspectives on the war economy and what to do about it. During the afternoon we will also have our annual Memorial Day for Peace program. Since the State House will be closed that day for the holiday this week’s actions will be extended to a morning speak-out on the Common and a rally in front of the State House on Tuesday May 29th at 2 PM.
We need you since we have many tasks that need to be taken care of now and on those two important days.   So, attention please - use this e-mail to volunteer for any of the following: helping set up tents, canopies, flags, banners, tables, chairs, and supplies; act as peacekeepers and marshals; help patrol the site during the night; help set up sound system and stage; contact other veterans and veterans organizations; make up banners, and help keep the site clean and clean up after our actions are completed.

Please, if you are planning on attending the activities either day or wish to help out with tasks now or then e-mail Al Johnson at alfredjohnson34@comcast.net

Check our Facebook page and the Smedley Butler Brigade website for updates and other information during this coming week.  







A Personal Special Appeal -Veterans For Peace And Supporters All Out- Memorial Day Monday May 28th and Tuesday May 29th Od War Economy Week On Boston Common Are Your Days To Shine In Support Of The Poor People’s Campaign


Veterans for Peace And The Poor People’s Campaign Wants You-All Out


This private e-mail sent to you personally is a special appeal to all Veterans for Peace and their supporters in the Boston and New England area to show up and support the activities on May 28th and May 29th on historic Boston Common for at least part of either day. Al Johnson for the Smedley Executive Committee
********
The Smedley Butler Brigade, Chapter 9, Veterans for Peace has been a proud co-sponsor of the Poor People’s Campaign now in the midst of a forty day campaign to highlight the plight of the poor and oppressed peoples and communities in the United States (and internationally). We have already had two weeks of Monday actions in Boston.


Week three, War Economy Week, is obviously our week to shine since it will highlight the connections between the bloated war economy, the endless wars and the attempts to privatize the Veteran Administration services all of which directly affect the lives of the poor and oppressed. This week, these associations, and the huge possible impact are what we have been looking for now for many years. Here is your chance to fight the Military-Industrial Complex in person.


On Monday May 28th Memorial Day starting at noon on Boston Common members of Veterans for Peace, the Poor Peoples Campaign and their allies will conduct a day-long program centered on these issues. We intend to camp overnight in order to bring our concerns to various governmental agencies on Tuesday when those offices are open for business.


We will be pitching tents during this encampment, have literature tables, and have a speaker’s platform to let various organizations and individuals give their perspectives on the war economy and what to do about it. During the afternoon we will also have our annual Memorial Day for Peace program. Since the State House will be closed that day for the holiday this week’s actions will be extended to a morning speak-out on the Common and a rally in front of the State House on Tuesday May 29th at 2 PM.


We need you since we have many tasks needed to be taken care of now and on those two important days so use this e-mail to volunteer for any of the following: helping set up tents, canopies, flags, banners, tables, chairs, and supplies; act as peacekeepers and marshals; help patrol the site during the night; help set up sound system and stage; contact other veterans and veterans organizations; make up banners, and help keep the site clean and clean up after our actions are completed.


Please if you ae planning on attending the activities either day or wish to help out with tasks now or then e-mail Al Johnson at alfredjohnson34@comcast.net


Check our Facebook page and the Smedley Butler Brigade website for updates and other information during this coming week.  





A Personal Special Appeal -Veterans For Peace And Supporters All Out- Memorial Day Monday May 28th and Tuesday May 29th Od War Economy Week On Boston Common Are Your Days To Shine In Support Of The Poor People’s Campaign

Veterans for Peace And The Poor People’s Campaign Wants You-All Out

This private e-mail sent to you personally is a special appeal to all Veterans for Peace and their supporters in the Boston and New England area to show up and support the activities on May 28th and May 29th on historic Boston Common for at least part of either day. Al Johnson for the Smedley Executive Committee 

********
The Smedley Butler Brigade, Chapter 9, Veterans for Peace has been a proud co-sponsor of the Poor People’s Campaign now in the midst of a forty day campaign to highlight the plight of the poor and oppressed peoples and communities in the United States (and internationally). We have already had two weeks of Monday actions in Boston.

Week three, War Economy Week, is obviously our week to shine since it will highlight the connections between the bloated war economy, the endless wars and the attempts to privatize the Veteran Administration services all of which directly affect the lives of the poor and oppressed. This week, these associations, and the huge possible impact are what we have been looking for now for many years. Here is your chance to fight the Military-Industrial Complex in person.
  
On Monday May 28th Memorial Day starting at noon on Boston Common members of Veterans for Peace, the Poor Peoples Campaign and their allies will conduct a day-long program centered on these issues. We intend to camp overnight in order to bring our concerns to various governmental agencies on Tuesday when those offices are open for business.

We will be pitching tents during this encampment, have literature tables, and have a speaker’s platform to let various organizations and individuals give their perspectives on the war economy and what to do about it. During the afternoon we will also have our annual Memorial Day for Peace program. Since the State House will be closed that day for the holiday this week’s actions will be extended to a morning speak-out on the Common and a rally in front of the State House on Tuesday May 29th at 2 PM.

We need you since we have many tasks needed to be taken care of now and on those two important days so use this e-mail to volunteer for any of the following: helping set up tents, canopies, flags, banners, tables, chairs, and supplies; act as peacekeepers and marshals; help patrol the site during the night; help set up sound system and stage; contact other veterans and veterans organizations; make up banners, and help keep the site clean and clean up after our actions are completed.  

Please if you ae planning on attending the activities either day or wish to help out with tasks now or then e-mail Al Johnson at alfredjohnson34@comcast.net 

Check our Facebook page and the Smedley Butler Brigade website for updates and other information during this coming week.  




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