From The Living
Archives Of Boston Veterans For Peace-They Ain't Your Grandfather's Veterans
[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 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 grouping in this country, in America who are still waging the struggle
for peace. So periodically, since we are something of a clearing house and
historic memory for leftist activities, we will put their archival experiences
into our archives.
Report Back On Honk!
Parade And Octoberfest In Harvard Square-Sunday October 7th -Thanks
To Smedley Honk! Marchers and Octoberfest Booth Volunteers
Special thanks to Dan H.
and Jain R-H for bringing materials, etc. over from the wilds of Quincy to the
Wild West of Harvard Square
Kudos to the Smedleys
and supporters, carrying flags furling in the breeze, who marched to the music
of our allies in the Leftist Marching Band in the Honk! Parade on Sunday
October 7th starting in Davis Square, Somerville, and wending (nice
word, right) its way to Harvard Square, that is in the high rent district of
Cambridge. We got, as usual in this “choir” parade, a good response along the
way and a great response, again as always, in Harvard Square propah. The parade
stepped off at noon or a little after and we got applause from the start. A
special feature this year was a banner brought by leading Smedley Pat Scanlon
from our “banner-maker” in North Andover (kudos to him)-captioned with our big
Armistice Day push to get one and all to ring the bells at 11 on November 11th.
We also passed out VFP informational leaflets and our Armistice Day parade and
program announcement. (We will be presenting more info on that event as we get
closer to the day.)
Octoberfest in Harvard
Square, still in the high rent district of Cambridge-about 10 AM to 5 PM
Dan Higgins and Jain
R-H brought our canopy and other materials sometime before 10 AM (8-10 is when
vehicles were allowed to unload, etc.) and he and others helped set the booth
up with literature and our new expanded inventory of clothing. As we go to
press, oops, to cyberspace, I have no figures on the day’s take, how much moola
we made, but we had steady business and conversations all afternoon. (I will
amend this for the Minutes to reflect our “take,” how much moola we made, on
the day minus the $135 graft to get the booth.)
[We made $254,00 on
the day-Scribe]
The divine Jain Rudivich
(maybe sic)-Higgins staffed the booth early. Irrepressible Jon Niles committed himself
to spending time at the booth as did Pat Scanlon-Doug Stuart Kebartas and John
Robinson -and also helped after marching from the wilds of Somerville. At a
little 5 PM before as the rains which seemed predestined to plague this event several
people helped pack up after a long day. Thanks to all marchers and booth
volunteers who made our work easier by their presence.
Report Back On Black
Lives Matter Stand-Out- Ashmont MBTA Station-September 27th
Every 4th
Thursday from 5:30 -6:30 PM from April to October Dorchester People for Peace
(DPP) sponsor a stand-out in support of Black Lives Matter at the Ashmont MBTA
Redline Station. This month several members of the Smedley Butler Brigade stood
out at the event carrying our VFP flags, wearing our VFP-issued “Black Lives
Matter” t-shirts and carrying signs with messages of support. As always we
received many honks and thanks-yous from passing cars and passers-by from the
busy subway station (and an occasionally a nasty racially-tinged remark).
Smedley Butler Brigade
has supported this stand-out from its beginnings in 2017 and we urge everybody,
especially those with access to the Redline, to come to the last stand-out of
the season on October 26th at 5:30 PM.
Report back on
International Peace Day-September 23rd -Boston Common
Don’t worry this
bracketed introduction urging one and all to report on events and/or provide
photos will only be a lead-in for the next twenty or thirty reports until
everybody gets utterly sick and tired of ignoring the dicta.
[The Ex Comm has
recommended as a way to keep everybody in the loop, informed as much as
possible beyond those who attend GMs, that those who attend or organize events
of interest, and not just Smedley events either, give a short report on the
happening. And, working under the new tech principle that if you don’t have
photos it didn’t happen, make sure that the report, photos get to us to be put
on our various social media platforms.
AJ]
On a granite grey
autumn afternoon, the first trees turning their fall-ish colors (I don’t need
to give the fall color wheel to this readership already inured to the first
frost signs), the squirrels preparing their long night stashes, and the
chipmunks cavorting for favor with the meandering crowds passing by a band of
hearty, grizzled Brigadas and their steadfast supporters (I don’t have to
further identify the band as members in good standing of the Smedley Butler
Brigade, Chapter 9, Veterans for Peace, do I?) braved the elements and much
else to take part in the annual commemoration of International Peace Day. This
year observing the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Rights put forth by the United Nations.
The festivities, and
that is the right word for the music, dance, and speeches done in an overall
joyous mood, were held on the now sacred and legendary grounds, once removed,
of the Boston Common near the Park Street MBTA station. (That “sacred and
legendary” merely signifying that the ground used had been the ground under
which the Smedley-led War Economy Week of the Poor Peoples Campaign had pitched
their tents on Memorial Day weekend daring the authorities to evict the campers.
The “once removed” part noted thanks to Dan Luker and the Standing Rock crowd
who have made us aware that this is not our land, a land that belongs to the
indigenous peoples here well before us).
All attendees held
their own against the chipmunks, the food wagons, the “buddy, can you spare a
dime” crowd, the street musicians, and whatever madness goes on at the Common.
Several of our members either passed out leaflets or staffed the table where we
had clothing and literature for sale. According to Dan Luker several hundred
leaflets were passed out that afternoon.
Many other well-known
peace groups also like MAPA and AFSC sponsored the two- hour event and had
representatives present either speaking or in the audience. Hope to see more
people at this event next year.
Report back on return
of ”Midnight Voices,” September 20th
On the night of September
20th, a small but appreciative audience attended the return of
‘Midnight Voices” after the August break to Friends Meeting House in Cambridge.
Usually I don’t moan and groan over light attendance but given the vast array
of talent which performed that night I feel I have to say something before
giving the event highlights. Several people have expressed their opinions about
how important this type of event, this cultural event in acting as a release
for them about their military service, etc. I have expressed agreement with
that idea. This event is “outside the box” of our parade, stand-out, vigil,
conference, meeting cycle. Our ex-Coordinator Pat Scanlon has expressed to me
many times how seldom we have social events during the year. The event is a
good place to do just that socializing. I urge everybody in the future to come
to this event on the third Thursday of the month to hear and see a wide range
of performances. If you can’t come, then promote the event among those in your
network. If you have anything you want to present there are open mic as well as
mini-feature slots open each month. Let me know.
Now to the real deal,
to the “why” of why you should come. Frankly in the few years this thing has
been running this was one of the most outstanding arrays of talent I have
witnessed. For open mic we had our beloved Ralph Madsen doing a reading,
long-time folksinger Dorothea doing one of her creations and a great cover of
“Pistol-packing Mama,” Joe Kebartas doing his madcap stand-up comedy, and
folksinger Dave Drexel covering a David Bowie and a Beatles tune.
We had four
mini-feature performers starting with young up and coming nature poet, that is
the best way I can describe his work, Blake Campbell mixing up some poems based
on local ocean locales and from his rural Pennsylvania roots. After
intermission folksinger/songwriter Cindy Primett backed up by Dave Drexel did
four covers including tribunes to Merle Haggard, Steely Dan, and Chuck Berry
all who have passed away in recent years highlighted by a cover of “Crazy”
which made me think the ghost of Patsy Cline was hovering in the room. Smedley,
and jack of all trades it seems, David Rothhauser graced us with spirited
excerpts of a historical novel based on our martyred Sacco and Vanzetti that he
is working on. Folksinger and political activist Susan McLucas finished up with
three songs one the famous American Civil War song “Let the band play Dixie”
based on words attributed to Abraham Lincoln. See what you missed.
Next “Midnight Voices”
October 18th at 7 at Friends Meeting House, Cambridge.
Performers-TBA In November we have legendary golfer Pat Scanlon lined up to
sing his wide variety of songs and stories that go with them along with his
banjo channeling the ghost of Pete Seeger.
[The Ex Comm has recommended as a way to keep everybody in the
loop, informed as much as possible beyond those who attend GMs, that those who
attend or organize events of interest, and not just Smedley events either, give
a short report on the happening. And, working under the new tech principle that
if you don’t have photos it didn’t happen, make sure that the report, photos
get to Juston to be put on our various social media platforms.
Since I am taking responsibility until, hopefully, we get a real
Secretary come next election, for Minutes and reports, etc. if you want to send
reports me to forward that is fine. If you don’t want to or have time to write
up a report send me the info and I will work something up which will probably
be nothing close to what you actually observed but that is the chance you
take-AJ]
On September 20th at the Davis Square MBTA stop in
Somerville supporters of Russian military intelligence interference with the
2016 U.S. elections whistle-blower and veteran Reality Leigh Winner held a
“Pardon Reality” stand-out. This was our first pardon effect since Ms. Winner
was formally sentenced to five years three months in August by a federal judge
down in Georgia. She had pled out in June on one count of violation of the
Espionage Act of 1917 after having been blocked in her attempts to get
important information about her case. (There is more to the story but you can
go to the Stand With Reality website for that.)
This five year plus sentence is the longest ever given to a
civilian whistle-blower (Chelsea Manning drew 35 years but that was in a
military court). That excessive sentence given the lack of prior criminal
record, honorable military service, and other positive attributes has gotten
many worried about the effect on future whistle-blower sentences and as
importantly the chilling effect on future whistle-blowing and free speech has
galvanized many organizations including VFP to support an on-line petition
campaign. At Davis Square with signs and
banners and passing out leaflets we urged commuters to go online and sign the
petition. (See attached leaflet and photos.) The response was significantly
more positive than previous times we have stood out there on the days before
Ms. Winner’s sentencing. We will be going each month to a different MBTA stop
to spread the word about her case and what we can do about it given her current
legal status.
As of Wednesday, the 19th Ms. Winner is no longer in
the county jail down in Augusta, Georgia but in the hands of federal marshals
awaiting transfer to a ye unknow federal facility for women. More later when we
have an address that supporters can write letters of solidarity to Ms. Winner.
For now we are urging everybody to Goggle the “Stand with
Reality” website and take a minute to sign the on-line pardon petition. Get
your social networks to do so as well.
Next stand-out Central Square MBTA-date in October and time-TBA
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