VFPeNews:Statement on Muslim Ban and Border Wall, Comment for #NoDAPL
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Veterans For Peace Statement on Muslim Ban and Border Wall
Veterans For Peace strongly condemns President Trump’s executive orders banning travelers from seven Muslim majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa, the expansion of a U.S.-Mexico border wall and the acceleration of deporting undocumented immigrants.
As veterans, we took an oath to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution. The fundamental values we were told we risked our lives to serve, the values for which so many of our brothers and sisters rendered the ultimate sacrifice, are now facing a serious and existential threat.
The Trump administration’s implementation of hateful White Nationalism through draconian executive orders that target Muslims and ban immigrants and refugees as well as U.S. visa and green card holders, and push for an extension of the wall on the border, are betrayals of the sacrifices made by U.S. veterans. <Read Full Statement>
Zinn Fund Request for Proposals
 The Howard Zinn Fund for Peace and Justice was founded to support grass-roots projects that make demonstrated changes for greater peace and justice.
The Howard Zinn Fund for Peace and Justice seeks proposals from VFP Chapters and members working on bold new approaches to resisting the causes of war. While we are open to funding any project which fits the VFP mission, we are particularly interested in working with chapters to:
We will fund projects not related to the above items, and we do not want to dissuade any chapter or national member with a good idea and a plan of action from applying.
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Open Letter to Donald Trump: End U.S. War in Afghanistan
The U.S. war in Afghanistan is well into its 16th year. In 2014 President Obama declared it over, but it will remain a political, financial, security, legal, and moral problem unless you actually end it.
The U.S. military now has approximately 8,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan , plus 6,000 other NATO troops, 1,000 mercenaries, and another 26,000 contractors (of whom about 8,000 are from the United States). That's 41,000 people engaged in a foreign occupation of a country 15 years after the accomplishment of their stated mission to overthrow the Taliban government.
During each of the past 15 years, our government in Washington has informed us that success was imminent.
During each of the past 15 years, Afghanistan has continued its descent into poverty, violence, environmental degradation, and instability. The withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops would send a signal to the world, and to the people of Afghanistan, that the time has come to try a different approach, something other than more troops and weaponry.
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Ann Wright Arrested in U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee On Jan. 31st, Veteran For Peace member Ret. Col. Ann Wright was roughly arrested for speaking out against the nomination of Jeff Sessions and telling Senate NOT to confirm him at the Senate Judiciary Committee. The four-term Senator has come under fire for his record on voting rights, race, immigration and police reform.
"I am a retired U.S. Army Colonel and a former U.S. diplomat. I say No Hate, No Racism, No Ban on Muslims and NO Jeff Sessions." - Ret. Col Ann Wright, lifetime member of Veterans For Peace
Peace In Our Times Winter Edition Available for Download!
The Winter Edition of the PIOT is sold out but is now available for download!
Peace In Our Times is a Veterans For Peace publication. It is a great outreach tool and getting the message of peace out!
Order your spring edition to make sure you don't miss out when it's available.
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VFP Board Members Attend #NoBan Airport Protests in Albuquerque
"WE felt the presence and solidarity of veterans was important. Not only as veterans but as citizens and human beings we have an obligation to stand with and for all those who are oppressed. We remember and believe what Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Besides that, the human experience of being with so many people who care about others, who care about human rights and justice was incredibly empowering and uplifting." -Tarak Kauff, VFP National Board Member
Back to TopA Request from VFP-ROCK
VFP-ROCK sent a letter and request to all members to help futher the work of the Okinawan people.
"Warm greetings from Okinawa. Two resolutions opposing yet more base construction on Okinawa, Resolutions 2016-9 and 2016-20 were passed by acclamation at the convention, with less than ten opposing votes each in the national polling. This was reported in the local Okinawan newspapers and television, giving great encouragement to the demilitarization movement in Okinawa. As the US military occupation of Okinawa enters year 71, much gratitude goes to the US chapters of VFP for their solidarity and advocacy.
Now that the resolutions have been officially approved by the membership, it is time for us to ask each chapter to take some form of action on this, to the degree possible."
Do You Have a Great Resource?
We want to hear from you!
We are hoping to include a helpful resource in our weekly VFP E-News Do you have a resource that you have found useful in your work for peace? A great movie? Good guides to build organizing skills? Let us know!
Please send Resources that can be accessed online or are available to folks across the country.
Email Colleen: colleen@veteransforpeace.org
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In This Issue:
VFP Statement on Muslim Ban and Border Wall
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