{"id":3500,"date":"2014-11-18T13:59:22","date_gmt":"2014-11-18T19:59:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/peaceeconomyproject.org\/wordpress\/?p=3500"},"modified":"2014-11-18T13:59:22","modified_gmt":"2014-11-18T19:59:22","slug":"veterans-appeal-to-national-guard-stand-with-ferguson-protesters-not-the-police","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peaceeconomyproject.org\/wordpress\/veterans-appeal-to-national-guard-stand-with-ferguson-protesters-not-the-police\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterans’ appeal to National Guard: “Stand with Ferguson protesters, not the police!”"},"content":{"rendered":"

click here for original letter<\/a><\/p>\n

To our brothers and sisters in the Missouri National Guard:<\/p>\n

We are writing to you as active-duty U.S. service members and veterans, most of us having served in the Iraq war.<\/p>\n

You have a choice you can make right now.<\/p>\n

The whole world is watching the Ferguson police with disgust. They killed an unarmed, college-bound Black youth in broad daylight, and subsequently responded to peaceful, constitutionally-protected protests with extreme violence and repression.<\/p>\n

Countless constitutional and human rights violations by these police have been documented over the course of the Ferguson protests; from attacking and threatening journalists, to using tear gas against peaceful protesters, including children.<\/p>\n

Now, Governor Nixon has again activated the National Guard to \u201csupport law enforcement.\u201d But you don’t have to follow their orders\u2014you can stand with the protesters instead.<\/p>\n

Our true duty<\/p>\n

When we signed up, we swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States.<\/p>\n

The police in Ferguson are violating that Constitution.<\/p>\n

The First Amendment guarantees the right to free speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press.<\/p>\n

These laws are, as we are taught our entire lives, our most cherished Constitutional rights\u2014the whole basis for the \u201cfreedom\u201d we are told makes us the greatest country on Earth.<\/p>\n

It is undeniable that the Ferguson police has used extreme violence against peaceful protesters, suppressing the right of the people to free speech and the freedom to assemble. They have attacked crowds, with children in them, with rubber bullets, sound cannons and tear gas. People have been mass arrested for simply being at the protest.<\/p>\n

Freedom of the press has also been severely infringed upon by Ferguson police. Journalists have been arrested; photo evidence shows riot police firing tear gas directly at reporters and tearing down their camera equipment; Ferguson police have been caught on video threatening journalists with violence if they don\u2019t leave, and declaring that they are not allowed in the protest area.<\/p>\n

With such important and dramatic events unfolding, the right of the people in the United States to have the truth covered by the press is essential to any so-called democratic society.<\/p>\n

The people have the right to protest. If we were truly honoring our oath, we would be in Ferguson to protect the protesters against the repression of their rights by the police.<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t just have a legal obligation, but a moral one<\/p>\n

Clearly, we would be within our legal rights to refuse to help the Ferguson police unconstitutionally suppress these protests. But beyond the constitutional case, we have a moral obligation to refuse to participate.<\/p>\n

The Ferguson police are treating this like a war. And we know that not all wars are just.<\/p>\n

These protests have done something very important in our society: they have raised the deep issues we face of inequality, poverty, racism and police misconduct onto a national stage. It has turned public consciousness to these real problems that plague our society.<\/p>\n

Do you really want to be part of suppressing those civilians raising all these important issues on the national stage?<\/p>\n

Racist police brutality is a real issue in America<\/p>\n

The autopsy of Michael Brown confirms at least five eye-witness accounts that the young man\u2014who was not even suspected by Darren Wilson of any crime\u2014was shot while he had his hands in the air.<\/p>\n

Those of us in the military\u2014especially with combat experience\u2014knows that this flies in the face of any Rules of Engagement, and we know that it is completely ridiculous to believe that Darren Wilson feared for his life in anyway whatsoever.<\/p>\n

Increasingly, the issue of rampant police brutality in America\u2014most frequently by white officers against people of color, with an African American killed every 28 hours by police\u2014is garnering more and more attention on a national and international scale.<\/p>\n

Outrage by the community against the state’s refusal to hold Darren Wilson accountable is entirely justified; the movement, led by Black youth, is a just movement.<\/p>\n

History is unfolding, with the whole world watching. You have a decision to make on which side of history to be on.<\/p>\n

You will make history, one way or the other<\/p>\n

If you take part in the suppression of the protests for Michael Brown, we will be enshrined in history just as the National Guard soldiers who followed their orders to attack and repress civil rights actions, union pickets and anti-war protests. History has not looked kindly on them.<\/p>\n

But you have the chance to make a different kind of history.<\/p>\n

Imagine the powerful impact it would have if you abandoned your posts and marched with the protesters.<\/p>\n

That single action could have the biggest possible effect on the crisis in Ferguson and the larger issues it represents in the entire country. It could be a major turning point in the fight against racism, inequality and police abuse.<\/p>\n

You wouldn\u2019t be alone. There is a whole community of service members, veterans and civilian supporters who would defend your right to do so. And now, in this critical moment, we are urging you to exercise that right.<\/p>\n

Justice for Mike Brown! Arrest Darren Wilson!<\/p>\n

This appeal is signed by:<\/p>\n

Post-911 veterans:
\nKourtney Mitchell, US Army, 2011-present
\nSara Beining, US Army, 2004-present\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nKelsa Pellettiere, US Army, 2009-present
\nAnonymous Air Force Technical Sergeant, 2000-present\u00a0(Afghanistan war veteran)<\/em>
\nJhassier Laurentes, US Navy, 2013-present
\nMonique Salhab, US Army, 1997-2007\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nMike Prysner, US Army, 2001-2005\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nMargaret Stevens, US Army, 1997-2004
\nWilliam Felton, US Army, 2005-2012\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)\u00a0<\/em>
\nKevin Benderman, US Army, 1987-1991 & 2000-2008\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nAlynn McLellan, US Army, 2008-2012\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nAdam Fuentes, US Navy, 2007-2012
\nRyan Endicott, US Marines, 2004-2008\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nWilliam Griffin, US Army, 2004-2010\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nJason Cardenas, US Army, 2002-2007\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nHart Viges, US Army, 2001-2004\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nRoss Caputi, US Marines, 2003-2006\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nCamillo Mejia, US Army, 1995-2010\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nJames Circello, US Army, 2001-2008\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nJayel Aheram, US Marines, 2006-2010\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nMiguel Colon, US Marines, 2001-2006\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nWendy Barranco, US Army, 2003-2006\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)
\n<\/em>Michael Sullivan, US Army, 2005-2007\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)
\n<\/em>Kristen Walston, US Navy, 1996-2003
\nVincent Emanuele, US Marines, 2002-2006\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nJeremy Berggren, US Marines, 1998-2004
\nKen Braley, US Army, 2002-2005\u00a0<\/em>
\nJessie Ryan, US Army, 2000-2006\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nNick Kallio, US Army, 2007-2013\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nJoe Soel, US Army, 2006-2014\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nJami King, US Army, 2004-2005
\nRichard Stroder, US Marines, 2004-2009\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nAnonymous, US Army, 2005-2010\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nJonathan Engle, US Army, 2007-2013\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em>
\nAmber Royster, US Navy, 2000-2006
\nMichael Downs, US Army, 1985-2009
\nZollie Goodman, US Navy, 2002-2006\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)
\n<\/em>Kasey Keck, US Army, 6 years\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)
\n<\/em>Curtis Sirmans, US Army, 2006-2012\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)
\n<\/em>Michael Nelson Hanes, US Marines, 1994-2004\u00a0(Iraq war veteran) \u00a0\u00a0<\/em>
\n<\/em>Clifton Hicks, US Army, 2003-2005\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)
\n<\/em>Aaron Myracle, US Army, 2002-2010\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)
\n<\/em>Kelvin Rodeo, US Navy, 2007-2011
\nSean McCrea, US Marines, 2005-2012\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)
\n<\/em>Danilo Deocampo, US Navy, 1997 – 2003
\nDanny Birmingham, US Army, 2009-2012\u00a0(Iraq war veteran)<\/em><\/p>\n

Pre-911 veterans:
\n<\/em>Daniel Craig, US Army\u00a0(Gulf war veteran)<\/em>
\nGerry Werhan, US Marines, 1971-1994\u00a0(Gulf war veteran)<\/em>
\nForrest Schmidt, US Army, 1994-2000
\nJohn Fortier, US Air Force, 1952-1955\u00a0(Korean war veteran)<\/em>
\nBill Perry, US Army, 1967-1968\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)<\/em>
\nMatt Dubuc, US Army, 1994-1997\u00a0(Bosnia veteran)<\/em>
\nSanfod Kelson, US Army, 1963-1966
\nAlexis Fectaeu, US Airforce, 22 years
\nBenny Harris, US Navy, 1973-1993
\nEric Meyer, US Navy, 1967-1971\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)<\/em>
\nVictoria Marx, US Navy, 1969-1976\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)<\/em>
\nCharles SHelton, US Coast Guard, 1969-1972
\nAnnzala Pitt, US Army, 9 years
\nLeonard Vernon, US Army, 1964-1966
\nTom Adams, US Army, 1971-1973
\nPaul Appell, US Army, 1968-1971\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)<\/em>
\nDerrick Wilson, US Army, 6 years
\nDanny McGregor, US Navy, 21 years
\nDouglas Ryder, US Navy, 1964-1967\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)<\/em>
\nArlene Edwards, US Army Nurse Corps, 1966-1970\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)<\/em>
\nTommy Griffin, US Army, 1976-1999
\nGary Lail, US Navy, 1964-1968
\nSelena Vincin, US Army, 1995-1997
\nDanny Fry, US Army, 1970\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)<\/em>
\nAlbert Sargis, US Marines, 1956-1962
\nDave Logsdon, US Navy, 1966-1970
\nKen Ashe, US Army, 1969-1971\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)<\/em>
\nSven Pihl, US Navy, 1986-1990
\nWilliam Holcomb, US Navy, 1946-1949
\nDaveed Williams, US Navy, 1987-1990
\nNick Velvet, US Army, 1967-1969\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)<\/em>
\nHarold Donle, US Marines\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)<\/em>
\nPaul Turner, US Air Force, 1981-1988
\nJamie St. Clair, US Navy, 4 years
\nAllie Thorpe, US Navy, 4 years
\nBill Graffam, US Navy\u00a0(Korean war veteran)<\/em>
\nMike Madden, US Air Force, 1973-1979
\nRon Arm, US Army, 1966-1971
\nTarak Kauff, US Army, 1959-1962
\nTom Palumbo, US Army, 1978-1993
\nPatrick McCann, US Air Force, 1970-1972
\nMark Foreman, US Navy, 1966-1968\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)<\/em>
\nGerry Condon, US Army, 1967-1975
\n<\/em>Ron Arm, US Army, 1966-1971\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)
\n<\/em>Mike Budd, US Army, 1968-1971\u00a0(Vietnam war veteran)
\n<\/em>Amos Sunshine, US Army, 1952-1955
\nGlenn Wright, US Air Force, 1962-1974
\nJames Domenico, US Navy, 1973-1976<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

click here for original letter To our brothers and sisters in the Missouri National Guard: We are writing to you as active-duty U.S. service members and veterans, most of us having served in the Iraq war. You have a choice you can make right now. The whole world is watching the Ferguson police with disgust. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/peaceeconomyproject.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/peaceeconomyproject.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/peaceeconomyproject.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peaceeconomyproject.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peaceeconomyproject.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3500"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/peaceeconomyproject.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3500\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3502,"href":"https:\/\/peaceeconomyproject.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3500\/revisions\/3502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/peaceeconomyproject.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peaceeconomyproject.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peaceeconomyproject.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}