The meeting featured the screening of Pam Sporn’s 1990 documentary Disobeying Orders: GI Resistance to the Vietnam War, as well as a panel of VFP members who discussed plans for protesting the current criminal wars initiated by the U.S. and Israel and the attempt by the Trump administration to turn the July 4th Independence Day holiday into a false and phony presentation of U.S. history.
, Veterans For Peace promotes its campaign to make active duty personnel aware of their right and duty to disobey illegal orders.
(Credit: Veterans For Peace)
The panel included the filmmaker Pam Sporn; April Guardi, a U.S. Army veteran who is president of the Sojourner Truth VFP/Chapter 188 (Mid-Hudson Valley New York); Trevor Hoover, a disabled U.S. Army veteran of the Afghanistan War, member of VFP/Chapter 034 (New York City) and the Action For Cuba Committee; Michael Kramer, an Israel Defense Forces veteran and president of VFP/Chapter 021 (Northern New Jersey); and Susan Schnall, a U.S. Navy veteran and president of the National VFP Board of Directors. The panel was moderated by VFP Board Member Ellen Davidson.
On July 4, in Philadelphia, a coalition of veterans groups under the name of Veterans Against Fascism will be taking part in a large march. The groups include VFP, About Face: Veterans Against The War, Common Defense, Fayetteville Resistance Coalition and Military Families Speak Out. Also on July 4, VFP/021 will be taking part in a march from Leonia, New Jersey, to Teaneck, New Jersey, followed by a rally outside of the Teaneck Army National Guard Armory.
And in New York City on July 7, VFP plans to reach out to the more than 20,000 sailors in town for Fleet Week. Veterans and others will invite active duty personnel to the People’s Forum to discuss applying for conscientious objector status and cancelling enlistment contracts.
For more information, see veteransforpeace.org.
