Decatur, TN – This past weekend, April 19-21, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) hosted a three-day organizer training in rural eastern Tennessee. Over 50 activists shared skills and strategies as veterans and active-duty soldiers were joined by civilian ally organizations from around the country, including IVAW's partner organization Civilian-Soldier Alliance (CivSol,) One Love Movement, Students for a Democratic Society, The Poverty Initiative, Concerned Citizens for Justice, and many others.

This type of combined gathering was unprecedented for the nine-year-old IVAW and many of the attendees were excited by this new development. “We’re seeing a shift in the overall movement and the world right now, and its making me very excited and inspired,” said IVAW member Jacob George.

Collective liberation was a theme of the weekend. Activists represented a huge range of issues, including anti-racism, education rights, Palestine solidarity, poverty, environment, labor, media justice, LGBTQ rights, healthcare and immigrant rights. Many discussions over the weekend emphasized the interconnected nature of the struggle against war and occupation to other movements. IVAW chapters around the country reported back on work they have done with community groups and labor unions around the issue of mental health care in the community, and at Veterans Administration hospitals.

“The work we’re doing here, the work we’re doing in Maryland, I don't see it as work, I see it as healing.” Said CivSol member Sergio Espana, who organizes for healthcare in Baltimore.

IVAW and CivSol are currently leading a national “Right to Heal” campaign, which demands that the government stop deploying traumatized troops and provide adequate physical and mental health care for victims of the U.S. occupations, and of military trauma such as PTSD, military sexual trauma and traumatic brain injury. At the weekend retreat, workshops and panels addressed the trauma faced not only by combat veterans, but the similar experiences of immigrants, refugees and victims of sexual assault and police violence.

Last May, IVAW brought national attention to the victims of U.S./NATO war and occupation as they joined Afghans for Peace and 30,000 protesters to march on the NATO convention in Chicago. 40 IVAW members returned their medals in a memorable ceremony outside the convention. Some of the veterans dedicated their medals to friends who had become victims of combat deaths and suicide, noting that 18 veterans commit suicide every day, and demanding the government recognize the Right to Heal.

In summation of the retreat, organizers were optimistic about the future of the campaign and its growing support among ally organizations. To learn more about the Right to Heal campaign, visit http://righttoheal.org and http://www.ivaw.org

#DecaturTN #AntiwarMovement #IraqVeteransAgainstTheWar #USImperialism

Chicago, IL – In the largest anti-war protest ever held in Chicago, 15,000 people took to the streets marching against the NATO military summit. Inside McCormick Convention Center, politicians, generals and bankers discussed the faltering U.S./NATO war and occupation in Afghanistan. They also forged agreements that set the stage for destabilizing and overthrowing independent governments in places like Syria and Iran.

Outside, in the streets of Chicago’s South Loop however, waves of protesters marched in contingents with a message against NATO and G8, opposing war and poverty. Protesters were chanting and singing, surrounded by police on all sides. They were in high spirits and feeling their power, knowing their message of opposing war and poverty was reaching across the world to people suffering from NATO wars and occupations.

The day began with music and poetry at Petrillo Bandshell in Grant Park, a park famous for 1960s protests against the U.S. war in Vietnam. Rebel Diaz, Tom Morello, David Rovics and hip-hop poets performed, with an appearance by the Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW). As the crowd began to grow, many taking shelter in the shade of nearby trees, protesters listened to speakers from scores of groups and movements that built for the protest against NATO.

The audience listened closely when Chicano leader and anti-war activist Carlos Montes took the stage. Members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a big banner reading “Justice for Carlos Montes” behind him. Montes said, “I am here in solidarity with you today, despite being on trial in Los Angeles as part of an FBI frame up. I am being persecuted because of my anti-war, immigrant rights and labor activism. I organized protests against the U.S. War in Vietnam in the ‘60s and I organize against NATO and the U.S. war in Afghanistan today. We were in solidarity with and inspired by the people of Vietnam in their struggle against U.S. imperialism and we act in solidarity with the struggles of the people of Colombia, the Philippines and Mexico today. I call for the U.S. out of Afghanistan and to no U.S. or NATO intervention in Syria and Iran.”

Hatem Abudayyeh, a Palestinian-American, who is one of 23 Midwest anti-war activists subpoenaed to a grand jury investigation and had his home raided by the FBI because of his solidarity work, also spoke: “We are organizing toward the day when Palestine will be a free and sovereign nation, with the right to return for refugees. We call for an end to U.S. aid to Israel and for people here to join us in demanding Palestinian liberation!” A big roar went up from the entire crowd.

Meredith Aby from the Minneapolis Anti-War Committee spoke about the need to get NATO out of Afghanistan and prevent future U.S. wars for oil and Empire. Aby is also one of the 23 who the FBI raided and she asserted, “Being anti-war is not a crime!’

The Reverend Jesse Jackson, from Chicago’s Operation PUSH and a former presidential candidate, called for an end to spending billions on war. He demanded the money be used to fund social services and end poverty. Jackson educated the crowd about poverty in this country, often portrayed in the media as only affecting African-Americans and other oppressed peoples. Reverend Jackson said, “The largest single category of poor people is white women who are single parents with children.” Reverend Jackson used the African-American call and response tradition in his speech, much to the amazement of Occupy Wall Street activists who use a similar technique.

All in all there were more than 40 speakers from students, labor, immigrant rights, war veteran, environmental, housing and healthcare groups. Speakers included Leah Bolger, the President of Vets for Peace, Larry Holmes of the International Action Center and Lisa Grab with Students for a Democratic Society. Many were interested to hear from the Afghan women for peace, and the International League of People’s Struggle representing many international movements for freedom.

There were dozens of international guests who came to the protest, particularly anti-NATO organizations from European NATO countries. The importance of this is not to be underestimated, as NATO is fragile and some countries have already pulled troops out of Afghanistan.

The afternoon march began with a group of Afghan women for peace joined by a large contingent of Iraq and Afghan war veterans marching together. The Coalition Against NATO and G8 (CANG8), the organizers of the march, held the lead banner, with the United National Antiwar Coalition F(UNAC) as a part of that.

A river of protesters stretched across four lanes of traffic and for nearly a mile on Michigan Avenue. Onlookers and whole families came out on apartment balconies and onto sidewalks to film and take photos.

When the march came to within a few blocks of McCormick Place, it was time for the war veterans to take command. In one of the most moving moments of any anti-war protest in a generation, U.S. military veterans made declarations against U.S. and NATO wars and occupations, throwing their medals off the stage and into the street. One war veteran describing his combat experience began choking back tears and saying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” to which thousands in the streets began chanting, “It’s not your fault! It’s not your fault!”

Other veterans gave impassioned speeches against wars for oil and U.S. imperialism, denouncing the 1% and the U.S. government, while throwing their combat service awards and other medals as far as possible down the street towards the NATO summit. Jacob Flom of IVAW dedicated his medals to Carlos Montes and the Anti-War 23.

The Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) ended the day with an announcement for people to exit to the west, taking note that there was a tremendous build-up of police in riot gear and military-type uniforms. The official show of force was intimidating to people and clearly planned and funded months ahead of time.

The crowds of protesters were so large, however, that it appeared impossible for everyone to exit in time for the end of the permitted Veterans rally. It soon became a scene of police encircling and pushing and shoving a much smaller crowd of people, some who responded in kind and were beaten and arrested. Others were simply singled out for arrest or beaten at random, including a few journalists. The big business media took up this story and these images to attempt to quickly bury the largest and most successful anti-war protest ever held in the city of Chicago.

While the greatest purveyors of violence in the world were meeting inside the NATO summit, the anti-war protesters outside sent a message heard round the world: “Say no to NATO! Troops out now!”

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #IraqVeteransAgainstTheWar #CarlosMontes #CoalitionAgainstNATOG8War #ChicagoNATOSummit #AntiWar23

Chicago, IL – NATO opponents debated NATO apologists at the Pritzker Military Library in the Chicago Loop on May 17. The debate was sponsored by the National Strategy Forum. Reflecting an attempt to respond to anti-war protests and mass democratic movements like the Arab Spring, the debate was titled, “Social Responsibility and National Security: Towards a New NATO.”

Rick Rozoff of Stop NATO and Iris Feliciano of Iraq Veterans Against the War debated J.D. Bindenagel, a former U.S. ambassador involved in NATO security policy and membership, and John Allen Williams, a professor of political science at Loyola University Chicago, who served with the NATO Inter-Allied Confederation of Reserve Officers. The debate is on the Pritzker website.

The room was packed with media and a sizeable contingent from Iraq Veterans against the War. The Reverend Jesse Jackson, who will speak at the Sunday, May 20 CANG8-sponsored protest in Grant Park, attended.

Stop NATO expert Rick Rozoff stated, “I am not in favor of a new NATO, a kinder and gentler NATO. I am in favor of the abolition of NATO. In my opinion NATO is the greatest threat to world peace.” He continued, “NATO is the largest military block in world history, with 28 member countries on all continents.”

Rozoff continued, “Just a couple of reasons to terminate NATO, is that they are appropriating the exclusive prerogative of using military force from the United Nations and trying to substitute for it. NATO collectively spent $1 trillion on arms expenditures last year as we are in a worldwide economic recession.”

IVAW’s Feliciano, a Marine Corp veteran who served in Afghanistan, said, “Veterans are living by a thread, we are all living by a thread. There are no jobs for veterans here in Chicago. In the face of that, these military expenditures are unconscionable.”

Loyola University Professor Williams acknowledged that NATO is primarily a military tool of the U.S. when he said, “Complaints about NATO are really unfair. NATO is not really an organization by itself. Complaints about NATO are really complaints about the policies of component governments. I think a lot of the objections we are talking about are really to U.S. policy.”

The audience nearly lost its composure when the moderator claimed that NATO is an anti-violence organization. Rozoff countered, “In every instance we have seen of NATO military intervention – Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya – NATO entered the fray on behalf of one group of armed belligerents against another group of armed belligerents. They did not bring peace, they won the war for their clients.”

The pro-NATO debaters tried to avoid the issue of Afghanistan policy and tried to focus on those wars that they claim are humanitarian missions.

Ambassador J.D. Bindenagel claimed NATO has the “right of intervention” under the responsibility to protect people from genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes. Bindenagel further claimed that NATO intervention is done with UN sanction and authority. He cited Kosovo and Bosnia to bolster his claim.

Rozoff countered, “The war against Yugoslavia in 1999 did not have UN sanction.” He continued, “Subsequent to that, almost immediately after NATO marched into the former Serbian province of Kosovo with its so called Kosovo Liberation Army allies arm in arm. Within a couple of years almost a quarter of a million ethnic minorities were purged from Kosovo, ethnic Serbs, ethnic Roma, ethnic Gorans were purged, never to return. I don't hear any of the ‘humanitarian’ advocates here saying anything about those people.” He finished by saying, “When NATO wages a war it does so for geopolitical objectives, siding with one side against another in a conflict, that has been its track record for the past 17 years.”

Feliciano said, “Iraq Veterans Against the War will be marching for reconciliation and justice on Sunday. We are here to talk about our grievances and we want the NATO generals to come meet us on Sunday – to acknowledge us. We will be returning our ‘global war on terror’ service medals and expeditionary medals. We have decided as an organization that we do not want to keep these symbols of failed politics.”

She ended, “We withdraw our consent for this war. Withdraw from Afghanistan now!”

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #IraqVeteransAgainstTheWar #ChicagoNATOSummit #StopNATO

Chicago, IL – Dozens of U.S. military veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan plan to return their medals to the commanders they served under on Sunday, May 20. Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) will lead thousands of anti-war protesters from Grant Park to the site of the NATO summit in downtown Chicago. Outside McCormick Place, the veterans and service members will return their medals to NATO commanders. Veterans of the U.S.-led NATO war and occupation in Afghanistan will march side by side with the group Afghans for Peace at the head of the march organized by the Coalition Against NATO/G8.

“By returning my medals I can begin the healing process,” said Iraq veteran Zach Laporte, a member of the Milwaukee IVAW chapter. “The NATO commanders may not acknowledge us as we return our medals,” said Laporte, “but by making our presence felt in the media and on the ground people will know our story. They will know the real story that the NATO commanders do not want the public to know.”

Through their action on May 20, IVAW hopes to bring attention to the human cost of the NATO occupation in Afghanistan, as well as the continuing effects of the Iraq war. But for the veterans returning their medals, this is also a personal process of healing the wound caused by NATO and U.S. occupations. Speaking to Democracy Now!, Chicago IVAW member Aaron Hughes said NATO is, “perpetuating a failed policy and unfortunately we have to live with that failed policy on a daily basis, and we don't want to be a part of that failed policy anymore.”

Returning service medals as an act of protest was popularized at the 1971 action Operation Dewey Canyon III, organized by Vietnam Veterans Against the War. At that event, over 800 combat veterans threw their medals toward the U.S. Capitol building in protest of the Vietnam War.

Sunday's rally and march against the NATO summit will start at the Petrillo Bandshell on the corner of Jackson and Columbus in Chicago. Entertainment and speakers begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by the mass march to McCormick Place at 2:00 p.m.

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Chicago, IL – A press conference was held here, April 23, with the Reverend Jesse Jackson, trade union leaders and ministers, along with Iraq Veterans Against the War, to announce support for the protest against NATO on May 20 in Chicago. The Reverend Jackson has agreed to speak at the May 20 rally, which will be held at noon at Petrillo Band Shell in Grant Park, and then he’ll help lead the march to McCormick Place, where the war-makers will be meeting. Jackson compared the significance of May 20 to the historic civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery.

In addition, Aaron Hughes of the Iraq Veterans Against the War announced their plans to march as well. Veterans of the Afghan war will return their service medals to the NATO commanders in protest of the War on Terror which has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands. Hughes said, “We also must do this to begin to take back our humanity.”

Joe Iosbaker of the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda announced that more unions, representing over 50,000 workers, have endorsed the march in the past two weeks. The unions include SEIU Local 1 and Workers United. “It’s a snowball effect,” he said, and predicted that more unions, churches and community groups will continue to add themselves to the list of endorsers.

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