Veterans Occupy National Archives - Again!

Photo by Tony Teolis CONTACT as well: Tony Teolis VFP: 703-402-176

Article By Cheryl Biren-Wright OpEdNews.com (Writer and managing editor for OpEdNews.com.)

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On Saturday, November 15, at 8:00 am, at the National Archives Building on Connecticut Ave., eight military veterans and a military mother climbed a nine-foot retaining fence and occupied a 92-foot high scaffolding to raise two 450 square foot banners stating, "DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION. ARREST BUSH AND CHENEY: WAR CRIMINALS!" and "WE WILL NOT BE SILENT." The same message will also be displayed at demonstrations in the Los Angeles area on Saturday.

Members of Veterans for Peace (VFP) chose the Archives for their nonviolent protest because it is symbolic of their military oath to "defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." In September they occupied the Archives for 24 hours, and plan to stay longer this time.

"The offenses of Bush, Cheney, and their accomplices are appalling," said Kim Carlyle, a VFP member and Army veteran. "Their misdeeds have killed or maimed more than a million people - American soldiers, innocent civilian children, women, and men. They have displaced almost five million people, with millions seeking refuge in other countries. Their total disregard for international agreements has severely tarnished the reputation of America in the world. Their unlawful wars have squandered billions of dollars that could have bolstered a troubled economy."

The veterans are demanding Bush administration be tried for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace; asking the media to clearly inform the public of the administration's crimes; and encouraging citizens to take similar nonviolent actions.

According to Tarak Kauff, a VFP member, "People say Bush and Cheney will be gone soon so what's the point? The point is, there is no statute of limitations on war crimes, and if not held accountable, criminality will continue regardless of who is in office. We either are or we are not a nation of law."

THOSE STAGING THE OCCUPATION ARE:

Elliott Adams VFP: 61, Sharon Springs, NY, VFP President and former Army paratrooper, Viet Nam

Ellen Barfield VFP: 52, Baltimore, MD, former Army Sgt.

Kim Carlyle VFP: 61, Buncombe County, NC, former Army Spec 5

Doug Zachary VFP: 58, Austin, TX, VFP staff, former USMC Lance Cpl.

Tarak Kauff VFP: 67, Woodstock, NY, former PFC, Army Airborne

Will Covert VFP: 63, San Diego, CA, VFP lifetime member, former E4 Navy

Elaine Brower, MFSO: 54, Staten Island, NY, Military Families Speak Out, National Steering Committee, mother of USMC Sgt. James Brower on third tour in Iraq

Matthis Chiroux IVAW: 24, Army Sergeant, served in Afghanistan, refused deployment to Iraq

PROVIDING GROUND SUPPORT:

Mike Ferner VFP: 57, Toledo, OH, former Navy corpsman

Debbie Tolson VFP: 52, Potomac, MD, associate member of VFP

Michelle White MFSO: 24, Clarksville, TN, Military Families Speak Out, wife of Iraq war vet currently serving in Afghanistan

Michael Marceau VFP: 59, Rockville, MD, VP VFP Chapter 16, former Army, Viet Nam

Bruce Berry VFP: 62, Minneapolis, MN, former SPC 4 Army, Viet Nam

Fred Nagel VFP: 65, Rhinebeck, NY, former SPC 4 Army

Jay Wenk VFP: 82, Woodstock, NY, former rifleman, 90th Infantry Div., WWII

Tony Teolis VFP: 703-402-1763

Veterans For Peace

Editor's note: As we did when VFP occupied the Archives in September (Breaking Camp: Veterans Occupy National Archives Building) - OpEdNews will keep readers updated on the action through contact with the veterans on the ledge and the ground. Stay tuned.

Authors Bio: Writer/Photographer. Special interests in media reform, restoring/protecting the constitution, support for returning veterans, ending the Iraq occupation and improving relations with Iran. In the meantime, I'll settle for a vanilla latte and a keyboard while exposing those who prmote ideologies like the Bush Doctrine that subvert our constitution, encourage terrorism and are morally and ethically corrupt. Writer and managing editor for OpEdNews.com. Contact info: cheryl[at]opednews.com cherylbirenwright.wordpress.com