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News :: Human Rights : Politics : War and Militarism |
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The Veterans for Peace organization shares it’s message: “John Kerry: We voted for you. Now we expect action from you” |
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by Sophie Yon-Gharbi
Email: Sophie.Gharbi (nospam) gmail.com (unverified!) |
28 Feb 2007
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In front of the building at 1, Bowdoin Square, where Senator John Kerry has his office, some of the cars driving by during the 9 AM rush hour traffic were honking and giving the 30 protesters – who were holding signs such as “Stop the money, stop the war. What the hell is Congress for!”- a thumb up. “ I think we had no business being there in the first place” shared a woman as she passed the small group. “You guys are doing a good thing!” added another one. |
 Paul Grossman, 91, of Veterans for Peace stands outside the offices of Senator John Kerry. |
Today’s protest is part of the “Occupation Project” the Smedley D. Butler Brigade, chapter 9 of Veterans for Peace* has been organizing all over the country. The goal is to pressure representatives by maintaining a presence to sign a pledge that they will vote against the supplemental spending measures that President Bush will seek in 2007 in regards to the war in Iraq. So far the group has gotten the pledge of Rep. Ed Markey and Marty Meehan.
The “occupation” started yesterday, when the group was allowed into the office and were able to have a discussion via phone -John Kerry being in Washington DC- with the senator. Dr. Nancy Clarke, one of the founding member of the Brigade, was part of that conversation: “John Kerry compared Iraq to Vietnam but emphasized that because he would only have the support of 4 or 5 senators, it wouldn’t be enough to do anything in Congress.” Mike Prokosh, a member of the Dorchester People for Peace added: “ We spoke with Chris Wyman, his senior aid, and asked him specifically if Kerry would vote against the Iraq proposal and he told us he was thinking about doing it by early 2008! It’s clear that John Kerry is spooked about being accused of undercutting the troops. He’s in his cloud on Capitol Hill and unwilling to be a leader and break out of the frame!” They left without obtaining Kerry’s pledge.
So the group came back this morning to put some more pressure on their representative but was not allowed up. When Nate Goldschlag, one of the Chapter’s spokesperson, noted that it looked really bad to keep the constituents out, Chris Wyman simply replied: "It’s your right” before walking away.
Considering John Kerry has announced he no longer has presidential aspirations, it should give him more freedom. “In 2002,when he voted in favor of the war, the campaigning was going to start. But it’s no longer the case. You cannot be against the war but continue to help fund it. Kerry needs to step up. He needs to gather 40 other senators and filibuster to end the war!” expressed Nate. “He was willing to climb to the presidency a top a mountain of corpses, added VFP member John Walsh, and the only way to apologize is by voting to filibuster!”
“What we want from him is to do now what he did in the 70’s and the Vietnam war, emphasized Paul Grossman, who at 91 is probably the oldest member of the group. “I’m here to tell Kerry he needs to show where he stands as a man and use his initiative to get other senators to stop the war!”
Well Senator Kerry, it seems like some of your constituents expect you to step up. The question is: will you?
After 2 hours it became clear to the group that they would not be successful. They have decided to move on to other targets since, to quote Nate: “Fortress Kerry is fairly secure and all we could do was be outside!”
*Veterans for Peace is a national educational and humanitarian organization dedicated to the abolishment of war and serving the cause of world peace. Find out more on their website:
www.veteransforpeace.org
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Photos by Jonathan McIntosh:
www.capedmaskedandarmed.com |
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This work licensed under a
Creative Commons license. |
