Cross posted from https://lemmygrad.ml/post/12174876

Antiwar veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and active duty personnel burst out in their broadest show of resistance in decades this July 4th weekend, as if provoked into action by the current administration’s orgy of militarism and white supremacy during the 250-year celebrations.

Even before the weekend started, USAF Major Jason Watson, an active-duty service member with more than 20 years of military career behind him, mounted the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 1 holding a sign that read, “Impeach Convict Remove,” referring to the current president.

On July 4 in Philadelphia, the Veterans Against Fascism coalition organized hundreds of veterans and active-duty personnel who marched at an “Independence from Billionaires” parade. Participants called it the largest protest specifically of veterans they had experienced since those during the war against Vietnam. And one where they heard mounting dissatisfaction from active-duty personnel.

The third important action is scheduled to take place July 7, in New York City. Organizers in Veterans For Peace, Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Center on Conscience and War will hand out leaflets to the thousands of sailors in New York for Fleet Week. They are inviting sailors who want more information on applying for conscientious objector status or breaking enlistment contracts to come to the People’s Forum in midtown Manhattan for presentations, films, discussions and legal advice from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The questions raised by long-time veteran activists at these protests are how widespread the levels of dissatisfaction are. What will it lead to? When will open resistance arise? The turnout in Philadelphia indicates growing turmoil among the ranks. What can antiwar civilians do to support resisters inside the military?

Workers World correspondents Joe Piette, a veteran of the Vietnam War, and Michael Kramer, who was in the Israeli military before becoming an activist supporting Palestinian liberation, were at the July 4 protest. Both have been active in antiwar veterans’ movements in the U.S. Piette wrote the following news report:

Philly: Veterans and active-duty personnel march against war

Chanting “No more rich man’s wars,” hundreds of veterans and active-duty personnel marched at an “Independence from Billionaires” parade in Philadelphia on the 4th of July.

Coming from as far away as California, Maine and Florida, the veterans and active-duty personnel contingent made up the majority of the large “Peoples Parade” during a mile-long march that was led by an “Independence from Billionaires” blue and red banner.

Critical of mass deportation, forced displacement, climate crisis and international wars, local and national groups organized the event as counter-programming to the official 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The Veterans Against Fascism contingent featured dozens of black and white signs and banners targeting U.S. forever wars. The signs attacked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) kidnappings and fascism as the military veterans and family members took the streets despite temperatures over 100 degrees.

Current military members who oppose U.S. support for genocide in Palestine walked side-by-side with veterans of U.S. wars against Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam.

A short rally took place near Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago. Representatives from Vets for Peace, About Face, Military Families Speak Out and the Fayetteville Resistance Coalition raised the necessity of military personnel active and no-longer-active to speak out against unjust wars and attacks against democratic rights. Speakers emphasized the right of active-duty military members to refuse illegal or immoral orders.

Workers World asked Piette and Kramer for their personal reaction

Piette: First of all, the vibe reminded me of Dewey Canyon III, the veterans’ week-long protest on the Mall in Washington in April 1971. Not as massive or confrontational, but participants just seeing each other together at this event seemed to give everyone more confidence — it seemed like there was a lot of potential for future actions.

I talked with an active-duty National Guard member who wore a Philadelphia Eagles hat. He was standing with about a dozen other active-duty service members among the banners. He said people don’t say anything while in uniform but are talking off duty.

He raised that the genocide in Gaza changed him. He no longer wants to be in a military that supports genocide, and he is taking steps to separate. He was glad to be among other military members who share his ideas.

A Marine who quit the service after 13 years was wearing a keffiyeh. She said she flew in from California just to join this march. She was tired of being the enemy wherever she was sent. It was a slow learning process, one thing on top of another, and eventually it made no sense for her to stay in the military.

While taking photos, I had quick conversations with the people holding up the white on black banners. One veteran told me that he felt the population of every country he was sent to by the Army — Iraq and Afghanistan — hated him. He felt he was on the wrong side. I told him that since Vietnam, I assume the U.S. is always on the wrong side. He agreed.

And that was a general response I got from talking to a few other vets. The forever wars have tired them out, and they no longer believe the lies they were told about why they are sent to these places.

Kramer: A couple of things impressed me about the march and rally. One was that it was younger than most of the veterans activities I’ve gone to lately. Those had participation mainly from Vietnam veterans, fewer from veterans from wars in the Gulf region or Afghanistan who are 25 to 35 years younger. There was also a greater proportion of men in the Vietnam era.

Many of the organizers of the Philadelphia march were women. The modern U.S. military itself is about 20% women and has been over 15% since 2010. This was reflected in the makeup of the marchers. And the march was notable for its discipline, Kramer reported.

Local media ignored it

Although the VAF contingent was a big part of the protest, Philly corporate media gave it no publicity, at least in the next two days. Perhaps this indicates that there is hesitation in the establishment about encouraging such an essential area of resistance. For people in the antiwar movement, it was a jolt in a positive direction.

(Emphasis original.)