Veterans For Peace, Greater Seattle, Chapter 92

Last Updated: November 30, 2023 by Editorial Team

Oct 5 event: Chism Series, “Toward a Just Memory: Resistance, Violence, Art and the American War in Vietnam.”

Panel Discussion: Dissent and Resistance within the Military

East Reading Room, Collins Memorial Library at the University of Puget Sound

October 5, 2022 2:00-3:20

Related to the Exhibit: Dissent and Resistance within the Military, East Reading Room, Collins Memorial Library, September 28-October 28,

and coordinated with local members of Veterans for Peace, this panel discussion will feature activists who will talk together about their engagements with dissent and resistance at Fort Lewis and in its surrounding community, activities ranging from work with the Shelter Half Coffeehouse and the Fed UP newspaper to antiwar organizing within the Army, including in the Presidio Stockade following arrest. The panel discussion will engage issues related to the ethical and moral implications of opposing the war from within the military, as well as the differential motivations, tactics, impact and experiences of these actions.

Event Poster:

oct 5 chism event (11 × 17 in) (1)

Chism Series Schedule:

Final Chism Schedule with Detail

Last Updated: November 30, 2023 by Editorial Team

PRESS RELEASE: 21 September 2022 “OBJECT WAR CAMPAIGN” LAUNCH : Petition to support Conscientious Objectors and Deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

PRESS RELEASE 21 September 2022

“OBJECT WAR CAMPAIGN” LAUNCH : Petition to support Conscientious Objectors and Deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, 21st September, Connection e.V., the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, the European Office for Conscientious Objection and War Resisters’ International are calling for a signature campaign for deserters and conscientious objectors from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The #ObjectWarCampaign calls on all citizens from everywhere to join the global effort to ensure protection and asylum to conscientious objectors and deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine involved in the current war in the region. They are our hope to refuse war and let peace prevail!

On April 6, 2022, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, had called on Russian soldiers to desert and promised them protection under refugee law. So far, this promise has not been fulfilled.

Within the scope of #ObjectWarCampaign, a petition has been prepared for everyone to sign in. The petition is addressed to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola. The petition emphasizes the need to uphold the right to asylum to conscientious objectors and deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine by hosting states. The petition launched on the WeMove.eu website can now be signed in German, English, French, Italian and Greek.

There are an estimated 100,000 Russian military draftees and deserters refusing the war of aggression. An estimated 22,000 Belarusian military draftees have left their country because they don’t want to participate in the war in Ukraine. Everyone who has refused service risks several years of prosecution because of their stand against the war. They are hoping for protection in various countries.

Ukraine suspended the right to conscientious objection and closed the border for men between 18 and 60. Over 100,000 men have evaded war involvement in Ukraine and fled abroad. Currently, Ukrainian citizens have temporary residence in the European Union. The #ObjectWarCampaign petition demands that the right to conscientious objection to military service is fully guaranteed in Ukraine.

The petition signatures are a crucial sign of support for conscientious objectors and deserters. This campaign highlights the importance of opening borders to those who oppose the war at great personal risk in their countries, and calls on everyone around the world to support those who refuse to fight and kill.

Every recruit can be a conscientious objector, every soldier a deserter. Let’s support those who refuse to kill and end war together!

#ObjectWarCampaign
#StandWithObjectors

The launch of the petition has been anticipated by an appeal sent in June 2022, to the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe -supported by 60 organizations from 20 countries – detailing why protection and support for deserters and conscientious objectors on all sides of the Ukrainian war is necessary and moreover that it is a human right. There have already been discussions about this in the European Parliament.

More information:

The appeal to the European institutions can be found here.

Background information can be found here.

Contact and interview requests:

Zaira Zafarana, International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), zaira.zafarana@ifor.org, www.ifor.org (English, Italian)

Rudi Friedrich, Connection e.V., +496982375534, office@Connection-eV.org, www.Connection-eV.org (German, English)

Semih Sapmaz, War Resisters’ International (WRI), semih@wri-irg.org, www.wri-irg.org (English,Turkish)

Sam Biesemans, European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), +32477268893, ebco.brussels@skynet.be, www.ebco-beoc.org (French, Dutch, Italian, English)

Click here to download the official statement.

Last Updated: November 30, 2023 by Editorial Team

VFP Member at Solidarity School, August 21

8/21/ 22 International League of Peoples Struggle at Seattle U
A VFP92 member Tabled with WPiVM master leaflet and essay contest leaflet+ the basic layout for school counter-recruiting.
He attended 2 workshops, AM about the campaign against Boeing, PM, IWA (International Womens Alliance) Both were good.
Plenary in morning , then afternoon.
Veterans For Peace can and should work with ILPS as well as with the Campus against US led war group, which is part of ILPS.
Also note: GABRIELA, Students supporting Palestine, BAYAN, Stop the Sweeps! And other orgs are part of ILPS.
ILPS is encouraging organizations to join them. They said that to become part of ILPS a n organization needs to agree with their unity on one of the 20 issues they deal with. ILPS is open to mass organizations, not political parties or individuals.
ILPS can present more info about themselves at an educational at our GMM. I think ASAP would be good. They are be younger, diverse people who are consciously anti-imperialist.

Stay Tuned…

Last Updated: November 30, 2023 by Editorial Team

Community News: Peace Pole Dedication Ceremony, September 21–West Seattle

“West Seattle Rotary Club Peacebuiding Committee will be installing and having our next Peace Pole Dedication Ceremony on Wednesday, September 21, at 11:30 am, at C&P Coffee Company on California Ave. 9/21 is United Nations International Day of Peace, so having a Peace Pole Dedication Ceremony on this day is very special for us and the owners and staff of C&P Coffee. Please add this event to your ‘What’s Happening” calendar and join us for this event.”

https://westseattlerotary.org/ https://candpcoffee.com/

Stand by for Pix…

Posted: September 10, 2022 by Editorial Team

Peace in Ukraine: Global Week of Action Sept 12–15

None

https://www.peaceinukraine.org/

Posted: September 4, 2022 by Editorial Team

Seattle Rally for Nuclear Abolition

Join Citizens for the Universal Abolition of Nuclear Weapons at noon on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle for a march to and rally at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building where we will call for the universal abolition of nuclear weapons. This event is organized entirely by volunteers. Click here if you would like to help with this important event!

Our keynote speaker is David Swanson. David Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, and radio host. He is executive director of WorldBeyondWar.org and campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org. Swanson’s books include War Is A Lie. He blogs at DavidSwanson.org and WarIsACrime.org. He hosts Talk World Radio. He is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and U.S. Peace Prize recipient. Longer bio and photos and videos here. Follow him on Twitter: @davidcnswanson and FaceBook,

Another speaker is Tom Rogers, who has been a member of Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action in Poulsbo since 2004. A retired Navy Captain, he served in various capacities in the US Submarine Force from 1967 to 1998, including command of a nuclear fast attack submarine from 1988 to 1991. Since coming to Ground Zero he has provided a combination of operational experience with nuclear weapons and the willingness to use that expertise as a nuclear weapons abolitionist.
More information about the rally is here.

Last Updated: August 5, 2022 by Editorial Team

Condemn Raids on African People’s Socialist Party and Uhuru Movement!

by The United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC):
We encourage all anti-imperialist, progressive, antiwar, civil liberties organizations, union and community organizers to speak out against the July 29 FBI raids in St Petersburg, FL and St Louis, MO
In a 5 am surprise attack, including flash bang grenades and seizures of files, phones and computers, the FBI sought to terrorize members of the African Peoples Socialist Party for speaking against U.S. war in Ukraine. The FBI indictment of a Russian national makes claims of a “Russian foreign influence” operation. This type of charge has historically been used to silence opposition to U.S. government policies internationally.
We condemn these McCarthyite tactics. This is a racist attack on a well-known Black organization and an effort to criminalize freedom of speech and freedom of association.
We support the constitutional right to speak and organize against U.S. wars and racist injustice. We assert our right to write, speak with and to visit with peoples in countries targeted by U.S. wars and sanctions. This includes movements of exchange and solidarity with Cuba, Palestine, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Iran, Libya, Korea, China, Russia and other countries.
Our most basic rights are threatened by this outrageous act of political repression.
Stop FBI Attacks!
An injury to one is an injury to all!
for more info and to sign this statement:
https://unac.notowar.net/condemn-fbi-raids-on-african-peoples-socialist-party-and-uhuru-movement/

Last Updated: November 30, 2023 by Editorial Team

Peace activists to meet the U.S. Navy fleet on Monday, August 1, in Elliott Bay

“Local activists will stage a water-based nonviolent protest against the glorification of weapons of war at the Seattle Seafair festival. Peace activists will meet the U.S. Navy fleet in Elliott Bay. Other peace activists will meet on the newly rebuilt Pier 62 on the Seattle waterfront at the same time for a nonviolent demonstration against weapons of war.
What: Peace activists at Seafair. Peace Fleet! This is the twenty-first year for this demonstration.
When: Monday, August 1, noon, Peace Fleet in Elliott Bay.
Where: In Elliott Bay, near Pier 66. Bell Harbor Marina will be open for kayaks and for mooring vessels. Demonstration on land on Pier 62.

Why would we demonstrate for peace at a Seattle maritime festival? We are here for the unrepresented and forgotten victims of these weapons of war and to call attention to the crimes of our nation. And because the celebration of warships in our harbor helps bring about the normalcy of modern war. The fleet arrival at Seafair is a public relations and recruiting event for the U.S. Navy. Previous years have brought Trident nuclear submarines complete with nuclear warheads and Navy warships used to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles in the first and second Wars on Iraq and the twenty-year War on Afghanistan. The fleet is displayed for five days in downtown Seattle at tremendous cost to taxpayers while crucial social services in education, health care, housing, and transportation are impaired for lack of funds.”
https://www.gzcenter.org/event/peace-fleet-meets-the-u-s-navy-fleet-on-monday-august-1-in-elliott-bay/

Posted: July 19, 2022 by Editorial Team

From Hiroshima To Hope Every August 6th

“76th Anniversary Remembrance”
“From Hiroshima to Hope is planning to once again hold our annual commemoration of the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at Green Lake in Seattle on August 6, 2021. We are carefully monitoring COVID safety protocols to ensure the safety of event performers and participants. Our lineup of performers for our multicultural arts-based event is shaping up to be one of our best ever. Get ready for dynamic presentations from poets, musicians, and other performers. We are especially looking forward to a return of our lantern-floating ceremony.”
https://fromhiroshimatohope.org/76th-anniversary-remembrance/

event details: https://fromhiroshimatohope.org/event-2/

Veterans For Peace Seattle will have a table at the event

Posted: July 10, 2022 by Editorial Team

Veterans For Peace Statement on Roe Vs. Wade

June 30, 2022
“Veterans For Peace (VFP) was organized by military veterans and allies to bring an end to all war and the oppressive systems that enable it. VFP believes that everyone has the absolute right to control their bodies, including reproductive functions, and have access to adequate healthcare. The Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade constitutes a war on rights of bodily autonomy and self-determination, and as such, VFP has a responsibility to fight against it.

Present and historical discourse centers the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a women’s-only issue and within the gender binary. VFP recognizes the rights guaranteed under Roe v. Wade had a wider impact on the bodily autonomy of all gender identities and the present ruling is part of a larger push to reassert heteropatriarchal control over the population. This cannot be tolerated. This and other recent Supreme Court decisions are an exertion of white supremacist, patriarchal, and theological power and control and not about the preservation of life.

The Supreme Court’s decision, in siding with white-supremacy, will most negatively affect the same populations who have been most impacted by previously existing restrictions on reproductive healthcare: people of color, who have the highest childbirth mortality rates in the United States, youth (particularly trans and non-binary), indigenous populations, and those in poverty…”

https://www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/2022/06/30/veterans-peace-statement-roe-vs-wade

Veterans working together for peace & justice through non-violence. Wage Peace!

Panel Discussion: Dissent and Resistance within the Military