Vet Protest On The Mall In D.C.: Iraq Tower Guard Vigil

[Hissyspit]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/26083

Iraq Vet Tower Guard Vigil in DC 8/26 - 9/1/2007
Submitted by Chip on Sat, 2007-08-25 17:22. Activism | General Discussion



Iraq War Veteran Evan Knappenberger, 1st BDE, 4th Infantry Division, will maintain an ongoing vigil on a 6' scaffold on the Mall in Washington, DC as part of a weeklong Tower Guard vigil beginning Sunday, August 26th through Saturday, September 1st.

Knappenberger will hold his 7-day, 24-hour vigil adjacent to the Washington Monument on the National Mall. He will set up the tower between Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive and 14th and 15th Streets, NW (area near National Museum of American History). This action, supported by various organizations including the Washington Peace Center, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Whatcom Peace & Justice Center, follows a successful 8-day/7-night Tower Guard in Bellingham, WA that garnered extensive media coverage from the AP; all major Seattle TV news networks; Democracy Now! and Air America.

Knappenberger is drawing attention to the US military's STOP-LOSS and INACTIVE RESERVE policies, which he submits are being used as a substitute for conscription in a political war.

"I spent a year in Iraq. I pulled 97 nights on tower guard," explained the 22 year-old intelligence veteran. "Many of the friends I served
with have completed their Active Duty contracts. Now, they're being sent back to Iraq for their third or fourth tours. Tours have been extended from 12 months to up to 18 months. Some soldiers are getting called up after living years of civilian life. Stop-loss is an unethical policy."

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[coco77]

1. The more vets the better,,,

I have been wondering why it has taken this long to see vets coming out against these insane people...

[MiniMe]

9. Because they keep getting sent back to Iraq

If you keep them over there, they can't protest over here

[Hepburn]

2. K&R for our protesting Vets!!! n/t

[Earth_First]

3. K&R (...off to the Greatest Page)

[w8liftinglady]

4. kicking and rec'ing-is there any way we can support this protest with $?

[Peace Patriot]

5. These are the heroes of the Iraq War--the ones who cried out against it!

Kudos and laurel wreaths to them for their constant witness, and their courage and vision!

[GeorgeGist]

6. All along the watch tower ...

There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief,
"There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."

"No reason to get excited," the thief, he kindly spoke,
"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate,
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."

All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too.

Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl,
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.

[Hissyspit]

7. .

[roody]

8. It is time for them to say NO. Hell, no,

I won't go.

[ConsAreLiars]

10. Here's an interview on Democracy Now! following his first

Tower Guard Vigil in Bellingham, WA: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/12/1415232 .

And here's the website he set up. http://www.towerguard.org/