Iraq Vets Prevented From Marching In Veterans Day Parade

[kpete]

The Beat Goes On At Long Beach Veterans Day Parade

KNBC-TV
updated 9:51 p.m. PT, Sat., Nov. 10, 2007

LOS ANGELES - Antiwar veterans who attempted to march in a Veterans Day Parade Saturday in Long Beach were banned by organizers who said the parade is supposed to thank veterans and not serve as a political demonstration. Slideshow: Long Beach Veterans Day Parade Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace and Military Families Speak Out were prevented from joining the annual parade down Atlantic Avenue and restricted to a nearby parking lot, officials said. Organizers said the groups were trying to push a political agenda at an event to honor veterans. Earlier this week, the Veterans Day Parade Committee rejected their applications to participate, according to the Long Beach Press- Telegram. "This is not a political event, this is a time to come and just say thank you to all veterans," said Long Beach City Councilman Val Lerch, who also was on the parade committee.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21729624/

[acmavm]

1. "This is not a political event" my ass.

[Howardx]

2. i live in long beach

glad to see this story is getting out, the city needs to be shamed into making sure nothing like this happens again.

[knitter4democracy]

3. So . . . it was better not to let vets march in a vet march?

Um . . . That's messed up thinking right there.