Photos: YouTube Screenshots
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, thousands are expected to engage in 100 “No War on Our Cities” actions to fight for democracy and demand an end to militarization of our cities. Veterans, community organizations, and labor unions are coming together to reject the attacks on immigrant, civil, and labor rights.
Veterans and their allies are taking to the streets all across the country, including:
- Washington, D.C. 12:00pmET rally at Union Station
- Chicago 12:00pmET/11:00amCT rally and march from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to Federal Plaza
- Boston 3:00pmET rally at Veteran’s Memorial Park – World War II Memorial
- New York 4:00pmET rally at City Hall Park
- Memphis 4:00pmET rally at Robert Church Park
- Los Angeles 5:00pmET/2:00pmPT rally and march from the Vietnam Memorial of Grant Park to ICE Facility
- Portland 7:00pmET/4:00pmPT rally and march from Elizabeth Caruthers Park to ICE Facility
Organized by About Face: Veterans Against the War and May Day Strong alongside Public Citizen and dozens of other community and labor organizations, the No War On Our Cities protests are part of a national “Vets Say No” mobilization to defend democracy, protect crucial public services and resist the occupation of communities. These actions build on momentum from Town Halls led by veterans to hold members of Congress accountable to fund vital public services and confront the growing misuse of the National Guard to police and militarize our own communities
National Guard members and military veterans, union members and immigrant rights activists will host Veteran’s Day rallies and marches and speak out against the illegal ICE attacks in our cities, life-threatening federal funding cuts, and the threats of military occupation. Instead of tax breaks on billionaires and cuts to SNAP and Medicaid to fund the harmful militarization of our cities, organizers call on their local, state and federal representatives to tax the rich and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare, housing, education and vital services that working families deserve.
No War on Our Cities protests are centered in major U.S. cities that Trump has threatened with military occupation including New York, D.C., Los Angeles, Portland, Chicago, Memphis and Boston. Solidarity Actions will be held in more than 90 cities nationwide.
WHO: About Face, May Day Strong, and Public Citizen
WHAT: No War On Our Citiesprotests featuring veterans and community leaders
WHEN: Today (November 11)
WHERE: New York, D.C., Los Angeles, Portland, Chicago, Memphis, Boston and solidarity actions across the country.
“I enlisted in the Army because I thought it would be an act of service to my country. Today, I realize the most important act of service I can do is speak up on behalf of families across this country who are living in fear. Fear of ICE and Trump’s cruel deportation policy. Fear of cuts to vital services and the inability to feed their children. Fear of seeing armed troops patrol their neighborhoods. Fear of the erosion of our freedoms and the very real threat of fascism.” Thomas Keppen, Army Veteran in New York City
“Post-9/11 veterans can see how the military is being turned into a bullying tool for the federal government, whether that’s being ordered to occupy American cities, murder people on boats in South America and the Caribbean, or protect federal law enforcement from incoming sandwiches. Our generation of veterans owes it to current servicemembers, to the public, and to ourselves to speak out against our military being used as hired guns in the federal government’s criminal racket.” Nick Place, Marine Corps Veteran in Washington, DC
“I’m a veteran calling for our electeds to use their power and mandate to take proactive measures, beyond lawsuits, to protect our communities from ICE, Federal Troops, and National Guard deployments. I am also standing with the Caribbean nations under threat from invasion and the American troops being sent there for no reason other than rich men’s greed.” Doug Leung, Army Veteran in Minneapolis-St. Paul
“I joined the Army to get training and be able to add to my community after experiencing a layoff. I see now that gatekeeping affordable access to education, healthcare, and housing is a strategy to funnel Americans into supporting endless wars and violence for billionaire profits. These oligarchs have now decided to use the National Guard and unqualified ICE agents armed and paid for by our own military tactics and equipment to criminalize populations that they deem as undesirable within our borders. It is clear that my duty today is to defend Americans using their 1st Amendment rights and build power for our people to create an affordable path to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Ariel Basora, Army Veteran in Chicago.
