130-plus veterans arrested near White House

Special to Workers World

Veterans for Peace and their supporters and friends demonstrated Dec. 16 in front of the White House to protest the ongoing U.S.-led wars and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. While hundreds demonstrated, 131 were arrested for a civil disobedience action. One of the participants in the veteran-led protest, Army veteran and International Action Center activist Mike Gill, told Workers World:

“Daniel Ellsberg [the U.S. government official who copied and leaked the Pentagon Papers in 1971, exposing the fraudulent pretext for the war against Vietnam] got a sustained round of applause and cheers when introduced. Like the rest of us, he was handcuffed and led away from the White House by the cops. Although the main focus of the veterans was to demand that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq stop immediately and U.S. troops and mercenaries be withdrawn, tremendous emphasis was also put on supporting and defending WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, as well as accused Pentagon war crimes whistle-blower, Army Pfc. Bradley Manning. Every mention of Assange and Manning received loud cheers and applause from the veterans.

“I was able to get out 100 copies of Workers World newspaper with the front-page headline ‘No war against Korea, U.S. jets and warships are the real threat.’ This was eagerly received by the veterans and their civilian supporters.”