Veterans Join Occupy Wall Street Demonstrations

A potentially powerful new element joins Occupy Wall Street as military veterans in uniform took to the streets in New York, marching from Vietnam Veterans Plaza to Zuccotti Park Wednesday, enlisting the campaign to spotlight issues of social and economic injustice.

Veterans have "a unique opportunity to continue serving here at home through our participation in this civic movement for change,'' said Andrew Johnson, president of the New York City chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War, which organized Wednesday's march.

Veterans could take an increasingly visible presence in OWS. Some 2.3 million Americans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and almost half a million veterans last year went to the Department of Veterans Affairs for health care.

Their grievances tend to be deep and personal as they face the challenges of coming home from war. The unemployment rate for veterans, at 12.4 percent, is due to climb as thousands of military personnel flood out of the ranks into an extremely competitive job market, with the Defense Department cutting back on manpower this year and in the years ahead.

Many Iraq and Afghan war veterans have come home with mental health issues, including post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. While the VA is scrambling to provide therapy, counseling and employment support for these veterans, many veterans say such services are scarce and difficult to find.

Ruling on behalf of veterans, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last spring found the VA in violation of the constitutional rights of veterans by failing to provide efficient and effective care and benefits. The court said veterans experience "unchallengeable and interminable delays'' in service, in part because of what it said is the "VA's unchecked incompetence.'' The Justice Department is appealing the ruling.

Veterans' participation in OWS recalls the Bonus Army of 1932, when some 15,000 World War I veterans marched into Washington demanding the payment of bonuses that had been promised. Despite months of protest, Congress refused to authorize the payments and the U.S. Army charged with drawn bayonets and tear gas into the shantytown where veterans and their families had camped.

Late last month, OWS participant Scott Olsen, a retired Marine who fought in Iraq, suffered a skull fracture during a scuffle with police in Oakland, Calif.

 

Comments

[BenFromCA]

11:31 PM on 11/06/2011

This is one vet (7 years USN medical corps) on the West Coast who supports his brothers and sisters in Washington.

[rnflpimp88]

11:04 AM on 11/03/2011

I want to see DD214's its very easy for someone to buy a uniform and claim their a vet

[SailormomAZ]

09:19 AM on 11/04/2011

Did you serve? I did, and more than you know have. This country isn't like the UK though where royalty or the 1% will get down in the mud with the common folk. My oath included, "To defend this country against all enimies, both foreign and domestic."

The military is here to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Best wishes to my brothers and sisters in uniform.

[4PeasInMyPod]

07:26 PM on 11/05/2011

Thank you.

[Warren Andrews]

01:32 PM on 11/06/2011

Our Oath was not to use our service as a political stunt. There is a reason while civilian police are used to martian order and not military. The IVAW is a joke they have a long history of lying about their members. Like Scott Olsen was never retired and was kicked out for drug use.

[The Patriot]

11:03 AM on 11/03/2011

veterans also have a unique opportunity to provide the thugs in the NYPD with a target bigger than a 98 pound hipster chick.
Man up, NYPD, or JOIN THE MOVEMENT.

[Warren Andrews]

01:32 PM on 11/06/2011

Really because many people who serve in the military become Cops.

[HellBank]

09:33 AM on 11/03/2011

I can't fit into my uniform anymore. Ugh, time to eat green leafies.

[bynddrvn5]

09:06 AM on 11/03/2011

Good maybe they can help move out all of the homeless people the NYPD is moving to the OWS protest. Shady, very shady tactic: http://youtu.be/bq22_K30WxE

[one1byke]

09:00 AM on 11/03/2011

Go Vets. Condolences on the "suicide every 80 minutes" amongst your brethren.

[Logan Reams]

07:25 AM on 11/03/2011

They failed to mention that the bonuses that the Bonus Army marched on Washington for were not promised for years to come. They wanted the bonuses early.

[Sarielle Stroman]

12:45 PM on 11/03/2011

Yea. Because it was the Depression and they were starving. Duh.

[Ronald Pardue]

02:12 PM on 11/03/2011

in case you didn't know it , to become general douglas mCARTHUER led the charge on the veterans to make them leave their shanty town. just thought you might be interested.

[Tarpon22]

05:54 AM on 11/03/2011

CALLING ALL VETS

Assemble NOW!!!
You swore an OATH for life to defend the American People from Forieng and DOMESTIC.

Well Vets we have a very very serious Domestic Threat to Citiznes.

WE are al counting on you to assemble and lead us.

GO VETS

[Pushing70]

07:16 AM on 11/03/2011

You do not understand the role of the miltary - they are not allowed to confront Americans - that is the role of the FBI and Police and in some circumstances the National Guard. Discharged Vets are NOT the miltary.

[Benjie25]

09:45 AM on 11/03/2011

The primary role of the military is to protect the Constitution. Typically that means defending the country from outside enemies, but not always.

"they are not allowed to confront Americans - that is the role of the FBI and Police"

Well, the FBI isn't doing crap and the Police are the enemy. Police are suppose to be public servants, not our overlords.

Last time the American people had to take matters into their own hands, we became free from Great Britain.

[Tarpon22]

05:52 AM on 11/03/2011

Pictures of these Veterans should have been on the FRONT PAGE
Now you know how this news Comapny reports and withholds articles from the Public.

Every News Site should have these guys on the Cover.
People have stated they have never seen anything like that in the U.S. before.
Very somber and very sad.

The Media is so corrupt.

OccupytheMedia

[aznurse]

03:19 AM on 11/03/2011

this should have more coverage!

[meeljefe]

03:29 AM on 11/03/2011

the revolution will not be telivised

[giftsthatpurr]

02:18 AM on 11/03/2011

Great! We have representatives from our military joining the OWS. Kudos. I am grateful for their participation. I have just come from a thread where the majority are bashing OWS, and what amazes me is that these comments make it clear that the writers hope OWS will fail. I cannot comprehend why they wouldn't want it to succeed. I sure do. Along with the 100 veterans, I am part of the 99%!

[Justin Vail]

03:19 AM on 11/05/2011

They do not represent the military, that is the issue here. If they are veterans they are entitled to do as they wish but should recall that wearing a uniform to a demonstration is a violation of regulation. The military has no official stance on OWS and thus misrepresenting its contribution is wrong. I don't expect civilians to know or understand this, but it is the reality.

[giftsthatpurr]

03:23 AM on 11/05/2011

Okay

[Dham4201]

02:16 AM on 11/03/2011

There is no such thing as a "retired Marine", Scott Olsen IS a Marine who was shot by the Oakland Police Department

[Pushing70]

07:17 AM on 11/03/2011

You are wrong

[pennlady]

11:24 AM on 11/03/2011

Once a Marine always a Marine.

[JesusWasNicer]

02:12 AM on 11/03/2011

First they fight for our freedom. Now they have to fight to exercise that freedom at home.

If you are in the Military and against those who joined OWS think about what exactly you are fighting for. You are fighting for every American's freedom to enjoy free speech.

Why attack them on this comments page? You are free to do so, but why do so?

[Justin Vail]

03:22 AM on 11/05/2011

While serving you do not have a right to free speech. That is a luxury you give up when you enlist/commission. I can't speak for every veteran on here, but for myself I oppose their choice to misrepresent the military at OWS demonstrations. The military has no official stance on this issue and to make it appear otherwise is not only wrong, but legally against military regulation. If they are currently serving they should be punished under UCMJ but if they are a veteran where the regulation no longer applies they should still know better than to do what they are doing. There is no harm in participating in OWS and exhibiting their free speech, but to do so while wearing the uniform is not right.

[JesusWasNicer]

08:00 PM on 11/06/2011

Interesting point. It's a technicality, but valid none the less. I guess they want to make sure we realize that not all Military personnel are either ambivalent or against OWS.

But I take your point about being in uniform - they could hold a banner stating they are Vets without wearing the uniform.

[Siebenstein]

01:50 AM on 11/03/2011

This photo reminds me of pictures of vets coming home after WWII

[Kristof Liberato]

01:11 AM on 11/03/2011

It is always good to see military veterans involved in one of the most noble struggles; the struggle for a new more just, less ugly, and more free society. We thank them for their sacrifice in combat, as they risk the losing the ability to see their families and sleep at night. But we have to especially thank those who have gone to combat and returned to challenge a system that devours their humanity as well as those around the world. It's time to end the wars for petroleum. The time to tear down has long since passed. The time to build up and lift up has long since arrived.

[giftsthatpurr]

02:13 AM on 11/03/2011

F/F and badged!