“I strongly encourage everyone to support March Forward! and the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans by helping them get to Washington, D.C. for the historic and important civil resistance at the White House on December 16. This next generation of young veterans is the generation that can stop these wars.”
—Ron Kovic: Vietnam War veteran, author of Born on the Fourth of July
 Ron Kovic and Michael Prysner lead anti-war march in Los Angeles. |
Dear supporter of the ANSWER Coalition,
Nearly eight years ago, I deployed to Iraq at age 19. They told me it was a “just” and “necessary” war. My firsthand experience revealed this to be a lie. I was fighting a war for profit, for Big Oil and Wall Street, for the rich.
Like so many other veterans, I became inspired by the hundreds of thousands of people heroically fighting against the war here at home, and I joined the ANSWER Coalition and the anti-war movement.
I am now working with other veterans to stop the Pentagon's wars. Our movement is growing stronger. More veterans and active-duty GIs are joining our ranks.
Veterans for Peace has initiated a veterans-led civil resistance at the White House on Dec. 16 that is being supported by the ANSWER Coalition, March Forward! and many other organizations.
Please join us at 10am for a rally in Lafayette Park followed by a march to the White House for civil resistance. The details of this important action can be found on the ANSWER Coalition homepage.
Today, we are at a critical point in this struggle, as the U.S. war machine continues to indefinitely occupy Iraq, vastly expands the war in Afghanistan, bombs Pakistan and Yemen and steps up threats of war against Iran and North Korea.
The U.S. war drive will not stop unless we force it to stop. As veterans and active duty GIs, we see it as our duty to be at the forefront of that fight.
This is why we are putting our bodies on the line on Dec. 16. If we do not stand up and fight back, more young people will be deployed to kill and be killed; to be maimed, traumatized and subjected to criminally substandard mental health services upon return.
Our movement, which is proudly part of the broader anti-war struggle, knows that change doesn’t come from the top. It comes from a fighting movement from below. Opposition to the wars must come from all of those affected—students, working people, military families and, in particular, the veterans and GIs. Instead of fighting for empire, we must intensify our fight against the U.S. Empire.
We are taking a stand on Dec. 16, and we ask you to help make it happen. Whether you are a veteran, GI or an anti-war organizer, we urge you to be there on Dec. 16.
We also ask you to please make a donation to help send as many young Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans as possible to Washington, D.C. for the Dec. 16 action. Your generosity will allow young veterans to participate who cannot otherwise afford it.
More veterans and GIs are standing up every day. With your support, we can reach and inspire even more to join us in the struggle against these criminal wars and to build a better, more just world.
Thank you for your support.
Michael Prysner
Co-founder, March Forward!
