Veterans speak out against war on Veterans Day

Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam war veterans call for immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops, demand the fulfillment of right to heal

 

CHICAGO, IL – Iraq Veterans Against the War and Vietnam Veterans Against the War – wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam – gathered yesterday with supporters to call for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops, and investment in the needs of soldiers coming home who deserve the right to heal.

The Veterans Day ceremony and press conference by anti-war veterans was held Sunday, November 11, 2012 at the Vietnam War Memorial at Wacker and Wabash.

“After returning from our mission to win the hearts and minds of the people of Afghanistan, to defeat terrorism and establish peace and security, I realized that what we accomplished was the opposite, each day the country has become more unstable, more corrupt, more violent and may possibly have fueled more terrorism and has not made our home country any safer.  We are here to call for the immediate withdrawal of our forces from Afghanistan.  It’s time for the people to heal from 11 years of war, especially our service members who sacrificed so much for this country.  Our veterans deserve the right to heal,” says Alejandro Villatoro of Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Numerous veterans spoke out on their experiences in the wars and their ongoing struggle to heal from the psychological wounds of war. Iraq Veterans Against the War has been engaged in a vigorous campaign for the Right to Heal that has included efforts around the country ranging fighting for more mental health resources at Ft. Hood to local fights in Chicago for better staffing at the VA hospital. Veterans will talk both about the misguided and devastating nature of U.S. policies as well as the effects on those who are called on to carry out those policies.