Skip to main content

ATTENTION: This site is no longer active but remains as an archive.

Iraq Veterans Against the War has become About Face: Veterans Against the War. About Face can be found at aboutfaceveterans.org

Iraq Veterans Against the War

Join IVAW

Donate to IVAW

  • About
    • Founding of IVAW
    • Mission, Values, and Vision
    • War in Afghanistan
    • Why We Are against the Wars
    • Resolutions
    • IVAW Timeline
    • Board of Directors
    • Advisory Committee
    • Staff
  • Events
  • Campaigns
    • Operation Recovery
    • Winter Soldier
      • Breakdown of the Military
      • Civilian Testimony
      • Corporate Pillaging
      • Cost of War at Home
      • Crisis in Veterans Healthcare
      • Future of GI Resistance
      • Gender and Sexuality
      • Legacy of GI Resistance
      • Racism and War
      • Response to DoD
      • Rules of Engagement
      • Press Coverage
      • Press Releases
    • Right to Heal
  • Members
  • Resources
    • AWOL
    • Active Duty
    • Conscientious Objector
    • Depleted Uranium
    • History of Resistance
    • IRR Reactivation
    • Lariam
    • PTSD
    • Profiles of Resisters
    • Resources for Veterans
    • Stop Loss
    • Women's Resources
    • Mesothelioma
  • Press
  • Contact
    • Press
    • Speaker Request

IVAW in Military.com story on Wisconsin protests

published by Aaron Hughes on 03/04/11 4:26pm
Posted to: 
Staff

Vets Sound Off on Wisconsin Protests

March 04, 2011 Military.com|by Bryant Jordan

Some veterans' organizations are adding their collective voices to the ongoing protests in Wisconsin, including one group that has called on Wisconsin National Guardsmen to ignore their orders if deployed in response to the demonstrations.

"Historically, we've seen how it was when the National Guard is called out" against protesters, said Aaron Hughes of Iraq Veterans Against the War, citing anti-Vietnam War demonstrations like the one at Kent State University that resulted in the deaths of four students. "I don't think that's anything that anybody wants," he said.

 

Hughes, who served in Iraq while a member of the Illinois National Guard, was in Madison with other IVAW members to support the demonstrators.

 

Protesters have been picketing the Wisconsin Capitol since Feb. 13 in response to Gov. Scott Walker's effort to end the teachers' union right to collective bargaining around anything except pay. As the union built support from other public employee unions, including police and firefighters, Walker threatened to call up the National Guard if any of them went on strike.

 

That idea was criticized by Votevets.org, an organization that works to get Iraq and Afghanistan veterans elected to public office.

 

"The National Guard is not [the governor's] personal intimidation force to be mobilized to quash political dissent," Iraq War vet and Votevets.org member Robin Eckstein of Appleton, said in a statement released by the group.

 

"The Guard is to be used in case of true emergencies and disasters, to help the people of Wisconsin, not to bully political opponents," he said. "Considering many veterans and Guard members are union members, it's even more inappropriate to use the Guard in this way. This is a very dangerous line the Governor is about to cross." 
 
Additionally, Votevets.org is promoting a letter-writing campaign, asking vets to support not only the Wisconsin workers, but those in Indiana and Ohio, where Republican governors are also pressing unions to give up collective bargaining and other benefits. In a statement, the group's interim chairman warned that veterans across the country will be affected by outcomes in these states, noting that more than 2 million vets belong to unions.
 
"For those veterans who are union members, this is a matter of having a fair wage, benefits, and decent health insurance," said Ashwin Madia, a former Marine JAG who served in Iraq. "On top of that, the same public employees under attack from right-wing governors help run veterans' homes, drive disabled veterans to their VA center for treatment, and help homeless veterans at transitional housing programs."

 

A call to the governor's office was not returned.

 

Lt. Col. Jackie Guthrie, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin National Guard, said she was aware of the IVAW's call to state guardsmen but would not comment on it.

 

"I'm not a politician. I'm a Soldier," she said. "I'm not getting into a debate of politics. We follow orders, and no such order has been given."
 
 
 
© Copyright 2011 Military.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Aaron Hughes's picture

Published in the Wisconsin State Journal

Jean Sweet: U.S. should fund social needs, not war Dear Editor: I remember the horrors of World War II when my fiance served in the army in the Pacific. He fought in the battle of Okinawa but it took 50 years before he...

A special offer from Military Families Speak Out

A special offer from Military Families Speak Out: We are pleased to offer all members and supporters of Iraq Veterans Against the War 4 free postcards that we will hand-deliver to President Obama, your two Senators and...
Aaron Hughes's picture

Call to Action - Stand in Solidarity March 19th: Madison, Wisconsin

Iraq Veterans Against the War calls on all veterans and peace organizations to mobilize to Madison, Wisconsin on March 19th, the 8th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, to stand in solidarity with workers...

International Women's Day - Statement of Solidarity with MST Survivors

International Women's Day - Statement of Solidarity with MST Survivors March is Women's History Month and we want to honor the contributions our female service members and veterans make everyday. Today, we celebrate...

IVAW in Military.com story on Wisconsin protests

Vets Sound Off on Wisconsin ProtestsMarch 04, 2011 Military.com|by Bryant JordanSome veterans' organizations are adding their collective voices to the ongoing protests in Wisconsin, including one group that has called on...

We Are Public Employees Too!

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) calls on all U.S. military service members to refuse and resist any mobilization against workers organizing to protect their basic rights. IVAW stands in solidarity with the...

Pages

  • « First
  • ‹ Prev
  • …
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • …
  • Next ›
  • Last »

Supporter Newsletter!

Donations

Make a single donation or become an IVAW sustainer by making your donation a recurring one. Please consider making your generous gift right now.
Donate Online Today!

Speaker Request

Please be advised that we get many speaker requests, but regret that we are sometimes unable to fill them.
Speaker Request

Joining IVAW

Iraq Veterans Against the War is open to Active Duty, National Guard and Reservists who have served since 09/11/2001.
Join IVAW

Navigation

  • About
  • Events
  • Campaigns
  • Committees
  • Chapters
  • Members
  • Resources
  • Contact