CHICAGO—Hundreds of U.S. military veterans and supporters from the Chicago area took to the streets of downtown on Nov. 11 in honor of Veterans Day.
However, many were also there to protest federal budget cuts they argue impact their benefits, the deployment of ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) personnel in the city and to speak out against the U.S. and its role in the genocide in Gaza and the bombing of fishing boats off the coast of Venezuela.
The demonstration was organized by a veterans group and took place at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the Chicago Riverwalk.
Many supported a road toward peace and justice rather than militarism. “We are in a time where militarism is being enacted through border imperialism,” said Arti Walker-Peddakotla with the group About Face: Veterans Against the War, one of the organizers.
“Army Reserves veteran Edgar Gonzalez, 44, of Midlothian, said he attended to show support for veterans,” reported WBEZ Chicago. “I’m just here supporting.
And with a unified voice that we veterans are saying no to Trump’s occupation, that we don’t want cuts of benefits. We don’t want cuts to the community in order to give tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires,” Mr. Gonzalez said, reported wbez.org.
Politicians, labor leaders and active duty servicemembers also attended the march. Rallies and demonstrations also took place in other cities around the country including Los Angeles and New York as part of the “Vets Say No,” protests.—The Final Call
