Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Benutzer:Shi Annan/Veterans for Peace

2008-11-04T21:09:04Z

163.231.6.68: /* External links */

[[Image:Vfp logo 100.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Veterans for Peace logo]]
'''Veterans For Peace''' is an [[United States|American]] organization founded in [[1985]]. Made up of male and female veterans of [[World War II]], the [[Korean War]], the [[Vietnam War]], the [[Gulf War]], and other conflicts, as well as peacetime veterans, the group works to promote alternatives to [[war]].

The stated objective of the group is as follows:

:''We draw on our personal experiences and perspectives gained as veterans to raise public awareness of the true costs and consequences of [[militarism]] and war - and to seek peaceful, effective alternatives."[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/about.htm]''

Veterans For Peace was founded as a non-profit [[501(c)#501(c)(3)|501(c)(3)]] educational organization and recognized as a [[United Nations]] [[Non-governmental organization]] (NGO) in 1990, where it has represented since at least 2003. Chapters and members are active in communities throughout the United States and [[Puerto Rico]]. National conventions are held annually and members communicate through quarterly newsletters as well as daily list-serve news, online discussions groups as well as the national and chapter websites. Veterans for Peace has a national office in [[St. Louis, Missouri|Saint Louis]], [[Missouri]] and members across the country, both organized in chapters and at-large.

At least one unrelated [[anti-war]] group from the Vietnam War era had a similar name: "Veterans for Peace in Viet-Nam" participated in a number of demonstrations in 1967.[http://www.jofreeman.com/photos/KingAtChicago03.html][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Veterans_Against_the_War#History]. Yet another group with a similar name may also have existed at the time of the Korean War.

==Anti-war activities==
[[Image:Gold Star Families.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Gold Star families and Veterans for Peace bring "Impeachment Tour" bus to [[Crawford, Texas|Crawford]], [[Texas]], August, 2005]] Starting in late 2003 Veterans for Peace became a major participant of [[protests against the Iraq War]].

In 2004, a Southern California chapters of Veterans For Peace began installing [[Arlington West]], a weekly "temporary cemetery" in tribute to those killed in the war in Iraq, each Sunday in [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]] and [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], [[California]].

==2005 Dallas Convention and Camp Casey==
In August 2005, Veterans For Peace provided support to [[Cindy Sheehan]], the mother of a [[US Army]] soldier killed in [[Iraq]] who embarked on an extended anti-war vigil near the ranch of [[US President]] [[George W. Bush]] in [[Crawford, Texas|Crawford]], [[Texas]].[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/convention05/michael_sheehan.htm] In May 2004, one month after the death of her son, Casey, Sheehan had first learned of the organization after seeing coverage of the Arlington West display on television. On August 5, 2005 she spoke at the organization's 20th annual convention in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], just a day before traveling to Crawford to begin her vigil. Members traveled from California to install an Arlington West display at "Camp Casey," the site of Sheehan's protest.

== 2006 March == 

In March 2006, Veterans For Peace and coalition partners [http://www.ivaw.net Iraq Veterans Against the War], [http://www.gsfp.org Gold Star Families for Peace], and [http://www.mfso.org Military Families Speak Out] joined with [[Hurrican Katrina|Hurricane Katrina]] survivors and the relief and rebuilding organizations [http://www.sosafterkatrina.org/mission_statement.html Savin' Ourselves After Katrina], [http://commongroundrelief.org/ Common Ground Collective], and [http://bayoulibertyrelief.org/ Bayou Liberty Relief], as well as a number of [[African-American]] churches along the [[Gulf Coast]] on a march from [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], [[Alabama]] to [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]].

Originally titled [http://vetgulfmarch.org/ the Veterans and Survivors March], it quickly took on the moniker of Walkin' to New Orleans, in tribute to the famous song by [[Fats Domino]]. The marchers traveled the Gulf Coast advocating an immediate end to the war in Iraq and redirection of funds to help rebuild areas Katrina damaged not only in [http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=katrina+damage&btnG=Search New Orleans], but also in [http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=katrina+damage+mississippi&btnG=Search Mississippi], and [http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=katrina+damage+alabama&btnG=Search Alabama]. The march and the events surrounding it have inspired a plethora of [http://www.google.com/search?q=veterans+and+survivors+march&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official websites] and [http://homepage.mac.com/union_county_labor/Veterans_for_Peace/PhotoAlbum126.html images] on the web.

Currently, the [[Veterans Truth Project]] is working to tell the stories of soldiers returning from the Iraq war to inform the public and connect veterans with their communities.

== 2008 July ==

According to Vets for Peace - Peace Action Network, "The military has a clear and dangerous presence at Milwaukee's Summerfest" (June 26 - July 6, 2008). "One exhibit is especially offensive: kids as young as 13 years old can aim automatic weapons from atop a humvee at a large screen to virtually kill people."

==Issues==
Veterans for Peace takes positions on a number of issues.

===War in Iraq===
When the U.S. government threatened invasion, VFP conducted public forums, met with elected representatives and participated in marches to express its opposition. As the war began, VFP gathered in Washington, DC, with other veterans groups for Operation Dire Distress. The organization participated in the [[Bring Them Home Now Tour|Bring Them Home Now]] campaign and supports the [[Iraq Veterans Against the War]]. Local chapters continue to conduct educational forums, demonstrations and ongoing Iraq memorial displays, such as [[Arlington West]] (portrayed in the documentary ''[[Arlington West: The Film]]''), to remember the growing human cost of the war, to end the [[military occupation|occupation]] and to bring U.S. troops home.

===Veteran's affairs===
Members and chapters actively participate in efforts to save [[Veterans Administration|VA]] healthcare and defend veterans rights; to provide counseling through the GI Rights Hotline to active duty military needing assistance; and providing alternative information to counter military recruiters in the schools.

===Patriot Act===
Veterans for Peace seeks to protect civil liberties that they believe are threatened by the [[Patriot Act]] and other similar legislation.

===War on Terror===
In the immediate aftermath of [[9/11]], VFP called for restraint while agreeing that: "...the hijacked airplane attacks on the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon a grievous assault upon innocence; a cause for outrage, sadness and disbelief....At this critical point, we believe it is essential to recognize that terrorists do not represent, nor are representative, of any community or country as a whole. We must not allow terrorism the power to create fear, suspicion and hatred -- or to direct our nation's domestic and foreign policies. We must not surrender to the cycle of retaliatory violence these angry people would push us into. Instead, we must come together and support each other, with faith and trust." [http://www.veteransforpeace.org/press/response911.htm]

===Impeachment of George Bush===
VFP has called for the [[impeachment]] of [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]]. In a letter sent to each member of the U.S. [[United States House of Representatives|House]] and [[United States Senate|Senate]], Veterans For Peace stated that "this administration's war on Iraq, in addition to being increasingly unpopular among Americans, is an unmistakable violation of our Constitution and federal law which you have sworn to uphold. In our system, the remedy for such high crimes is clear: this administration must be impeached."

===Agent Orange===
VFP works with other Vietnam veterans, Vietnamese-Americans, and the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign<ref>[http://www.vn-agentorange.org/index.html Vietnam Agent Orange Campaign | Home]</ref> to secure justice and compensation for the the estimated 3 million Vietamese whose health has been damaged by the 19 million gallons of poisoned [[Agent Orange]] and other herbicides that were sprayed over more than 1/8 of the land of southern Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the American portion of the Vietnam War. In 2005, the Vietnamese Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA)<ref>[http://www.vava.org.vn/ VAVA]</ref> sued 36 U.S. chemical companies for supplying the dioxin-laced herbicides to the Department of Defense. The suit was dismissed in Federal District court in 2007 and the reinstatement appeal to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit]] has not been successful. The suit is likely to head to the Supreme Court in 2009. VFP supports this activity because it wishes to promote reconciliation and friendship between the United States and Vietnam governments and people, and help heal the wounds of war.

===School of the Americas===
Each year VFP members from across the country go to [[Fort Benning]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], to demonstrate for the closing of the Army's infamous [[Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation|School of the Americas]], a training center for thousands of soldiers from [[Latin America]]n countries which VFP identifies as having "long records of [[human rights]] abuses."

===Korea===
After revelations of the [[No Gun Ri tragedy|massacres of civilians]] by U.S. soldiers during the [[Korean War]], VFP sent several fact-finding delegations to investigate these allegations and bring the hidden history of that war before the public [http://www.veteransforpeace.org/about_vfp.vp.html]. They continue to work for an end to that conflict through their Korea Peace Campaign.

===Vieques===
The VFP has [[Navy-Vieques protests|actively supported the end]] of the U.S. Navy's use of the [[island]]-[[municipality]] of [[Vieques, Puerto Rico]] for bombing target practice. VFP continues to support current efforts for cleaning up the environment.

===Colombia===
VFP sent fact-finding delegations to [[Colombia]] and educated Americans about US military involvement, the murder of union leaders by [[Paramilitary|para-militaries]] and other human rights abuses, including the use of harmful chemical defoliants in the [[War on Drugs]].

===Central America===
In the 1980s, VFP opposed US-sponsored wars in Central America. VFP regularly sends [[Election monitoring|election observers]] to [[Guatemala]], [[Honduras]], [[Nicaragua]] and [[El Salvador]] [http://www.veteransforpeace.org/about_vfp.vp.html].


==See also==

*[[School of the Americas]]
*[[Arlington West]]
*[[Cindy Sheehan]]
*[[Ron Kovic]]
*[[Brian Willson]]
*[[Vietnam Veterans Against the War]]
*[[Iraq Veterans Against the War]]

== References ==

<references/>

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/ Veterans for Peace official site]

*[http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/02/1577030.php Video clip] of Vietnam vet and anti-war activist Jaime Vasquez speaking for VFP
*[http://www.archive.org/details/jmoon Video clip] of VFP member Jason Moon talking about his experience in Iraq
*[http://www.soaw.org/new SOA Watch] (School of the Americas watchdog site)
*[http://www.mccormack.umb.edu/nejpp/articles/19_1/12.PAtwood179-200.pdf War IS The American Way]
*[http://www.vfpsb.org Veterans for Peace Santa Barbara Chapter]
*[http://www.vn-agentorange.org/index.html/Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign]
*[http://www.mitchwaldman.homestead.com/WoundsofWar.html/ Wounds of War: Poets for Peace (anthology)]
{{anti-war}}

[[Category:1985 establishments]]
[[Category:Peace organizations]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Veterans' organizations opposed to the Iraq war]]
[[Category:American veterans' organizations]]

Benutzer:Shi Annan/Veterans for Peace

2008-11-04T21:08:46Z

163.231.6.68: /* External links */

[[Image:Vfp logo 100.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Veterans for Peace logo]]
'''Veterans For Peace''' is an [[United States|American]] organization founded in [[1985]]. Made up of male and female veterans of [[World War II]], the [[Korean War]], the [[Vietnam War]], the [[Gulf War]], and other conflicts, as well as peacetime veterans, the group works to promote alternatives to [[war]].

The stated objective of the group is as follows:

:''We draw on our personal experiences and perspectives gained as veterans to raise public awareness of the true costs and consequences of [[militarism]] and war - and to seek peaceful, effective alternatives."[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/about.htm]''

Veterans For Peace was founded as a non-profit [[501(c)#501(c)(3)|501(c)(3)]] educational organization and recognized as a [[United Nations]] [[Non-governmental organization]] (NGO) in 1990, where it has represented since at least 2003. Chapters and members are active in communities throughout the United States and [[Puerto Rico]]. National conventions are held annually and members communicate through quarterly newsletters as well as daily list-serve news, online discussions groups as well as the national and chapter websites. Veterans for Peace has a national office in [[St. Louis, Missouri|Saint Louis]], [[Missouri]] and members across the country, both organized in chapters and at-large.

At least one unrelated [[anti-war]] group from the Vietnam War era had a similar name: "Veterans for Peace in Viet-Nam" participated in a number of demonstrations in 1967.[http://www.jofreeman.com/photos/KingAtChicago03.html][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Veterans_Against_the_War#History]. Yet another group with a similar name may also have existed at the time of the Korean War.

==Anti-war activities==
[[Image:Gold Star Families.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Gold Star families and Veterans for Peace bring "Impeachment Tour" bus to [[Crawford, Texas|Crawford]], [[Texas]], August, 2005]] Starting in late 2003 Veterans for Peace became a major participant of [[protests against the Iraq War]].

In 2004, a Southern California chapters of Veterans For Peace began installing [[Arlington West]], a weekly "temporary cemetery" in tribute to those killed in the war in Iraq, each Sunday in [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]] and [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], [[California]].

==2005 Dallas Convention and Camp Casey==
In August 2005, Veterans For Peace provided support to [[Cindy Sheehan]], the mother of a [[US Army]] soldier killed in [[Iraq]] who embarked on an extended anti-war vigil near the ranch of [[US President]] [[George W. Bush]] in [[Crawford, Texas|Crawford]], [[Texas]].[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/convention05/michael_sheehan.htm] In May 2004, one month after the death of her son, Casey, Sheehan had first learned of the organization after seeing coverage of the Arlington West display on television. On August 5, 2005 she spoke at the organization's 20th annual convention in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], just a day before traveling to Crawford to begin her vigil. Members traveled from California to install an Arlington West display at "Camp Casey," the site of Sheehan's protest.

== 2006 March == 

In March 2006, Veterans For Peace and coalition partners [http://www.ivaw.net Iraq Veterans Against the War], [http://www.gsfp.org Gold Star Families for Peace], and [http://www.mfso.org Military Families Speak Out] joined with [[Hurrican Katrina|Hurricane Katrina]] survivors and the relief and rebuilding organizations [http://www.sosafterkatrina.org/mission_statement.html Savin' Ourselves After Katrina], [http://commongroundrelief.org/ Common Ground Collective], and [http://bayoulibertyrelief.org/ Bayou Liberty Relief], as well as a number of [[African-American]] churches along the [[Gulf Coast]] on a march from [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], [[Alabama]] to [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]].

Originally titled [http://vetgulfmarch.org/ the Veterans and Survivors March], it quickly took on the moniker of Walkin' to New Orleans, in tribute to the famous song by [[Fats Domino]]. The marchers traveled the Gulf Coast advocating an immediate end to the war in Iraq and redirection of funds to help rebuild areas Katrina damaged not only in [http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=katrina+damage&btnG=Search New Orleans], but also in [http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=katrina+damage+mississippi&btnG=Search Mississippi], and [http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=katrina+damage+alabama&btnG=Search Alabama]. The march and the events surrounding it have inspired a plethora of [http://www.google.com/search?q=veterans+and+survivors+march&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official websites] and [http://homepage.mac.com/union_county_labor/Veterans_for_Peace/PhotoAlbum126.html images] on the web.

Currently, the [[Veterans Truth Project]] is working to tell the stories of soldiers returning from the Iraq war to inform the public and connect veterans with their communities.

== 2008 July ==

According to Vets for Peace - Peace Action Network, "The military has a clear and dangerous presence at Milwaukee's Summerfest" (June 26 - July 6, 2008). "One exhibit is especially offensive: kids as young as 13 years old can aim automatic weapons from atop a humvee at a large screen to virtually kill people."

==Issues==
Veterans for Peace takes positions on a number of issues.

===War in Iraq===
When the U.S. government threatened invasion, VFP conducted public forums, met with elected representatives and participated in marches to express its opposition. As the war began, VFP gathered in Washington, DC, with other veterans groups for Operation Dire Distress. The organization participated in the [[Bring Them Home Now Tour|Bring Them Home Now]] campaign and supports the [[Iraq Veterans Against the War]]. Local chapters continue to conduct educational forums, demonstrations and ongoing Iraq memorial displays, such as [[Arlington West]] (portrayed in the documentary ''[[Arlington West: The Film]]''), to remember the growing human cost of the war, to end the [[military occupation|occupation]] and to bring U.S. troops home.

===Veteran's affairs===
Members and chapters actively participate in efforts to save [[Veterans Administration|VA]] healthcare and defend veterans rights; to provide counseling through the GI Rights Hotline to active duty military needing assistance; and providing alternative information to counter military recruiters in the schools.

===Patriot Act===
Veterans for Peace seeks to protect civil liberties that they believe are threatened by the [[Patriot Act]] and other similar legislation.

===War on Terror===
In the immediate aftermath of [[9/11]], VFP called for restraint while agreeing that: "...the hijacked airplane attacks on the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon a grievous assault upon innocence; a cause for outrage, sadness and disbelief....At this critical point, we believe it is essential to recognize that terrorists do not represent, nor are representative, of any community or country as a whole. We must not allow terrorism the power to create fear, suspicion and hatred -- or to direct our nation's domestic and foreign policies. We must not surrender to the cycle of retaliatory violence these angry people would push us into. Instead, we must come together and support each other, with faith and trust." [http://www.veteransforpeace.org/press/response911.htm]

===Impeachment of George Bush===
VFP has called for the [[impeachment]] of [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]]. In a letter sent to each member of the U.S. [[United States House of Representatives|House]] and [[United States Senate|Senate]], Veterans For Peace stated that "this administration's war on Iraq, in addition to being increasingly unpopular among Americans, is an unmistakable violation of our Constitution and federal law which you have sworn to uphold. In our system, the remedy for such high crimes is clear: this administration must be impeached."

===Agent Orange===
VFP works with other Vietnam veterans, Vietnamese-Americans, and the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign<ref>[http://www.vn-agentorange.org/index.html Vietnam Agent Orange Campaign | Home]</ref> to secure justice and compensation for the the estimated 3 million Vietamese whose health has been damaged by the 19 million gallons of poisoned [[Agent Orange]] and other herbicides that were sprayed over more than 1/8 of the land of southern Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the American portion of the Vietnam War. In 2005, the Vietnamese Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA)<ref>[http://www.vava.org.vn/ VAVA]</ref> sued 36 U.S. chemical companies for supplying the dioxin-laced herbicides to the Department of Defense. The suit was dismissed in Federal District court in 2007 and the reinstatement appeal to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit]] has not been successful. The suit is likely to head to the Supreme Court in 2009. VFP supports this activity because it wishes to promote reconciliation and friendship between the United States and Vietnam governments and people, and help heal the wounds of war.

===School of the Americas===
Each year VFP members from across the country go to [[Fort Benning]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], to demonstrate for the closing of the Army's infamous [[Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation|School of the Americas]], a training center for thousands of soldiers from [[Latin America]]n countries which VFP identifies as having "long records of [[human rights]] abuses."

===Korea===
After revelations of the [[No Gun Ri tragedy|massacres of civilians]] by U.S. soldiers during the [[Korean War]], VFP sent several fact-finding delegations to investigate these allegations and bring the hidden history of that war before the public [http://www.veteransforpeace.org/about_vfp.vp.html]. They continue to work for an end to that conflict through their Korea Peace Campaign.

===Vieques===
The VFP has [[Navy-Vieques protests|actively supported the end]] of the U.S. Navy's use of the [[island]]-[[municipality]] of [[Vieques, Puerto Rico]] for bombing target practice. VFP continues to support current efforts for cleaning up the environment.

===Colombia===
VFP sent fact-finding delegations to [[Colombia]] and educated Americans about US military involvement, the murder of union leaders by [[Paramilitary|para-militaries]] and other human rights abuses, including the use of harmful chemical defoliants in the [[War on Drugs]].

===Central America===
In the 1980s, VFP opposed US-sponsored wars in Central America. VFP regularly sends [[Election monitoring|election observers]] to [[Guatemala]], [[Honduras]], [[Nicaragua]] and [[El Salvador]] [http://www.veteransforpeace.org/about_vfp.vp.html].


==See also==

*[[School of the Americas]]
*[[Arlington West]]
*[[Cindy Sheehan]]
*[[Ron Kovic]]
*[[Brian Willson]]
*[[Vietnam Veterans Against the War]]
*[[Iraq Veterans Against the War]]

== References ==

<references/>

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/ Veterans for Peace official site]

*[http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/02/1577030.php Video clip] of Vietnam vet and anti-war activist Jaime Vasquez speaking for VFP
*[http://www.archive.org/details/jmoon Video clip] of VFP member Jason Moon talking about his experience in Iraq
*[http://www.soaw.org/new SOA Watch] (School of the Americas watchdog site)
*[http://www.mccormack.umb.edu/nejpp/articles/19_1/12.PAtwood179-200.pdf War IS The American Way]
*[http://www.vfpsb.org Veterans for Peace Santa Barbara Chapter]
*[http://www.vn-agentorange.org/index.html/Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign]
*[http://www.mitchwaldman.homestead.com/WoundsofWar.html/ Wounds of War: Poets for Peace (anthology]
{{anti-war}}

[[Category:1985 establishments]]
[[Category:Peace organizations]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Veterans' organizations opposed to the Iraq war]]
[[Category:American veterans' organizations]]

Benutzer:Shi Annan/Veterans for Peace

2008-11-04T21:08:16Z

163.231.6.68: /* External links */

[[Image:Vfp logo 100.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Veterans for Peace logo]]
'''Veterans For Peace''' is an [[United States|American]] organization founded in [[1985]]. Made up of male and female veterans of [[World War II]], the [[Korean War]], the [[Vietnam War]], the [[Gulf War]], and other conflicts, as well as peacetime veterans, the group works to promote alternatives to [[war]].

The stated objective of the group is as follows:

:''We draw on our personal experiences and perspectives gained as veterans to raise public awareness of the true costs and consequences of [[militarism]] and war - and to seek peaceful, effective alternatives."[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/about.htm]''

Veterans For Peace was founded as a non-profit [[501(c)#501(c)(3)|501(c)(3)]] educational organization and recognized as a [[United Nations]] [[Non-governmental organization]] (NGO) in 1990, where it has represented since at least 2003. Chapters and members are active in communities throughout the United States and [[Puerto Rico]]. National conventions are held annually and members communicate through quarterly newsletters as well as daily list-serve news, online discussions groups as well as the national and chapter websites. Veterans for Peace has a national office in [[St. Louis, Missouri|Saint Louis]], [[Missouri]] and members across the country, both organized in chapters and at-large.

At least one unrelated [[anti-war]] group from the Vietnam War era had a similar name: "Veterans for Peace in Viet-Nam" participated in a number of demonstrations in 1967.[http://www.jofreeman.com/photos/KingAtChicago03.html][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Veterans_Against_the_War#History]. Yet another group with a similar name may also have existed at the time of the Korean War.

==Anti-war activities==
[[Image:Gold Star Families.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Gold Star families and Veterans for Peace bring "Impeachment Tour" bus to [[Crawford, Texas|Crawford]], [[Texas]], August, 2005]] Starting in late 2003 Veterans for Peace became a major participant of [[protests against the Iraq War]].

In 2004, a Southern California chapters of Veterans For Peace began installing [[Arlington West]], a weekly "temporary cemetery" in tribute to those killed in the war in Iraq, each Sunday in [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]] and [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], [[California]].

==2005 Dallas Convention and Camp Casey==
In August 2005, Veterans For Peace provided support to [[Cindy Sheehan]], the mother of a [[US Army]] soldier killed in [[Iraq]] who embarked on an extended anti-war vigil near the ranch of [[US President]] [[George W. Bush]] in [[Crawford, Texas|Crawford]], [[Texas]].[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/convention05/michael_sheehan.htm] In May 2004, one month after the death of her son, Casey, Sheehan had first learned of the organization after seeing coverage of the Arlington West display on television. On August 5, 2005 she spoke at the organization's 20th annual convention in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], just a day before traveling to Crawford to begin her vigil. Members traveled from California to install an Arlington West display at "Camp Casey," the site of Sheehan's protest.

== 2006 March == 

In March 2006, Veterans For Peace and coalition partners [http://www.ivaw.net Iraq Veterans Against the War], [http://www.gsfp.org Gold Star Families for Peace], and [http://www.mfso.org Military Families Speak Out] joined with [[Hurrican Katrina|Hurricane Katrina]] survivors and the relief and rebuilding organizations [http://www.sosafterkatrina.org/mission_statement.html Savin' Ourselves After Katrina], [http://commongroundrelief.org/ Common Ground Collective], and [http://bayoulibertyrelief.org/ Bayou Liberty Relief], as well as a number of [[African-American]] churches along the [[Gulf Coast]] on a march from [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], [[Alabama]] to [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]].

Originally titled [http://vetgulfmarch.org/ the Veterans and Survivors March], it quickly took on the moniker of Walkin' to New Orleans, in tribute to the famous song by [[Fats Domino]]. The marchers traveled the Gulf Coast advocating an immediate end to the war in Iraq and redirection of funds to help rebuild areas Katrina damaged not only in [http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=katrina+damage&btnG=Search New Orleans], but also in [http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=katrina+damage+mississippi&btnG=Search Mississippi], and [http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=katrina+damage+alabama&btnG=Search Alabama]. The march and the events surrounding it have inspired a plethora of [http://www.google.com/search?q=veterans+and+survivors+march&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official websites] and [http://homepage.mac.com/union_county_labor/Veterans_for_Peace/PhotoAlbum126.html images] on the web.

Currently, the [[Veterans Truth Project]] is working to tell the stories of soldiers returning from the Iraq war to inform the public and connect veterans with their communities.

== 2008 July ==

According to Vets for Peace - Peace Action Network, "The military has a clear and dangerous presence at Milwaukee's Summerfest" (June 26 - July 6, 2008). "One exhibit is especially offensive: kids as young as 13 years old can aim automatic weapons from atop a humvee at a large screen to virtually kill people."

==Issues==
Veterans for Peace takes positions on a number of issues.

===War in Iraq===
When the U.S. government threatened invasion, VFP conducted public forums, met with elected representatives and participated in marches to express its opposition. As the war began, VFP gathered in Washington, DC, with other veterans groups for Operation Dire Distress. The organization participated in the [[Bring Them Home Now Tour|Bring Them Home Now]] campaign and supports the [[Iraq Veterans Against the War]]. Local chapters continue to conduct educational forums, demonstrations and ongoing Iraq memorial displays, such as [[Arlington West]] (portrayed in the documentary ''[[Arlington West: The Film]]''), to remember the growing human cost of the war, to end the [[military occupation|occupation]] and to bring U.S. troops home.

===Veteran's affairs===
Members and chapters actively participate in efforts to save [[Veterans Administration|VA]] healthcare and defend veterans rights; to provide counseling through the GI Rights Hotline to active duty military needing assistance; and providing alternative information to counter military recruiters in the schools.

===Patriot Act===
Veterans for Peace seeks to protect civil liberties that they believe are threatened by the [[Patriot Act]] and other similar legislation.

===War on Terror===
In the immediate aftermath of [[9/11]], VFP called for restraint while agreeing that: "...the hijacked airplane attacks on the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon a grievous assault upon innocence; a cause for outrage, sadness and disbelief....At this critical point, we believe it is essential to recognize that terrorists do not represent, nor are representative, of any community or country as a whole. We must not allow terrorism the power to create fear, suspicion and hatred -- or to direct our nation's domestic and foreign policies. We must not surrender to the cycle of retaliatory violence these angry people would push us into. Instead, we must come together and support each other, with faith and trust." [http://www.veteransforpeace.org/press/response911.htm]

===Impeachment of George Bush===
VFP has called for the [[impeachment]] of [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]]. In a letter sent to each member of the U.S. [[United States House of Representatives|House]] and [[United States Senate|Senate]], Veterans For Peace stated that "this administration's war on Iraq, in addition to being increasingly unpopular among Americans, is an unmistakable violation of our Constitution and federal law which you have sworn to uphold. In our system, the remedy for such high crimes is clear: this administration must be impeached."

===Agent Orange===
VFP works with other Vietnam veterans, Vietnamese-Americans, and the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign<ref>[http://www.vn-agentorange.org/index.html Vietnam Agent Orange Campaign | Home]</ref> to secure justice and compensation for the the estimated 3 million Vietamese whose health has been damaged by the 19 million gallons of poisoned [[Agent Orange]] and other herbicides that were sprayed over more than 1/8 of the land of southern Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the American portion of the Vietnam War. In 2005, the Vietnamese Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA)<ref>[http://www.vava.org.vn/ VAVA]</ref> sued 36 U.S. chemical companies for supplying the dioxin-laced herbicides to the Department of Defense. The suit was dismissed in Federal District court in 2007 and the reinstatement appeal to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit]] has not been successful. The suit is likely to head to the Supreme Court in 2009. VFP supports this activity because it wishes to promote reconciliation and friendship between the United States and Vietnam governments and people, and help heal the wounds of war.

===School of the Americas===
Each year VFP members from across the country go to [[Fort Benning]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], to demonstrate for the closing of the Army's infamous [[Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation|School of the Americas]], a training center for thousands of soldiers from [[Latin America]]n countries which VFP identifies as having "long records of [[human rights]] abuses."

===Korea===
After revelations of the [[No Gun Ri tragedy|massacres of civilians]] by U.S. soldiers during the [[Korean War]], VFP sent several fact-finding delegations to investigate these allegations and bring the hidden history of that war before the public [http://www.veteransforpeace.org/about_vfp.vp.html]. They continue to work for an end to that conflict through their Korea Peace Campaign.

===Vieques===
The VFP has [[Navy-Vieques protests|actively supported the end]] of the U.S. Navy's use of the [[island]]-[[municipality]] of [[Vieques, Puerto Rico]] for bombing target practice. VFP continues to support current efforts for cleaning up the environment.

===Colombia===
VFP sent fact-finding delegations to [[Colombia]] and educated Americans about US military involvement, the murder of union leaders by [[Paramilitary|para-militaries]] and other human rights abuses, including the use of harmful chemical defoliants in the [[War on Drugs]].

===Central America===
In the 1980s, VFP opposed US-sponsored wars in Central America. VFP regularly sends [[Election monitoring|election observers]] to [[Guatemala]], [[Honduras]], [[Nicaragua]] and [[El Salvador]] [http://www.veteransforpeace.org/about_vfp.vp.html].


==See also==

*[[School of the Americas]]
*[[Arlington West]]
*[[Cindy Sheehan]]
*[[Ron Kovic]]
*[[Brian Willson]]
*[[Vietnam Veterans Against the War]]
*[[Iraq Veterans Against the War]]

== References ==

<references/>

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/ Veterans for Peace official site]

*[http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/02/1577030.php Video clip] of Vietnam vet and anti-war activist Jaime Vasquez speaking for VFP
*[http://www.archive.org/details/jmoon Video clip] of VFP member Jason Moon talking about his experience in Iraq
*[http://www.soaw.org/new SOA Watch] (School of the Americas watchdog site)
*[http://www.mccormack.umb.edu/nejpp/articles/19_1/12.PAtwood179-200.pdf War IS The American Way]
*[http://www.vfpsb.org Veterans for Peace Santa Barbara Chapter]
*[http://www.vn-agentorange.org/index.html/Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign]
*[http://www.mitchwaldman.homestead.com/WoundsofWar.html/Wounds of War: Poets for Peace (anthology]
{{anti-war}}

[[Category:1985 establishments]]
[[Category:Peace organizations]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Veterans' organizations opposed to the Iraq war]]
[[Category:American veterans' organizations]]

Lillo Brancato

2006-12-06T21:46:23Z

163.231.6.68: Removed "a then unknown" preceding "Mark Wahlberg"; Wahlberg was not unknown in 1994, he was famous as rapper "Marky Mark."

[[image:Mattbevil2.JPG|120px|thumb|right|Lillo Brancato as Matthew Bevilaqua]]'''Lillo Brancato, Jr.''' (born [[August 19]], [[1976]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[actor]] born in [[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]], perhaps best known for his role of Calogero Anello in [[Robert De Niro]]'s [[1993]] directorial debut, ''[[A Bronx Tale]].'' He also played a young mobster on ''[[The Sopranos]]''.

In December [[2005]], Brancato was charged with second-degree murder for his role in a burglary in the [[Bronx]] in which an off-duty [[police officer]], [[Daniel Enchautegui]], was fatally shot.

== Life and career ==
Brancato was adopted when he was four months old and raised by his adoptive parents, Lillo Sr. and Domenica, in [[Yonkers, New York]]. Brancato was discovered while swimming at [[Jones Beach State Park|Jones Beach]] by a casting director who was searching for Robert DeNiro look-alikes, and who was impressed by Brancato's impersonation of [[Joe Pesci]] and DeNiro's character from "[[Taxi Driver]]", which won him the role of Calogero Anello. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000969/bio]

His brother, Vincent Brancato, had a small part in ''A Bronx Tale'' as well, playing one of the boys who jumped on the back of the bus driven by Robert De Niro's character. This scene was filmed on [[City Island, Bronx|City Island]].

Brancato has also appeared in several season two episodes of ''The Sopranos'' as [[Matthew Bevilaqua]], a young mobster who was eventually murdered. He played a small part in ''[[Crimson Tide]]'' ([[1995]]) with [[Denzel Washington]] and [[Gene Hackman]]. He also starred alongside [[Gregory Hines]], [[Danny Devito]] and [[Mark Wahlberg]] in the [[1994]] movie ''[[Renaissance Man]]''.

==Drug possession arrest==
On [[June 10]], [[2005]], Brancato was arrested by the [[Yonkers Police Department]] in [[Yonkers, New York]], and charged with seventh-degree [[misdemeanor]] criminal possession of a controlled substance. According to press reports, police pulled Brancato over for having a rear brake light out and found he had an expired registration and no other papers for the vehicle. He gave police permission to look in a cigarette box where they found four bags of [[heroin]].

==Second-degree murder arrest==
On [[December 10]], [[2005]], Brancato was arrested by the [[New York City Police Department]] in the [[Bronx, New York|Bronx]] on suspicion of murdering off-duty police officer Daniel Enchautegui. Enchautegui confronted Brancato, and his accomplice, 48-year-old [[Steven Armento]], outside at a vacant house located at 1339 Arnow Place, next to his own, after hearing glass break. While Enchautegui waited for backup, a gunfight erupted. Enchautegui was shot and brought to the hospital where he died. Police soon arrested Brancato and Armento in the vicinity, both with multiple gunshot wounds and in critical condition. Armento, who is the father of Brancato's ex-girlfriend Stephanie, was arraigned on first-degree murder. Brancato was arraigned on second-degree murder. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/12/15/officer.slaying.ap/index.html]

Coincidentally, Enchautegui lived in the same building (in the [[Pelham Bay, Bronx, New York|Pelham Bay]] section of the borough) where actor [[Francis Capra]] once lived. Capra portrayed Calogero Anello at age 9, the character Brancato portrayed at age 17, in ''A Bronx Tale''. [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/nyregion/11perps.html]

Officer Enchautegui had served with the New York City Police Department for three years and was assigned to the 40th Precinct in the Bronx. [http://odmp.org/officer.php?oid=18069]

In an interview with the [[New York Post]], Brancato apologized to Enchautegui's family for his actions. His apology was met with anger and was called "worthy of an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]" by Enchautegui's sister. [http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/60609.htm]

Recently, Brancato told [[New York Magazine]] that he believes his life story would be film-worthy. However, the [[Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York|Policeman's Benevolent Association]] stated that, in their opinion, Brancato should not be allowed to [[Son of Sam law|profit if a film is made about his life]]. [http://story.northkoreatimes.com/p.x/ct/9/cid/dd8845aa60952db2/id/89320582ba47c668/]

==Filmography==
* ''Saturday Morning'' (2006)
* ''Searching for Bobby D'' (2005)
* ''Slingshot'' (2005)
* ''Downtown: A Street Tale'' (2004)
* ''[[The Real Deal]]'' (2002)
* ''[[The Adventures of Pluto Nash]]'' (2002)
* ''[[NYPD Blue]]'' (2002)
* ''[[In the Shadows]]'' (2001)
* '' 'R Xmas'' (2001)
* ''[[Sticks]]'' (2001)
* ''[[HRT]]'' (2001)
* ''Mambo Cafe'' (2000)
* ''[[Falcone]]'' (2000)
* ''[[The Sopranos]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Blue Moon]]'' (2000)
* ''Table One'' (2000)
* ''[[The Florentine]]'' (1999)
* ''Dead Man's Gun'' (1999)
* ''[[Enemy of the State]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Provocateur]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Firehouse]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Crimson Tide]]'' (1995)
* ''[[Renaissance Man]]'' (1994)
* ''[[A Bronx Tale]]'' (1993)

==External links==
*[http://www.lillobrancatojr.com/ Lillo Brancato Jr. Official Site]
*{{imdb name|id=0000969|name=Lillo Brancato Jr.}}
* [http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051211/NEWS02/512110327/1017 "NYPD officer slain in Bronx; 2 Yonkers suspects shot"] from ''[[The Journal News]]'', [[December 11]] [[2005]]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/nyregion/11perps.html "A Chance Discovery at Jones Beach That Led to a Series of Tough-Guy Roles"] from ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[December 11]] [[2005]]
*[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/12/nyregion/12cop.html?ex=1292043600&en=ae24ce5e5706aa3a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss "Actor and 2nd Man Are Charged in Officer's Killing"] from ''The New York Times'', [[December 12]], [[2005]]
*[http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/12/15/officer.slaying.ap/index.html " Ex-'Sopranos' actor held without bail"] from ''[[CNN]]'', [[December 15]] [[2005]]
*[http://www.nymag.com/news/profiles/16107/index.html "The Lost Soprano"] from ''[[New York Magazine]]'', [[March 6]] [[2006]]






[[Category:1976 births|Brancato, Lillo]]
[[Category:Living people|Brancato, Lillo]]
[[Category:People from Yonkers, New York|Brancato, Lillo]]
[[Category:American film actors|Brancato, Lillo]]
[[Category:American television actors|Brancato, Lillo]]
[[Category:The Sopranos actors|Brancato, Lillo]]
[[Category:Colombian-American actors|Brancato, Lillo]]
[[Category:Colombian film actors|Brancato, Lillo]]
[[Category:Colombian television actors|Brancato, Lillo]]
[[Category:Incarcerated celebrities|Brancato, Lillo]]