You wouldn't have thought it possible. Not in your wildest dreams would you imagine that on the 11th anniversary of the beginning of American's longest war would police have the temerity to arrest war veterans standing vigil, reading the names of their dead comrades in arms. And yet...
ANIMALNewYork @ANIMALNewYork
NYPD arresting veterans as they read the names of the dead: http://www.ustream.tv/...
Ergoat @Ergoat
11 years of successfully defending Warlords' #heroin supply in #Afghanistan 2000+ Americans dead, names read @ #ows & Vets arrested4 it #FTP
Jayron @Jayron26
NYPD laughing as they arrest veterans. This is how #FTP starts. #OO #OSF #OWS #OATX #OCHI #OBOS
The arrests, apparently, include an 85 year-old veteran.
Ms. Moore @CourtneyOccupy
of the arrests made by #NYPD is a WW2 85 year old veteran. #SHAME (live at http://ustre.am/... )
Occupy Congress @OCongress
#NYPD says it's taking too long for the names of fallen soldiers to be read. Hmm, what does that say about the Afghan #war?
pixplz @pixplz
Cops arrest about 18 veterans after they refuse to leave a park in New York, reports livestreamer @Occupied_Air. "I'm in shock." #USA
Not only are the arresting the veterans, they are arresting the livestreamers filming the veterans getting arrested.
Carrie M @CarrieM213
Hey #OWS: Please understand how important your livestreamers are and come out to support @stopmotionsolo, just arrested for no reason!
Finally, some twelve hours after I posted this diary originally, an article was published about the event:
The veterans had four aims:
Demand an end to the 11-year war in Afghanistan
Demand an end to all U.S. wars of aggression
Remember all those killed and wounded by war
Stand up for our right, and duty, to assemble and organize
And video is now available.
16:00 : "I served my country in Vietnam. And you guys are going to arrest me? Jesus Christ, man!"
8:28 PM PT:
Global Revolution @GlobalRevLive
#Vets detainees have been taken to #NYC 7th Precinct (212) 477-73111 9 1/2 Pitt Street Call and flood those lines! #Occupy #Anon #Injustice
8:44 PM PT:
OccupyPhoenix @occupyphoenix
You hear the names over and over and can't help but cry. They all had families that loved them. No more WARs! #ows
9:03 PM PT:
Sean McKeown @smcke0wn
Am told #jailsupport can expect to be at the Seventh Precinct, and am hopping on the train. Because "it's late, I'm tired" is never correct.
Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 7:21 AM PT: Here's an explanation of the event. Even into this morning, I still see nothing on the news wires about the arrests.
http://presstv.com/...
As the Afghanistan war enters its 12th year on Sunday, October 7, antiwar veterans and their allies will gather at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza in New York City to demand an end to all wars and respect for rights to assemble peacefully.
Ellen Davidson, talked to U.S. Desk about the event and said they are gathering at the in New York City because they want “to mark the fact that we are now entering the 12th year of war in Afghanistan and we would like to take this moment to remember all the fallen; from Vietnam war, and Afghanistan war and Iraq war, and all the wars we are currently engaged in”.
“When we say all the fallen we also mean the civilians fallen, the veterans suicide after they come home,” she said, “We also want to honor those who’ve been wounded and damaged by the war.”
As to why they have chosen this specific site, Davidson said, “we want to assert our right to assemble and make our protest known, and on this particular site, on May 1st, some veterans and some members of Occupy were arrested for staying after a closing time of 10 p.m.”
She believes the unusual closing time was enforced because the police wanted to “break” the gathering.
Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 8:12 AM PT: From the comments. Confirmation of arrests and some released.
Just called 7th pct. (10+ / 0-)
(212) 477-7311. Picked community affairs. Asked about status of the veterans. 3 were sent to central booking, the rest have been released.
Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 8:54 AM PT: Finally an article comes out:
Veterans and Allies Arrested in New York as Afghanistan War Enters Year 12
Hat tip to BOHICA in the comments.