VETERANS FOR PEACE
Greater Atlanta Chapter 125
Atlanta IVAW
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Including
VFP CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
The activities of the Greater Atlanta VFP Chapter 125 have been so numerous, it seems a massive task to even attempt to document them.
However, for an easy start beginning with relatively recent activities, below is a video which predominantly features IVAW member Camilo Mejia speaking about the court martial of PFC Katherine Jashinski, which took place May 23, 2006, at Fort Benning, Georgia, which was attended by him, Debbie Clark from Atlanta, Aidan Delgado from Florida, and others. The video clip of Camilo is preceded by a short photo show of photographs taken by Debbie during activities of IVAW members, both locally and nationally, supported by VFP at both levels, beginning with the Vets & Survivors March to New Orleans, March 14-19, 2006, which IVAW members Adam Reuter and Patrick Bray of Atlanta participated in, as well as Debbie Clark, and ending with photographs of an Iraq Vets forum that was held at the Georgia Tech Student Center in Atlanta on November 18, 2005, moderated by VFP member Michael Burke, and in which Katherine Jashinsky appeared and spoke. This took place on the day following her press conference of November 17 outside the gate to Ft. Benning (also attended by Debbie). (Note: Katherine was released from prison, July 9, 2006.)
Other recent activities...
On July 26, 2006, a press conference and rally was in held at the Richard Russell Federal Building in Atlanta by the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition/Atlanta on the Lebanon/ Israel crisis. VFP member Ingemar Smith (bio hopefully coming soon) was able to participate in that. To the right is a pic of Ingemar at the event.
On June 27, 2006, a press conference was held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Atlanta to show support for First Lieutenant Ehren Watada of Fort Lewis, WA, who has refused to deploy to Iraq based on the illegality of the war. VFP member Ingemar Smith organized this press conference and moderated it, while a number of people spoke, including Joe Parko, Joseph Lowery, Debbie Clark, and others. VFP members Mike and Renee Burke attended this event. Also in attendance at the event was a prospective VFP member, retired US Army major Samuel Mosteller, formerly the XO at the CID office at Fort Benning, GA, and currently on the staff of Representative Cynthia McKinney's (pic below).
Debbie Clark's statement at the press conference, which included a reading of the statement of VFP member Kelley Culver, who could not attend, may be found here (as well as numerous other places on the internet).
Joe Parko's statement at the press conference may be found here.
Below, a few pics of the event as taken by Violet Guy (sorry, forgot his real name):
VFP member Debbie Clark; to her left, Dr. Theopus Smith, a religion professor at Emory University.
The dynamic Ingemar Smith at the podium, moderating the press conference.
Left to right: Reknowned rabble-rouser Gloria Tatum, Rev. Joseph Lowery, and Ingemar Smith. The woman on the right is the widow of a US Army captain who committed suicide upon returning from Iraq.
Debbie Clark speaking in support of Lt. Watada's action in refusing to deploy to Iraq.
Gloria Tatum, Major Samuel Mosteller, and Dr. Joe Parko, retired professor emeritus at Georgia State University, lifelong Quaker, and an associate member of VFP.
SEE NEXT PAGE FOR MORE CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
Click on the button on the left to play the video.
Click the arrow
Activities of VFP Chapter 125 Members, including IVAW
