VETERANS FOR PEACE
Greater Atlanta Chapter 125
Atlanta IVAW
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Including
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY IN ATLANTA , JAN. 15, 2007
Text of MLK Day Speech by Debbie Clark, Veterans For Peace, Greater Atlanta Chp. 125 (delivered at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Rally, following the march)
Veterans For Peace is a national organization of military veterans who are committed to the cause of world peace and the abolition of war as an instrument of national policy.
Veterans For Peace is here today to honor Dr. King’s commitment to peace and his courageous stand against the Vietnam war. There can be no doubt that if Dr. King were alive today, he would also be speaking out against the war in Iraq.
Veterans For Peace believes that the invasion and occupation of Iraq is immoral, unjust, and in violation of the US Constitution and federal law. We support Iraq veterans speaking out against the war as well as active duty military members refusing deployment to Iraq, such as First Lieutenant Ehren Watada of Fort Lewis, Washington, who has put the war on trial and is now facing court martial and up to six years in prison if convicted.
Veterans For Peace also supports active duty military members who are exercising their legal right to contact members of Congress.
Jonathan Hutto, a sailor in the US Navy who grew up in Atlanta in the light shed on this city and in the world by Dr. King, has been leading a movement of responsible active duty military members in an Appeal for Redress campaign to urge members of Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq.
The Appeal for Redress has been signed by 1031 active duty troops from the lowest ranks on up to senior ranking officers.
Jonathan Hutto will be in Washington DC tomorrow holding a national press conference and delivering the Appeal for Redress petition to supportive members of Congress.
With us here today is Jonathan Hutto’s mother, Jacquelyn Fortson Hutto, in support of her son’s courageous actions.
We urge all citizens to support these active duty service members who are resisting this war and urging members of Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
We urge you to support these troops by being on the streets and calling on your elected representatives to end this brutal and unlawful occupation of Iraq and bring our troops home now.
Debbie Clark served eight years in the US Army between 1976 and 1984 - five years in the Military Police and three years in the US Army Criminal Investigation Command as a Special Agent investigating felony crimes committed by US service members. She is the founder of the Greater Atlanta Chapter 125 of Veterans For Peace.
Vietnam vet and VFP Chp. 125 member John Zientowski at the Jan. 15, 2007 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day March in Atlanta, GA. Photo by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
This photo was taken during Debbie's portion of her speech which she was attempting to acknowledge Jonathan Hutto's mother, Jacquelyn Fortson Hutto, who was supposed to have been on stage with VFP, but things were moving so fast and security so tight, that somehow that didn't happen. There is Peter Morgan pointing out where Mrs. Hutto was -- standing in front of the stage at the corner.
VFP members smiling as the crowd cheers Mrs. Hutto.
This is only the crowd seated in the front by the stage during the rally (King Center in the background); the marchers go back many blocks down Auburn Avenue.
Several members of Greater Atlanta Chp. 125 of Veterans For Peace on stage; left to right Daniel Ritchie, Jim Lawler, Peter Morgan, John Zientowski, and Debbie Clark at the podium
In this photo, you can see a glimpse of Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) member Denise Thomas standing in between Daniel Ritchie and Jim Lawler, holding a sign reading, "Send my daughter back to Iraq. Over my dead body."
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day March & Rally
Atlanta, Georgia
Jan. 15, 2007
Coming soon! Audio of the speech and sounds of the parade! Check back in a few days.
Here is US Navy seaman Jonathan Hutto in a photo taken of him by the Navy Times as he spoke in a press conference in Norfolk, VA on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The Appeal for Redress was delivered to members of Congress the following day. MORE
Al Viola, Georgia Peace & Justice Coalition volunteer photographer. All photos on this page by Al Viola unless otherwise indicated.
