Iraq veterans make noise at convention

[unhappycamper]

Iraq veterans make noise at convention
By Kimberly Hefling - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Aug 27, 2008 13:56:29 EDT

DENVER — Iraq war veterans are playing an active role at the Democratic convention, where they’ve marched, staged mock foot patrols on downtown sidewalks and met with a former first lady to discuss veterans’ health care.

Their activism is reminiscent of Vietnam veterans who came home and protested the Vietnam War. But their approach is much more low-key than veterans-turned-activists from Vietnam, some of whom threw out their medals in public protest.

The Iraq veterans in Denver say they want to keep the war and veterans’ issues in the public spotlight. They are doing that by soliciting donations at fundraisers for vets running for Congress, marching in demonstrations and throwing a concert today, headlined by Rage Against the Machine, for 8,000 people.

“The war has really changed this generation,” said David Bellavia, 33, of Buffalo, N.Y., an Iraq veteran who helped form the group Vets for Freedom, which advocates against immediately withdrawing troops from Iraq. “We can no longer be looked at as this couch-potato-what-about-me” generation.

Bellavia and another Iraq veteran were walking the convention grounds in suits and ties and meeting with reporters and delegates. Once uninterested in politics, Bellavia said seeing comrades die motivated him to get involved.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/ap_iraq_veterans_convention_082708w/%2e



uhc comment: From the IVAW web site:

http://ivaw.org/



IVAW members in Denver on Wednesday where they led a march of ten thousand to the Democratic National Convention to deliver a message to Barack Obama calling on the Democratic nominee to endorse the three main goals of IVAW: Immediate withdrawal, full veterans benefits, and reparations for the Iraqi people.

Following a packed show at the Denver Coliseum where Rage Against the Machine and the Flobots encouraged the crowd to join IVAW's march, two squads of 25 IVAW members each formed up outside the venue and began marching to the Pepsi center. The squads were led by members in dress uniforms and combat uniforms, with thousands of supporters marching behind them in support.

When they arrived at the DNC, representatives of IVAW asked to meet with Barack Obama to present their message. After negotiations with the

Former Texas Lt Governor Ben Barnes came out of the convention to accept a letter from the IVAW members. Jeff Key, a former Marine said the IVAW members intended to stay in place until a representative from Obama's campaign came out to talk with them.

"I'm a patient man. I'm not going anywhere,'' Key said.

Key, a former Marine from Salt Lake City, and Liam Madden, a former marine from Boston, were then escorted into the convention where they met with Phil Carter, head of veterans affairs for the Obama campaign. IVAW is now waiting for a formal response to their request address the delegates from the podium.

Lt. Vince Porter of the Denver Police Department said the department coordinated the meeting with the secret service and Obama’s office.

“The police in Denver have been exceptional and very, very supportive,” Key said. “This cannot be an easy job for them either, and they’ve just been incredible.”

[unhappycamper]

1. And the pic on the Stars and Stripes

Veteran of the Iraq war, Maggie Martin, holds up a peace sign while pedestrians pass by a mock occupation in downtown Denver, Colo. on Tuesday to protest the war during the Democratic National Convention.


Same article.