I was among the hundreds of people who attended North East Winter Soldier Saturday at MCC and was completely blown away. The event featured members of Iraq Veterans Against the War sharing the experiences they had while serving in the Iraq war, why they joined the military and what they have experienced since coming home. The stories they told were simultaneously haunting and and inspirational. Click on the links below to see videos of the soldier's testimony, I can't recommend them enough.
Bryan Casler | Robynn Murray |
Geoff Millard | Christopher Grohs |
| Tim Braley |
Immediately following the soldier's testimony, members of the audience marched out of MCC and to the VA to demand better health care for veterans. Amazingly, the VA is closed on Saturdays and leaves veterans to fend for their, in terms of health care, over the weekend.
Approximately 200 people took part in the loud, energetic march. Young people from SDS, CAN and other groups took the lead, starting some great chants. The march quickly overflowed the sidewalk into the street, taking over a lane of E. Henrietta road, then the entirety of Westfall. Cars stopped were largely supportive of the crowd, with people inside nodding their heads, pumping their fists and honking to the beat of the chants.
After stopping at the VA, the plan was to simply walk back to MCC, but the group didn't settle for that. Instead the chants began again and the march took back to the streets, this time taking up the entire 5 lanes of E. Henrietta road.
Current Show Online:
Show #26: Motherhood By choice, Not Chance
from the Power of Choice Project
English | Spanish
Watch Indy TV on City Cable 15 Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30pm (New Times).
Rochester Indymedia
2nd and 4th Thursday
of the Month, 7PM
Anti-war Storefront
658 Monroe Ave.
Critical Mass
Last Friday of the Month
Liberty Pole (Main/East) 6:00pm
Queer Friendly Needle Exchange
Monday–Friday 1pm–4pm
Health Outreach Project
416 Central Ave
Food Not Bombs
Every other Saturday
4pm
St. Joe's, 402 South Ave.
Next meeting: Nov. 29
Industrial Workers of the World - Rochester
1st Monday of the Month, 7pm
Anti-War Storefront
658 Monroe Ave.
Next meeting: Dec. 1st
Anti-War Crisis Center
Tues-Fri noon-8pm
Sat.-Sun noon-5pm
658 Monroe Avenue
(585) 271-2620
This site made manifest by dadaIMC software
Comments
Re: North East Winter Soldier Video
I would really love to spread this to a wider audience, both in Rochester and in other places in the North East. So how can we do it? Organize screening parties at people's homes? Set up TV's playing them in public spaces? Do a screening tour? What do folks think?
Finally, the Rochester Anti-War community has been on a roll lately. The walks for peace were were really inspired and this event was one of the best I've ever been to.
Re: North East Winter Soldier Video photos
picasaweb.google.com/rochesteragainstwar
they are in the public domain. please share them for peace
Re: North East Winter Soldier Video
more info visit:
resistingempire.org/Fall_speaking_tour/Home.html