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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Elliott Adams, 518-441-2697
Ellen Barfield, 410-948-8023
Tarak Kauff, 845-249-9489

Iraq and Vietnam Veterans Occupy National Archives Building

"Arresting Bush and Cheney for war crimes will honor our oath to the Constitution," vets say.

WASHINGTON

On
Tuesday morning, September 23, 7:30am, at the front of the Na tional
Archives Building on Constitution Ave. in Washington , D.C. , five
military veterans will risk arrest as they climb a 9-foot retaining
fence and occupy a 35-foot high ledge to raise a 22x8 foot banner
stating, "DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION. ARREST BUSH AND CHENEY: WAR CRIMINALS!"

The group, which includes Vietnam and Iraq War veterans, has declared its intention to stay on the ledge, fasting for 24 hours "in
remembrance of those who have perished and those still suffering from
the crimes of the Bush administration," according to a written
statement. With a portable PA system, they will
broadcast recorded statements from prominent Americans for the
impeachment and/or arrest of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney. "Citizens Arrest Warrants" will be distributed to people waiting in line to enter the Na tional Archives.

The veterans emphasized they are taking this action because "Bush
and Cheney's serial abuse of the Law of the Land clearly marks them as
domestic enemies of the Constitution...they have illegally invaded and
occupied Iraq, deliberately destroyed civilian infrastructure,
authorized torture, and unlawfully detained prisoners. These actions clearly mark them as war criminals...accountability extends beyond impeachment to prosecution for war crimes even after their terms of office expire."

"We take this action as a last resort," their statement added. "For years we have pursued every avenue open
to good, vigilant citizens to bring these men to justice, to
re-establish the rule of law, and to restore the balance of power
described in our Constitution. We are not disturbing the peace; we are attempting to restore the peace. We are not conducting ourselves in a disorderly manner; our action is well-ordered and well-considered. We are not trespassing; we have come to the home of our Constitution to honor our oath to defend it."

Those participating are all members of Veterans For Peace and include Elliott Adams: 61, NY, VFP President and former Army paratrooper in Viet Na m; Ellen Barfield: 52, MD, former U.S. Army Sgt., full-time peace and justice advocate; Kim Carlyle: 61, NC, mountain homesteader, former Army Spec 5, 828-626-2572; Diane Wilson: 59, TX, shrimp boat captain, former Army medic, 361-785-4680; Doug Zachary: 58, TX, VFP staff, former USMC LCpl discharged as a conscientious objector, 512-791-9824; and Tarak Kauff (ground support) 67, NY, painting contractor, former U.S. Army Airborne.

Veterans For Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars.

(314) 725-6005