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Eighteen veterans were arrested in an antiwar protest on Sunday in Boston. They were protesting the exclusion of their message from the Boston’s Veterans Day parade. The vets lined up in front of a podium at City Hall Plaza holding antiwar placards.
As colour guards from Massachusetts military units and JROTC bands from across the state made their way to the Government Centre for a ceremony to honour veterans after the parade they were asked to move. The vets, some of whom were wearing gags in protest refused. The Boston Fireman’s Band played the Marine’s Hymn as several protesters were lead away in handcuffs.
“Our free speech and civil rights are being abridged here,” said Nate Goldschlag, a Vietnam-era veteran who was among those standing in front of the podium. “We are veterans, too, and we should be allowed to express our opposition to this war.”
The group, Veterans for Peace had been denied the right to walk in the parade if they were holding signs opposing the war in Iraq. They had been allowed to march but only if they were silent about their stand on the war.
We were exercising our First Amendment rights,” said Winston Warfield of Dorchester, a member of the group. “The First Amendment protects free speech, even when you don’t agree with what’s being said.”
These protesters were all vets. They have fought and risked their lives for the United States and yet they are told to be silent about their views. That’s not American.
Has the United States lost the war on freedom of speech? When peaceful demonstrators are arrested for being against the war how close is the country to martial law? Although that statement is a stretch but at what point will the population say enough. We want our civil liberties back. We want to be able to protest a war without fear of arrest.
