 
Posted: 22 May 2013 USS Liberty, Mohammad Mossadegh, & Bradley Manning VFP 92 Remembers the USS Liberty This year is the 46th anniversary of the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, which was commissioned in Bremerton in 1964. Veterans For Peace will travel to Bremerton to remember the dead, honor the survivors, and educate the public about the attack and US foreign policy. We'll be displaying a banner and distributing copies of the "Commonly Asked Questions About the USS Liberty" brochure. Be sure to wear your VFP hats, shirts, vests, etc. The round trip walk-on passenger fare for the Seattle-Bremerton ferry is $7.70 for adults (age 19 - 64) and $3.85 for Senior (age 65 & over)/Disabled. Mossadegh Legacy Awareness Tour event Moji Agha is the founder of the Mossadegh Legacy Institute (MLI), a new non-profit foreign policy organization inspired by the legacy of the late Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh. Mr. Agha will speak on the MLI's work promoting the virtues and values of Dr. Mossadegh, who was trained in the law at the École Libre des Sciences Politiques in Paris and the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. Mossadegh was first elected to the Iranian Majlis/Parliament in 1944 and elected by the Majlis as Prime Minister in 1951. In 1953, after nationalizing Iran's oil industry, Mossadegh was ousted in a coup d'etat orchestrated and carried out by the American CIA with the cooperation of British MI6. The MLI is endorsed by Richard Falk, Noam Chomsky, David Swanson, Cindy Sheehan, Tariq Ali, and others. Free validated parking for this event is available in the University Book Store lot. Download the event poster. Bradley Manning Support March Bradley Manning's court-martial trial begins June 3rd. Saturday is an International Day of Support for Bradley Manning. Join us for a spirited march through downtown ending at Victor Steinbrueck Park.
Posted: 03 June 2013
Blow the Whistle on War Profiteers at the Seattle Science Festival This is a joint action by Greater Seattle Veterans For Peace and the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action to protest the presence, in the Seattle Science Festival's Science EXPO, of two giants in the military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned about. Boeing and Lockheed-Martin, two of the world's largest military contractors, are exhibitors in the EXPO this year. Boeing is, among other things, a major supplier of drones to the US military. Lockheed-Martin is the manufacturer of the US Navy's Trident ll D-5 submarine launched ballistic missiles, the delivery vehicles for the massively destructive W76 and W88 thermonuclear bombs.
Posted: 03 June 2013 June General Membership Meeting
Posted: 11 May 2013 May General Membership Meeting & Armed Forces Day Action Our educational topic this month is veteran suicide. After the meeting we'll go to Pier 62/63 Park (1951 Alaskan Way) on the Seattle waterfront to distribute copies of the chapter's Armed Forces Day cards. Westlake Plaza is our backup location in case of bad weather. 
Posted: 11 May 2013 Report: Boston Marathon Bombing Leafleting Submitted by: Michelle J. Kinnucan On April 27, seven members of the Greater Seattle chapter of Veterans For Peace ventured into the heart of Seattle's commercial district where we distributed approximately 300 copies of the chapter's Boston Marathon Bombing/US Drone Attacks leaflet. The leaflet was generally well-received and positive reactions far out-weighed negative reactions in both intensity and frequency. This writer had three people make a point of speaking to her to compliment the leaflet and thank VFP for sharing our perspective.
Posted: 16 March 2013 April General Membership Meeting Please note the date change. The day was changed from our normal third Saturday of the month due to room unavailability on the 20th. Per the vote of the chapter membership in September 2011, undesignated funds collected at the first general membership meeting of each calendar quarter go to Coffee Strong. After the meeting we'll go to Westlake Plaza to distribute copies of the chapter's Boston Marathon Bombing leaflet. The title of our education topic--"Peace: Getting Our Thinking Focused"--for this meeting is inspired, in part, by a line from A. J. Muste's classic 1928 essay, "Pacifism and Class War." The supplemental readings for the talk are listed below. It is not essential that you read any of them but the talk and discussion may be more rewarding if you do.
Posted: 27 March 2013
Two VFP 92 Endorsed Anti-Drone Actions These are excellent opportunities to educate the public, who polls show over 50% believe drone attacks are acceptable, on the dangers and problems of drone warfare. Please spread the word and plan to attend one or both of these actions.
Posted: 16 March 2013 April 15th Tax Day Anti-War Action in Seattle Please join members of Greater Seattle Veterans For Peace on Tax Day as we help raise public awareness about the militarization of the US federal budget and about nonviolent alternatives to passively paying for wars and weapons we don't want. We will be distributing copies of the War Resisters League's pie chart leaflet--"Where Your Income Tax Money Really Goes" which analyzes the Federal Fiscal Year 2013 Budget.  Photo by George P. Hickey
Posted: 08 February 2013 People's Forum: Solve the Budget Puzzle  Refreshments will be provided. For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (206) 789-5565. Sponsored by: American Friends Service Committee—NW Region, Church Council of Greater Seattle, Faith Action Network, GI Voice, Green Party of Washington State, Rainier Valley Neighbors for Peace and Justice, Veterans for Peace, Chapter 92, WA State Progressive Caucus, West Seattle Neighbors for Peace and Justice, Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation
Posted: 23 December 2012
The general membership of Veterans For Peace, Greater Seattle, Chapter 92 calls upon its members and supporters to turn out for Seattle's 31st annual Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration. The theme this year is "Let Freedom Ring!" Workshops and a rally will be held at Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave, Seattle. Workshops begin at 9:30 AM and are followed by a rally at 11:00 AM. After the rally, at 12:30 PM, we will leave the high school and march to the Federal Building at 915 2nd Ave via Union St. & Madison St. The route is 2.2 miles long and mainly downhill. VFP members are especially encouraged to wear VFP vests and carry one of the chapter's VFP flags during the rally and march. To read a few select quotations from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., click on the "Read more" button below.
Posted: 31 December 2012 2012 President's Farewell Address
Posted: 23 December 2012
At our meeting on December 15 we heard from Fred Miller of the Peace and Justice Alliance. Fred is proposing that we join him and others in organizing a fund-raising event next year to help VFP members restore the Golden Rule (pictured at right). In 1958, Albert Bigelow, a former US Navy officer and WW II combat veteran, and his crew sailed the Golden Rule toward the Marshall Islands in two pioneering public protests of US nuclear weapons testing in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. If you are interested in working with Fred on this then please contact him at 206-453-4471 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . After the Dec. 15 meeting, five VFP 92 members went to Benaroya Hall. There we handed out the last 325 of our "O Little Town of Bethlehem" cards to passersby and people attending the 1 PM performance of Handel's Messiah. Case closed. VFP 92's lawsuit against the City of Auburn is over. On Dec. 15, federal judge Marsha Pechman signed an order enjoining the City from engaging in viewpoint discrimination against Veterans For Peace with respect to the Auburn Veterans Day parade. The injunction will be in effect for at least the next five years.
Posted: 23 November 2012 Emily Horswill Memorial Casual attire is preferred. In lieu of flowers, donations to one of following: Plymouth Congregational Church, 1217 6th Ave., Seattle, Wa 98101; The Mountaineers 7700 Sand Point Wy. NE Seattle Wa 98115; or Greater Seattle Veterans For Peace, PO 31947, Seattle, Wa. 98103 or the charity of your choice. See also "Remembering Emily Horswill"
Posted: 06 December 2012
Emily Ungerecht HORSWILL
 Emily Horswill (in red) protesting the US occupation
of Iraq in 2010 in downtown Seattle.
Posted: 06 December 2012 VFP Election News The following members were elected to the 2013 VFP 92 Board of Directors: Dan Gilman (President), Keith Orchard (Vice-President), Walt Williams (Secretary), Michelle Kinnucan (Treasurer), Mike Kearney (Director-At-Large; 3-Year Position), and Cliff Wells (Director-At-Large; 1-Year Position). See also: "VFP 92 Submits Two Resolutions for VFP National Convention"
Posted: 12 November 2012 2012 Auburn Veterans Day Report More than forty members of Veterans For Peace from Greater Seattle, Tacoma, and elsewhere marched last Saturday in near-perfect weather in the City of Auburn's annual Veterans Day parade (photos below). This was VFP's seventh consecutive appearance in the parade and we're proud and pleased to have been able to, once again, add our clear, singular pro-peace voice to the messages conveyed by the other 184 entries in the parade. Our contingent featured an American flag at its head, four peace flags, and nearly one dozen VFP flags. The last-minute courtroom drama provoked by the City of Auburn also resulted in significant media coverage for VFP this year. As in past years, most spectators were friendly and supportive but this year was special as, in light of our legal battle, many people all along the parade route made a point of saying things such as, "We're glad you're back in this year." Several Auburn residents came to our staging area this year before we entered the line of march to express their support and disagreement with the position of the city government; one Auburn resident felt so strongly that she decided to march with us. For the second year in a row we also had a booth in Auburn. It was staffed by four VFP members, who report that a steady trickle of visitors came and "almost all were familiar with our attempted exclusion from the parade and were supportive to a person that we had a right to be there." Flyers about the history of Armistice/Veterans Day and VFP information were distributed. Much thanks are due to ACLU-WA cooperating attorney David Whedbee of MacDonald, Hoague, and Bayless, and ACLU-WA staff attorneys Sarah Dunne, La Rond Baker, and Margaret Chen for our courtroom victory. We're also grateful to the Rev. Susan Armer and St. Matthew Episcopal Church--located just four blocks from our staging area--for their hospitality in providing us with parking, bathrooms, hot coffee, and donuts. After the parade, about twenty-five of us enjoyed lunch and good company at a local Auburn restaurant. Mike Dedrick attended the ACLU's annual Bill of Rights dinner that evening and reports that the emcee's announcement of our legal victory and that we had marched in Auburn was met with cheers.
 Photo by Cliff Wells
 Photo by Alan Berner of the Seattle Times
Posted: 12 November 2012 Veterans For Peace v. City of Auburn Media Coverage
Selected Excerpts "This is an Auburn parade with a pro-military message," [Auburn City Attorney] Heid said Monday. "The Veterans for Peace have a different message. ... We part company with them there." ... Keith Orchard, who paid his price during a tour of Vietnam nearly half a century ago, is a member of Veterans for Peace. "We try to make people aware of the costs of war," Orchard said. -KIRO, 09 Nov 2012. U.S. District Chief Judge Marsha Pechman said Veterans for Peace must be allowed to march in the Auburn Veterans Day parade Saturday. She called Auburn's policy a textbook violation of the First Amendment. About 40 members of the antiwar group marched in the parade, as they have in the past, and met with loud cheers and applause as they passed through town waving U.S. flags with peace signs substituted for stars. "We are no less veterans simply because we believe peace is the proper approach in this world and not wars," says David Kannis, a member of Veterans For Peace. Whether people agreed with the group's message or not, veterans say they should be part of the event. "I think that Veterans Day has been so politicized and so hyped that it has lost what it's original intention was; it was Armistice Day, which was a day partially dedicated, not only to veterans, but also to discussions and furthering the cause of world peace. I don't see how you can talk about veterans without talking about peace." -Mike Dedrick on KIRO, 12 Nov. 2012.
Posted: 09 November 2012 Auburn Parade Details for Saturday The First Amendment rights of anti-war/pro-peace veterans were vindicated today when Chief Judge Marsha Pechman ruled in VFP 92's favor today in federal court, granting our request for a Temporary Restraining Order and a Preliminary Injunction ordering the City of Auburn to permit us to march in the City's annual Veterans Day parade as we have done for the previous six years. It would a shame to win this hard-fought victory and not turn out in good number so we encourage all Veterans For Peace members to join us in Auburn tomorrow.
Here are the details:
Posted: 08 November 2012 City of Auburn Responds to Parade Suit
VFP's Complaint, Declarations, and other documents can be found on the ACLU's "Veterans for Peace v City of Auburn" page. Below are some excerpts from two of the declarations filed in support of the City of Auburn's position From the Declaration of Pete Lewis: 5. In 2009, I discussed with the City's Parks and Recreation Director the length of the Parade and the need to shorten it. [Note: In 2011, when VFP marched in the parade it had 185 approved entries, this year it has 184.] We also discussed the types of participants whose inclusion in the Parade furthered the purpose of the Parade most. ... In this process, we specifically wanted to control the message delivered by the City with this parade. We wanted to demonstrate that Auburn is patriotic, and we believe that delivery of that message will enhance the reputation of Auburn and help the City thrive, economically and socially. ... 7. The VFP has marched with signs that say things such as "End the Wars," and "Bring All the Troops Home Now," as well as signs that indicate VFP's estimates of the cost of the war and VFP's opinion that military deaths are not worth those costs. While these sentiments may be legitimate and understandable, and while the City respects VFP's rights to its opinions, they are not in keeping with the intentions, goals, and the purposes of the Parade ... 8. Because of the complaints received about VFP's signs, after the 2011 Parade, I directed City staff to revise the City's written goals and purposes for the Parade ... 10. The VFP's participation in the Parade [in 2012] was rejected because of their historic unwillingness to conform to the mission and purpose of the Parade. ... From the Declaration of Tony Dohse: 3. I am willing to participate in the parade so long as the message we are delivering shows unconditional support for veterans. I wanted to partner with the City to deliver that message of support and support the city's efforts to put on this parade. 4. I do not want to be in a parade that offers contradictory messages, like the one offered by the VFP in past parades. This was my intent when I looked at the parade application.
Posted: 05 November 2012 For case updates and VFP member interviews, please direct all media inquiries to ACLU-WA Communications Director Douglas Honig at 206-624-2184, ext. 241, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . VFP Sues Auburn Over Parade Exclusion The text below is from the web site of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington. The story was also covered by the Seattle Times where Auburn City Attorney Dan Heid is quoted saying: "This is an Auburn parade with a pro-military message ... The Veterans for Peace have a different message. ... We part company with them there." Heid indicates that since 2010 (the article erroneously says 2009) "the city has had increasing concerns about Veterans for Peace ... in past parades some of the members 'have carried peace flags.' " Radio station KPLU has also covered the story. See also "Veterans for Peace v City of Auburn" for case documents and updates.
See also: "VFP-ACLU 1st Amendment Victory in Seattle." This concerns a 2010 incident involving the Port of Seattle police.
Posted: 04 November 2012 Three Armistice/Veterans Day Events Auburn Veterans Day Parade, Booth, & Get Together The Auburn Veterans Day parade is billed as one of the largest Veterans Day parades west of the Mississippi River. In 2010, an estimated 5,000 people lined the streets to watch it. Veterans For Peace have marched in the parade for every one of the last six years. Our presence is important for the many people who openly welcome us each year, for those who may feel they can only silently support us, and for young people who need to hear a different voice about the military and war. Unfortunately, our application and a subsequent appeal to march this year have been rejected. The word from city officials is that they don't like our "message" and they don't think we "honor" veterans and current military personnel. In fact, VFP honors them by working to restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations and by working to abolish war as an instrument of national policy so that no member of the armed forces will ever be ordered to place limb, life, or soul in jeopardy for an unjust or unworthy cause. We honor them when we use and guard the Constitutional freedoms, including speech, that we swore to defend in our oaths of enlistment/office.
In any case, we are still hoping to march in the parade and encourage all Veterans For Peace to join us in Auburn, if possible. Supporters who subscribe to the VFP Statement of Purpose are also welcome. In the event that we cannot march lawfully we will use lawful means only to protest or raise awareness of our exclusion. Check back on this site for more details soon. Our application for a booth this year was approved. The booth is located near the military recruiting displays on S. Division St. just south of E. Main St. There will also be a VFP after-parade social gathering in Auburn. Contact us if you want to attend. Soldier's Heart Veterans Day Silent Vigil Coffee Strong Anniversary Dinner and Dessert Auction
Posted: 04 November 2012 United Bases of America Poster Are Here! Last year, Richard Johnson of Canada's National Post produced an amazing graphic which illustrates that "Despite the pending troop withdrawals in Iraq and those in Afghanistan between now and 2014, the United States remains a superpower on a scale not seen since the days of the Caesars." Greater Seattle Veterans For Peace obtained permission to do a limited print run as an educational and fund-raising project. These 15" x 24" posters are great for educators and activists and every office, classroom, and community cafe ought to have at least one. They are printed in full-color on high-quality glossy paper at a local union print shop. Posters start at $12 each with quantity discounts. Download an order form on the VFP 92 store page.
Posted: 04 October 2012 VFP 92 October Events & News General Membership Meeting National Veterans For Peace Voting Deadline By now, all Full Members in good standing should have received their election materials from the national office. If you think you should have gotten the election materials but didn't then please call the national office at 314-725-6005 or email them at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. This year, for the first time, all Full Members will be able to vote on bylaws amendments and resolutions. Three measures on the ballot were endorsed by VFP 92 earlier this year: 1) Bylaw 2.2 Proposal to provide Associate Members the privilege of voting on VFP National resolutions; 2) Resolution 2012-06 to end VFP's affiliation with Amazon.com; and, 3) Resolution 2012-12 "Supporting Democracy, Equality & Peace in Palestine". In July, VFP 92 also voted to oppose Resolution 2012-11 "Rescinding Obama Impeachment Resolution". Ballots must be postmarked by October 24, 2012. Report on Patriot Day Action
VFP 92 Endorses National Demonstration Against Italian Weapons Sales to Israel Auburn Veterans Day Update Last year was our sixth appearance in the Auburn Veterans Day parade. Unfortunately, VFP 92 was notified today that our application to march this year was rejected. The relevant portion of the message said: "Unfortunately, each year, receive more applications than we can successfully accommodate, and we have to choose those that most closely meet the goals and purpose of the event. Regrettably, we are unable to approve your organization to participate in the parade this year." However, our application for a "static display," i.e. a booth, was approved and we'll need volunteers to help staff that for our second year in a row.
Posted: 03 September 2012 VFP 92 September Events & News Bradley Manning Action 9/11: Veterans For Peace Offer Patriot Day Greetings
VFP 92 September General Membership Meeting & Folke Bernadotte Action VFP & IVAW: What We're Doing & How We Work Together This will be a social gathering of local Veterans For Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War. We may do a round-robin discussion on the subject of what we're doing and how we work together. This gathering will be hosted by VFP 92 Vice-President Dan Gilman at his home. Dan and VFP 92 members will provide the beer and wine and barbecue the salmon. Please bring a side dish or salad to share. If you're planning to attend then please contact Dan via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get directions and RSVP no later than September 17.
Posted: 19 July 2012 8/6: Hiroshima to Hope VFP 92 is a co-sponsor of this year's commemoration of the US atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Click on the image below to enlarge it. 
Posted: 19 July 2012 Seafair Fleet Week Activities Action #1 Action #2 On August 1 we'll support Ground Zero's "water-based nonviolent protest against the glorification of weapons of war at the Seattle Seafair" and we'll greet "members of the 2012 Pacific Northwest Interfaith Peace Walk, who began their walk for peace in Portland on July 22" (see press release here). We'll be joined joined by members of the Washington Veterans Against the War Peace Flag Honor Guard. Then on August 4 we'll help educate folks waiting in line for warship tours about the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty and current US-Israel foreign policy by displaying a banner and distributing copies of the "Commonly Asked Questions About the USS Liberty" leaflet.
Posted: 03 July 2012 July VFP 92 General Membership Meeting Per the vote of the membership at the chapter's regular monthly meeting on September 17, 2011, undesignated funds collected at the first general membership meeting of each quarter go to Coffee Strong.
Posted: 04 July 2012 Report: Independence Day Action Eight people participated in VFP 92's July 4th action at Pier 62/63 Park on the Seattle waterfront. All 400 of our James Madison war versus liberty cards were handed out and because we ran out early we switched to Bradley Manning info cards, distributing about 100 of those. VFP flags were displayed along with three of the Washington Veterans Against the War peace flags. 
Posted: 03 July 2012
Richard Falk & Pride Parade Reports Greater Seattle Veterans For Peace co-sponsored the June 8 Seattle appearance of Richard A. Falk, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestinian human rights. He spoke to a crowd of several hundred at the University Temple United Methodist Church. Falk began his talk by speaking at length about the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty. Falk asserted attack was "deliberate" and said its "coverup" by the Johnson administration was based upon fear of a "domestic Jewish backlash". The rest of Falk's talk focused on three "myths" that explain the relationship between the US and Israel, a relationship where Israel "manipulates" the United States. On June 24, twelve folks marched in our Bradley Manning contingent in the Seattle Pride parade and displayed a Bradley Manning banner, VFP flags, and peace flags. About 500 Bradley Manning stickers and 750 info cards were handed out to spectators. See also:
Posted: 13 June 2012 Independence Day Action
We'll be doing educational leafleting and will be joined by members of the Washington Veterans Against the War Peace Flag Honor Guard. |
