thedrifter
03-14-07, 10:43 AM
VFW chief calls for peaceful anti-war protests
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 14, 2007 10:30:20 EDT
The head of a major veterans’ group says he doesn’t mind anti-war protests but hopes protesters don’t damage national monuments and war memorials on a planned Saturday march in Washington.
“The right to peaceful assembly and protest is protected under of Constitution, but lawlessness is not,” said Gary Kurpius, a Vietnam veteran who is commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign War, the nation’s largest group of combat veterans.
He added that he does not expect veterans to take the law into their own hands if they see any acts of vandalism.
“Enforcing the rule of law is the responsibility of the police, not veterans whose emotions may be running just as high as the protesters,” Kurpius said.
A Saturday march against the war in Iraq is planned to kick off at noon next to the Lincoln Memorial, and pass the Vietnam, World War II and Korean War memorials, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials and the Washington Monument, with a rally planned at the final stop, the Pentagon.
The VFW is concerned about the monuments and memorials after the steps of the U.S. Capitol were spray-painted by anti-war protesters at another rally in January.
Mass demonstrations are planned for Saturday in several other cities.
Ellie
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 14, 2007 10:30:20 EDT
The head of a major veterans’ group says he doesn’t mind anti-war protests but hopes protesters don’t damage national monuments and war memorials on a planned Saturday march in Washington.
“The right to peaceful assembly and protest is protected under of Constitution, but lawlessness is not,” said Gary Kurpius, a Vietnam veteran who is commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign War, the nation’s largest group of combat veterans.
He added that he does not expect veterans to take the law into their own hands if they see any acts of vandalism.
“Enforcing the rule of law is the responsibility of the police, not veterans whose emotions may be running just as high as the protesters,” Kurpius said.
A Saturday march against the war in Iraq is planned to kick off at noon next to the Lincoln Memorial, and pass the Vietnam, World War II and Korean War memorials, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials and the Washington Monument, with a rally planned at the final stop, the Pentagon.
The VFW is concerned about the monuments and memorials after the steps of the U.S. Capitol were spray-painted by anti-war protesters at another rally in January.
Mass demonstrations are planned for Saturday in several other cities.
Ellie