Veterans to deploy for Standing Rock

[dixiegrrrrl]

On December 4, hundreds of veterans plan to "deploy" to Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota to join in protest against the planned Dakota Access Pipeline.

The event, Veterans Stand for Standing Rock, is a call for veterans to "assemble as a peaceful, unarmed militia" to "defend the water protectors from assault and intimidation at the hands of the militarized police force and DAPL security." The organizers hope to prevent progress on the construction of the pipeline as well as draw national attention to the cause.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and its supporters have been protesting the project for months.
The protests have been largely peaceful but turned violent on Sunday. Support has flooded in from all over the country on social media under the hashtag #NoDAPL.

In 10 days, the gofundme campaign for the veterans' event has raised $43,870 of the $100,000 goal.
The money will go toward food, transportation and supplies for the veterans who attend.

"It's time to display that honor, courage and commitment we claim to represent," the page reads. "It's time for real patriots. Now more than ever, it's time for anyone and everyone to lead."

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/22/us/veterans-stand-for-standing-rock-trnd/index.html


So we can help, by donating even as little as $5.00 to the GoFundMe.......which has raised $203,023 as of now.
https://www.gofundme.com/veterans-for-standing-rock-nodapl

On today, of all days......

[PatSeg]

1. Thank you

I donated and shared it on Facebook.

[classof56]

2. Donated.

And thanks for posting this.

[sheshe2]

18. I am giving them a huge hug and a kick and rec.

I have no money to donate.

Love ya~

[spanone]

3. K&R...

[Hekate]

4. Sounds like something my friends from Vets for Peace would be doing. Bless the vets getting ....

....involved, from whatever source.

[pinboy3niner]

5. Iraq Veterans Aganst the War is involved

They sent this email blast yesterday afternoon:

We Are En Route to Standing Rock - Take Action With Us!

As I type this, I am riding in a truck loaded with heaters, a large military tent, and food headed to the main camp at Standing Rock. I am joining more than a dozen fellow members out there (with more on the way) who will take part in the week of action as we help winterize the camp, support our allies with Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, and bring our collective skills sets from the military to support the indigenous-led resistance.

Last week, we told you about the action six of our members took in NYC to kick off our efforts in solidarity with the water protectors at Standing Rock. We walked into the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) office and delivered a letter to Regional Deputy Director Larry Mazola, calling on the ACE to stand down and for an end to the Dakota Access Pipeline. As we talked to the ACE representative, we were surprised to hear him make it clear, on camera, that the resistance is winning:

“You've made yourself heard. The Corps of Engineers is re-looking at this. So just by your stand, we're going to go back and take a look and make sure we're doing the right things. And that is directly a result of what you guys are all doing.”

We knew that the U.S. military and ACE have a long history of undermining Indigenous sovereignty and outright robbing Native peoples of their land, and that this was a moment when we could show that veterans were not going to stand by idly and have it happen again. As NYC IVAW member Nicole Goodwin told Gothamist:

“It is especially important for veterans and service members to stand with Standing Rock because we have the responsibility to rectify the US military's history of occupation. We went to the Army Corps today to tell them to deny permits for DAPL, to tell them that we are watching their moves, and that the core values of this country are in danger unless they act."

Last night members of our Colorado chapter who are at Standing Rock went to the the Morton County Commission in Bismarck to represent our anger at the dangerous violence leveled at the water protectors on Sunday night, including water cannons and tear gas in freezing temperatures. After the commission meeting, IVAW Board Member and Unitarian Minister Shawna Foster asked the commission members to pray for water protector Sofia Wilansky who was grievously injured. We told them it was high past time for the resignation of Sheriff Kirchmeier who is leading a militarized police force against peaceful protectors.




Despite the media blackout and the state violence and surveillance wielded against water protectors, this fight is reaching a critical mass. We hope that as you spend time this holiday weekend that you also do what you can to take action in support of this critical work, whether that is to donate to the main camp Oceti Sakowin or to dial up the pressure on the local Sheriff Department. If you've got a moment, contact the Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier and let him know that water protectors have the right to participate in peaceful protest without being met by a militarized police force more interested in protecting corporate interests than the people of North Dakota:


Morton County Sheriff
Kyle Kirchmeier

205 1st Ave NW
Mandan, ND 58554

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

https://www.facebook.com/MortonCountySD/



Thanks for your support in these tough moments and for standing on the right side of a critical fight. Your action will make a difference in the work ahead.

In Solidarity,

Matt Howard
Co-Director
Iraq Veterans Against the War

[Hekate]

11. I'm so pleased. Thanks for the info, pinboy.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. My heart broke when I read of the protesters being caked in ice from the water hoses aimed at them.

All I can do at this point in my life is donate.

[Hekate]

15. There's a message in my email inbox from the VFP about this....

I have a feeling there will be some reunions, for sure.

[pinboy3niner]

16. That's great

Thanks for the news.

[Sunlei]

6. Veterans Stand for Standing Rock

[democrank]

7. Go vets!

Thanks and bless every last one of you!

[pangaia]

8. Just donated 5.00 thanks for posting.

[SMC22307]

9. K&R

[superpatriotman]

10. How many vets are part of the security force?

Probably a few reunions out there.

[McCamy Taylor]

12. K&R

[sheshe2]

14. Good news, bless our vets.

[William Seger]

17. I do wish they hadn't use gofundme

Those leeches take 5% of contributions for just doing what Facebook lets people do for free: host a web page. The page just links to an actual payment processor like PayPal, and the processor's standard transaction fees (averaging about 3.5%) are on top of gofundme's 5%. It's a racket that exploits compassion.

[Hulk]

19. If they call again after December 21st...I'll be there!

Am in central Mexico right now, but if they call again, I'll fly out from Portland, Oregon to stand with them.

I was drafted for Vietnam, but I'll gladly volunteer for this fight!

[pinboy3niner]

20. Donated and shared GFM link

[citizen blues]

21. With water cannons being used in freezing temperature, . . .

Which amounts to lethal force, it's concerning what is going to happen between now and December 4th - especially since the date the veterans show up is known.

[Petrushka]

22. The veterans will be there on Decmeber 4 . . . and, on December 5th??

. . . http://thefreethoughtproject.com/army-corps-evict-notice-standing-rock/