The $14 Million Dollar Army Experience Center,
located in Philadelphia's Franklin Mills Mall,
was the target
of nearly 50 Veterans and 150 Peace Activists on Saturday, May 2, 2009.
The 3 males behind the Delaware Valley Vets banner are all
Combat Veterans
of the 101st Airborne Division.
Left to right: Iraq Vet Kyle Quigley, Colonel Ann
Wright, 'Nam Vet
Bill Perry, Gold Star Mom of KIA Lt Seth Dvorin, Sue Niederer, and Iraq
Combat
Vet Staff Sgt Jesse Hamilton.
Background folks include 'Nam Vet Prof Camillo Mac Bica, and
Capital Hill
Super Activist Desiree Farooz.
Gold Star Mom Sue Niederer explains how her KIA son was duped
into the
Military, and she questions how can ANY 13 to 17 year old can make an
informed
decision in these rough economic times, when the Army is offering
graphic "kill"
videos on BIG screens, for free.
Del Val Vet, and IVAW member, Staff Sgt Jesse Hamilton
explains the REAL
Hummer and the Apache Helicopter that the 13 to 17 year old kids hang
out of,
firing at projected images of "Hajji's and RagHeads" that are projected
onto the
wall, while the Army computer tabulates and tally's their "KILLS"
Colonel Ann Wright (who resigned from the State Department on
the Eve of
Shock & Awe)
gives the overview of our Mission to RAISE
PARENTAL AWARENESS
of the CHILD ABUSE being practiced in our backyard, by
the U.S.
Army
Gold Star step-Mom of KIA Sgt Sherwood Baker, Joan Kosloff
'Nam Vet Tarak Kauff, National Archives Occupier, Impeach
Organizer, and
"Prosecute the War Criminals" working group brought his
hard driving
brand of activism to the AE demo
The Army Experience had about 60 Philly cops outside, 20 cops
inside, and
Government security, plus the Malls' huge Private army of
Mall (Simon
Properties) security people.
It is extremely important for the Army to keep the super
successful Army
Experience Center open, without much attention, so the Army can
REPLICATE it,
and build more AE's in YOUR neighborhood.
Del Val Happy Warrior, Sandy the Graphic Artist
Rob't the Poet, Taking Charge, & raising $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Pete the Corpsman, & Rich the Navy techie
Del Val Happy Warrior, Sandy the Graphic Artist
Rob't the Poet, Taking Charge, & raising $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Pete the Corpsman, & Rich the Navy techie
Del Val Vets include Iraq Vets Against the War (IVAW.org),
VietNam Vets
Against the War (VVAW) , Veterans For Peace (VFP) and Disabled American
Veterans
(DAV) Many of our members belong to 2 or 3 of these Organizations.
Combat Veterans have the most authentic voices in opposition
to our unjust
wars and occupations all across the planet
One of my co-organizers, Pat Elder, with VFP Board Member and
VVAW
activist, P-Mac, and Del Val troops Ray Smith & Kyle Quigley in the
background
One of the most encouraging things was the number of youth in
the Rally,
including Sabita and her high energy, exuberant YaYa
group
Mah fellow co-conspirator, & co-organizer, Elaine Brower
(Military
Families Speak Out {MFSO.org} and World Can't Wait) was one of 7
Arestees, @ the
AE
Our 7 "Shut Down the Army Experience" arrestees were held for
5 hours in
the 2nd/15th District Lock Up.
Colonel Ann Wright and me went around the back, into the
police parking
lot, and up to the barred and screened cellblock windows, where we were
communicating, and even singing with our arrestees.
Needless to say, the cops didn't play that, and 4 of them
barreled out, and
confronted us, fully ready to do the ole up against the wall &
spread 'em
thing... They wanted to arrest us for trespassing on private property,
at our
taxpayer funded community jail...
go figure...
All 7 arrestees were released after 5 hours, and everybody is
back to
plotting how to STOP the REPLICATION of the ARMY EXPERIENCE CENTER in
YOUR neighborhood!
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