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What Is VVAW-WSO?

By VVAW

Vietnam Veterans Against the War/Winter Soldier Organization (VVAW/WSO) is a mass, anti-imperialist organization which focuses its works on the struggles of veterans and GIs. We began as a group of Vietnam veterans actively protesting the war in Indochina. As our protest grew, however, we came to realize that the real problem was not just the war but the system of imperialism. Based on our experiences in Vietnam and our experiences after we returned to the United States, we now see what imperialism is: the system which exploits the poor and working people around the world and here at home in the interests of the corporate profit-makers. Imperialism needs wars like Vietnam in order to survive.

Today, we are fighting against imperialism on two fronts. As we have in the past, we actively support the liberation struggles of the Indochinese people and demand an end to US involvement in Indochina. Since we see that imperialism also exploits people all around the world, we support the many other liberation struggles as people fight for freedom and independence.

But we see that the same system of imperialism which tried to suppress other people is hard at work here in the United States. As a result, we have taken up people's struggles at home. We have declared war on the whole Veterans Administration network which does not and cannot meet the real needs of veterans. We struggle against the racism and repression in the US military. Because of the current economic crises, we are fighting for jobs or income for all, not just for veterans who are hard hit by unemployment political prisoners around the county in support of their struggles. And we are in the forefront of the fight for universal, unconditional amnesty for all war resisters. All of these struggles are part of the overall struggle against imperialism; they make up our national program for action.

This program is carried out by our members who work in chapters throughout the US and overseas in Japan and England. Chapters also work on local programs and campaigns. Our members are veterans and non-veterans, GIs and civilians who struggle to end imperialism, understand the importance of building a fighting veterans and GI movement, and are making that movement grow. We are doing our part to fight a system which oppresses us all; if you want to join in that fight, or to get more information about our national or local programs, contact the local VVAW/WSO chapter, the regional office, or the VVAW/WSO National Office, 827 W. Newport, Chicago, Illinois 60657 (phone: 312-935-2129).