Download PDF of this full issue: v7n1.pdf (8.2 MB)

VVAW Actions Hit Pardon

By VVAW

A VVAW picket line organized by the Bay Area Chapter demands Universal, Unconditional Amnesty and a Single-Type Discharge on the steps of the Federal Building in San Francisco on the day that Carter issued his phony pardon.

When Carter's "pardon" was announced, VVAW chapters around the country not only took actions to demand universal, unconditional amnesty, but also used the occasion to talk about the Vietnam War and why VVAW says the "We Won't Fight Another Rich Man's War."

In Philadelphia, where the local American Legion boycotted the Inauguration Day Parade in protest against the pardon, the VVAW chapter held a picket line at the Navy Recruiting Center 3 days after the pardon was announced. As the chapter pointed out, it was important to show that the Legion and similar vets' organizations do not speak for all vets, and particularly do not speak for Vietnam veterans. In fact the draft resisters committed no crime--they were right! The real criminals are the ruling class of this country, the military generals and the government officials who waged the war against the Indochinese people.

In San Francisco, the Bay Area VVAW Chapter brought together 40 people at the Federal Building on the day that the "pardon" was announced, demanding amnesty and a single-type discharge for all vets. A press conference several days later emphasized how VVAW's demand for amnesty is closely related to our slogan that we won't fight another war for the rich who sent us off to Vietnam for their profits.

In Madison, Wisconsin, a debate was held between VVAW and a state official of the VFW. When VVAW talked about rich man's war, the VFW commander immediately declared that his organization was also opposed to rich man's wars and had always stood against them. When asked where he--and the VFW--were when VVAW was in the streets protesting the war in Vietnam, however, the VFW representative could find nothing to say.

In VVAW press conference in Chicago, a VVAW spokesman to how Carter's "pardon" simply divided resisters according to the time they learned to resist--whether we refused to register for the draft, fought back by deserting once we were in the military, or demonstrated against the war once we got out, it was all resistance to the same unjust war.

In other cities around the country, VVAW members held picket lines, handed out leaflets, conducted press conferences, wrote letter--all showing our determination to fight for universal, unconditional amnesty until it is finally won.