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Court Backs Down: Victory for Detroit Veteran

By VVAW

Over the past few months veterans and others in Detroit and around the country have closed ranks behind Ali Hussin, a disabled Vietnam veteran and an active member of VVAW. Ali has been the victim of disability cuts by the Veterans Administration. For two years he has been involved in a fight against the VA, both around his own case and for decent medical benefits for all veterans. Ali is just one of thousands of veterans around the country faced with cuts in disability benefits, cuts in the GI Bill and cuts in medical care at the VA hospitals. But rather than lying down and taking this, Ali and broad number of supporters have been fighting back and winning.

Ali got sick in Vietnam with a rare disease called Sarcoidosis. The disease has no known cure and has already resulted in lung disease, hypertension, constant pain and fatigue. For the last two years he hasn't been able to work. He lost the few part-time jobs he was able to land, because he'd get so sick he'd end up in the VA hospital. And yet, all this time the VA refused him 100% disability. The most he ever received was 60% or $298 a month for him, his wife and two year old daughter to live on!

In July of this year, while in the hospital, Ali received a letter from the VA cutting his disability from 60% to 30%. Further they said they would cut it to 10% by March of 1978. The VA was, in effect, driving Ali and family into the dirt, and Ali was not about to stand by and let that happen.

He went to the Assistant Director of the Regional VA, Gordon W. Clowny, to find out why his disability was being cut. Clowny told him, "We know who you are. And we thought this out carefully because we knew you'd cause trouble if we cut you off." These words, along with years of built up anger at what was going on provoked Ali into a fist fight with Clowny; Ali the winners. After what they ad done to him, the VA had the gall to press charges of assault against Ali.

What is Ali's "big crime" and what did Clowny mean when he said, "We know who you are?" Two years ago Ali helped organize a committee of hospital patients at the Allen Park VA demanding decent healthcare. Some of the vets were lying in their own waste and there weren't clean towels or soap in some of the wards. They held a picket line outside the hospital and patients came in their wheelchairs and with intravenous bottles in their arms. It shook the foundations of the hospital and forced some improvements--not because of some nice VA bureaucrat, but because the vets stood up determined to change things.

In retaliation the hospital Chief of Staff ordered a big red card put in Ali's file saying, "Do not admit this veteran without permission from the Chief of Staff." In March, 1977 when doctors in the clinic admitted him to the hospital saying he was too sick to be on the street, the Chief of Staff came down to his room and said he was a "trouble maker" and had him thrown out of the hospital. Rather than charging Ali, this animal should be charged with attempted murder!

The case the VA built up against Ali, culminating in the slashing of his disability to 10% is nothing but pure revenge against a veteran who stood up to fight for decent benefits for all vets. It represents a clear case of the "use once and throw away" attitude that the ruling class of this country has towards vets. When the time came to send Ali and other vets to Vietnam to fight and possibly die for the ruling rich there were no cutbacks, only promises of a good life afterwards. But the "good life" turned into a nightmare of decaying hospitals and a rotting system, with no jobs and cuts in benefits. It was this situation that made people in Detroit and elsewhere take up the case of Ali--to fight for his 100% and to get the charges against him dropped.

On August 21, the campaign kicked off with a fund-raising dinner attended by 150 people: veterans, workers and many people form the Arab community of which Ali is a member. The dinner was highlighted by a "people's trial" putting the top VA officials and Uncle Sam on trial for murder, robbery and conspiracy. Veterans testified to the crimes of the VA. One vet testified about how he was used in Vietnam and how he is now being cut of his GI Bill benefits, along with many other vets at Wayne State University. A woman sent a message testifying how her brother died in a VA hospital due directly to VA negligence. When it came time for the people to give their verdict the unanimous decision was GUILTY on all charges.

Telegrams of support for Ali were sent from the national staffs of VVAW, the Unemployed Workers Organizing Committee and the National United Workers Organization. A member of the Narcisco-Perez Defense Committee (see article on page 7) explained about their frame-up. The dinner was a great success and gave further spirit for the demonstrations the next day.

On Monday, 50 angry people picketed outside the Regional VA building demanding "100% Disability for Ali Hussin" and "Drop the Charges." Many veterans who passed by expressed support for him and signed petitions. A number told how they were down there because they received letters from the VA cutting their disabilities. After awhile the 50 marched into the offices of the big-shots, taking them by suprize and leaving them babbling incoherent. One flunkie said he didn't even know who Ali was, which was an out and out lie because he was there during the Hussin-Clowny match. The biggest surprise the got was that Ali was not alone, but had 50 supporters including his mother, grandmother and wife. His grandmother accused the VA of trying to kill him and said they had better give him his disability. The bureaucrats said they didn't know what was going on and played dumb (not too hard for them.) The next day a victory was won when Ali received a letter from the VA saying that he could appeal their decision. This after the VA said there was nothing that could be done. It showed the power that comes when people unite and fight back. A partial victory but a big step in winning his 100% disability.

But the charges against Ali were still pending and the next phase of the campaign was to get them dropped. On September 7th the da of the trial about 45 people showed up at the courthouse. Immediately the guards came running out saying, "No pickets." But due to the numbers and the strength, the chief judge of the courthouse came out and relented, saying it was okay. Leaflets were handed out to all who entered the building and chants in support of Ali rang through the street. It was clear that we were creating a lot of worry for the courts and the VA officials who were pressing the charges. To underscore this point Ali's lawyer related afterwards that because of the many supporters, the chief judge came to him with the idea of disposing of the charges. When the judge entered the courtroom he was faced by a roomful of Ali's supporters, badly outnumbering the shaking VA hacks. After several minutes the judge dropped the charges saying that Ali couldn't go to the VA to cause "trouble." A burst of applause filled the courtroom. A major victory had been won!

As soon as a short rally was held on the steps of the courthouse everyone went to the Regional VA and held another picket line demanding "100% Disability for Ali". Many passersby knew about Ali's case and were glad that the charges were dropped. A delegations of three vets went up to Clowny's office in spite of the fact that the VA had imported a squad of guards from Chicago, dressed like paratroopers, to keep us out. Clowny paled at the sight of the vets, being trailed by guards, one of them still mumbling, "what are they doing here?" Clowny and the VA were put on notice that they hadn't heard the last of Ali--that they wanted the 100%.

Ali's appeal case comes up in November and they are planning to be heard from again at the hearing.

Thousands of veterans came back from Vietnam, angry about being used to fight the rich man's war. And the anger continues over the way the VA is chopping up veterans benefits. What is happening to Ali is happening to countless veterans. The VA would like nothing better than for vets to lie back and take all these cuts without a ward, but that's not the way things happen in the real world. The only way to stop from being ground down is to stand up and fight. This is as clear as a bell in the case of Ali. What's involved in his case is such a clear example of how the VA screws over vets that it has won the support of people everywhere. Winning the disability for him will be a victory for all veterans, especially those who are being cut. It's an example of how when veterans unite, victories will be won.