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VVAW-WSO Protests Continue!

By VVAW

On the anniversary of the signing of the Peace Agreement on Ending the War in Vietnam, it was evident that these agreements were being violated by the United States and the Thieu government in Saigon. This fact prompted VVAW/WSO to organize and participate in demonstrations across the country to heighten the public awareness around this and other major issues of the day. In addition to demanding an end to US involvement in Indochina, VVAW/WSO also demanded that Nixon be kicked out of office for criminal acts against the American people and the people of the world, and for universal and unconditional amnesty for all war resisters. These demonstrations united around these three demands drew the support of many other organizations, in what is becoming a united effort to expose the administration in Washington DC and the businessmen who control it.

The demonstrations were kicked off in Washington DC, on Friday, January 25, when six members of VVAW/WSO and one reporter entered the Saigon Information Office's Psy/War Ministry and asked the occupants to leave. Eventually all of the employees left and VVAW/WSO members draped banners out of the window reading, 'Implement the Peace Accords' and another reading, 'VVAW/WSO'. After one hour of occupation, the police broke into the building and arrested the demonstrators who had intended to stay there until the US recognized its duty to implement the peace accords. Just prior to the police break-in, the vets called the Provisional Revolutionary Government's Paris office to express their solidarity with the Vietnamese people.

The six members were taken to jail and were finally charged with interfering a diplomatic mission. They will be tried in US Superior Court on March 6th and the veterans will challenge the legality of the Saigon government as their defense.

On Saturday, January 26th, the organization initiated and participated in demonstrations, rallies and vigils across the country. In Chicago, Illinois, the VVAW/WSO chapter initiated a march and rally that drew 400 people. The march proceeded down the main street of Chicago, State Street, and wound up at the Civic Center for a rally where demonstrators listened to speakers form the Revolutionary Union, the Puerto Rican Socialist Party and VVAW/WSO member, John Young, former POW. The spirited demonstrators marched through pouring rain and were greeted and encouraged by many of the shoppers along the way. This demonstration drew the support of many organizations in Chicago that support these demands. Some of these groups include: CAGLA, the October League, RU, PSP, the New World Resource Center, the National Lawyers Guild, the Cultural Workers Committee, Bread and Roses, and the Throw the Bum Out Coalition.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the chapter organized a march through their neighborhood and drew 200 community people out into the rain to demand implementation of the agreements, universal and unconditional amnesty for all war resisters, and Kick Nixon Out! After the march and rally, about 75 community people and VVAW/WSO members got together informally and discussed the reasons why these demands are necessary for all the American people.

A two day fast and a nighttime vigil were sponsored by the Denver, Colorado Springs and Boulder chapters. These events were held on the steps of the Capitol Building in Denver. About 25 people fasted for the two day period, and the vigil attracted over 125. The fast was marked by enthusiastic support form the people of that city who were in agreement with the three demands.

The California chapters participated in cultural and political events sponsored by the Indochina Solidarity Committee and the Bay Area Coalition to Free Political Prisoners in South Vietnam. This educational held in Oakland preceeded a night of music and speakers that attracted over 600 people who listened to, among others, Bob McBrity of VVAW/WSO who spoke for the need for amnesty for all war resisters.

Other demonstrations and leafletting took place in chapters across the country including: Miami, Florida; Columbus, Ohio; Kansa City, Missouri; and Buffalo, Rochester and New York City, New York.

As the growing unrest of the people builds and as more and more people take to the streets to demonstrate their concern over the ever-increasing crimes of the American government, these marches and rallies will continue to draw the unqualified support of the majority of the American people.

BUILD VVAW-WSO

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