Administration Provokes Million Veteran March on Washington
Small portion of the assembled marchers.
I fully believe that history will look at the events of October 13, 2013 as the day when people finally took constructive action against a government hell-bent on arbitrarily and selectively enforcing law and policy based on nothing but politics.
President Obama’s biggest mistake? Targeting veterans.
Since the government shutdown began on October 1, President Obama has done everything in his power to maximize the perceived “hurt” caused by the shutdown for political gain. The shutdown of War Memorials was one step too far.
(Let me pause for just one moment. This is not a government shutdown. 85% of the government is still operating as usual. This is a temporary 15% decrease in non-essential spending.)
As I was saying.
The President, in his unwillingness to even negotiate on budget matters, (not that his administration has ever passed a budget), has instead taken to spending resources to close memorials and parks that would otherwise be open to the public without the need for supervision. In some cases, the shutdown tactics are potentially costing more money than leaving things status quo. Pure insanity.
Finally able to take no more, a protest known as the Million Vet March (#1MVetMarch) assembled thousands of veterans and supporters at the World War Two Memorial. They had a simple message:
Tear down the walls, stop the politics, and support the veterans!!
The barricades blocking entrance to the open air memorials were seen as nothing but a calculated slap to the face of all those that had served and spilled blood in order to give people the right to assemble in the first place.
A little before 9am, there was already a sizable gathering at the WW2 Memorial. The barricades blocking entrance had already been removed by early attendees, and light rain and chilly wind did not deter the ever growing crowd.
Organizers had speakers use a wireless microphone and a makeshift speaker system to address the attendees in front of a row of news cameras who came to capture the early action.
Among the speakers were Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, Sarah Palin (who later walked among the crowd to distribute American flags), General William Boykin (who re-administered the service oath to attendees) , filmmaker Dennis Michael Lynch, Navy Seal Ben Smith, and many others.
When the speakers were finished, there was a call to move the protest on to both the Vietnam Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.
Marchers at the Vietnam Memorial.
Barriers at both were removed and Park Police stepped aside. The marchers numbers at this point was into the thousands.
At one point, one of the officers was asked by a participant if the Lincoln Memorial had been closed that morning. He responded, “It still is.”
Eventually, there was a call to move the protest on to the White House.
Many of the barricades that had been removed from memorials were brought with marchers in protest to the White House. This was done non-violently and solely intended to send a message to the President where he lives. 
At this point, the move to provoke reaction and show force was in full swing…by the administration, not the protesters.
As crowds gathered outside the north lawn of the White House, the police presence was upped significantly. In addition to the black uniform wearing Park Police, a riot squad dressed in blue assembled nearby to the protesters.
This by itself would have been perfectly acceptable. This is the President after all, and while protesters knew it was a non-violent march, they don’t take security lightly at the White House. 
On the other hand, the same administration looked the other way when Occupy members and even illegal aliens protested in the past. (Apparently veterans are considered more of a threat than temporarily homeless college students and criminal border jumpers.)
However, the upped police presence was apparently not enough to satisfy the administration….who must have been calling the shots. No, in a completely unprovoked move, the riot police marched single file to place themselves between the protesters and the White House fence that was in no danger of being breached.
Crowds surrounded the police and chanted “Shame on You” while blocking their forward progress.
Eventually, the initial “incursion” did back off, but soon, police were back to assemble an additional barricade about 75 feet long a few feet in front of the White House fence. This would clearly provide no serious additional blockade to any group that did, in fact, mean harm. People could simply walk around the fence.
Again, the only intention here must have been to attempt to provoke a reaction from the crowd. It was all for show, and it was completely intolerable as far as I’m concerned.
The storm eventually subsided without incident, but the only thing this administration accomplished was further agitation of an already dangerously full powder keg.
As the temporary slow down in non-essential services continues, as the debt limit nears being reached, as Obamacare begins it’s inevitable destruction of our economy, as freedoms are curtailed, as spending continues out of control, as Obama continues to make a mockery out of the Presidency; it won’t be long until the powder keg blows.
*****More video coming soon. As I upload them, check out our YouTube channel’s Million Vet March playlist.
Funny how not a peep about this from the MSM…
Great work Christian! Thank you for the reporting.
Thank you Christian for attending with me.
Yesterday’s events caused a swirl of powerful emotions within me. As a retired US Navy officer – I am very familiar with the sacrifices that my brothers and sisters have made (and are still making) to ensure that America remains the beacon of freedom and liberty on this planet.
When I was recalled to active duty in 2002 for Operation Enduring Freedom – I was stationed at Naval Support Activity Bahrain as the head of our Personnel Support Office and Disbursing Officer. That meant that I was accountable for the pay and benefits for all Sailors stationed in Bahrain.
During my tour, CDR Joe Acevedo passed away as a result of a heart attack. His wife and two sons were with stationed with him, since he had chosen an accompanied tour. I couldn’t fix the pain and suffering his family endured – but, in my official capacity, I was the person responsible for ensuring payment of CDR Acevedo’s “Death Gratuity”. I’ve seen how this payment has an immediate and positive impact for a grieving family.
Our President (and his team of lawyers) recently sought and found a reason to withold these types of payments to Gold Star Wives and Husbands. They found a reason to exacerbate the pain and suffering of families that will bear a burden that most of us have no concept.
I asked Christian to come with me yesterday because I wanted to go and stand up for those that can no longer stand up for themselves.
Our Veterans and our families of those that have fallen should not be used as political pawns. Anyone that can treat these people with anything but respect and admiration has shown themselves to be heartless, cruel, and completely devoid of compassion.
As we near Veterans day (in less than a month) – please take time to educate yourself on the issues that our Veteran community faces and ask those that are in position to fix these problems to please do so.
Dennis Peterson
CDR US Navy (SC) (Retired)
Thanks for inviting me Dennis. I admit, even up the point of leaving, I wasn’t really feeling the mood for another rally…and the entire day I would lose.
WOW.
Not only was this historical, but for the first time at one of these events I felt like I actually accomplished something. You are absolutely right about the sacrifices made by our veterans. To have an administration use them as pawns in a political standoff is disgusting.
To be a part of a group that actively engaged in civil disobedience and removed barricades was truly inspiring. I’m certainly glad it didn’t escalate further, but man alive I will never forget this.
Layin it on pretty thick there, Christian. To read this commentary one would think it’s all up to the President and the House of Representives has no day in the matter. How many clean funding bills from the Senate has Cry-Baby Boehner refused to allow a up or down vote on? Are we up to three now?
Poor veterans can’t visit Federal parks. I’m sure all those impoverished children cut off from eating through WIC are really feeling sorry for them. Maybe they should write a letter to one of their crazy Tea Party represenatives and ask them to actually govern (and pass a budget). They might feel better if they did, certainly better than hungry children.
Zon – How about Gold Star Wives & Husbands? What do you say to them?
I would say they deserve better than to be discarded by the nation they sacrificed so much for by petty politicians holding the nation’s economic prosperity hostage over healthcare legislation. Don’t lecture me on military sacrifice, my family has given its fair share of blood and prosperity in this country’s name. Foreign and domestic.
That said, thank you for your service and sacrifice.
It doesn’t matter what a man’s family did. The only question is, did you serve?
That comment shows you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.
I’ll take that as a no.
As such, I can assure you, having served as a US Marine myself, I know of what I speak. Hearing stories is not the same as been through it yourself.
Kayser- of course Zon did not serve his country. Cowards can only brag about what their “family” did.
Look who’s talking, Fatso. You couldn’t fight your way out of a wet paper bag. That is if we could find one big enough to fit around your ass.
Zon so you didn’t serve but you hide behind you grandma’s skirt? I am not fat- 5-11 and weigh 185. But I am glad you are worried about how fat my ass is, at least you are not trolling the school yards for the 4th graders to which you constantly refer. If fantasizing about my ass keeps you from molesting 4th graders- that’s a good thing.
Zon- remains of dead soldiers are not picked up by family members at Andrews- they are flown to the dead soldiers home town, or before air transport the remains were shipped by train. Get your bullshit straight.
“impoverished kids” that’s a giggle- they get fed at least two meals every day at school. Perhaps if daddy pays child support, mamma cuts off the HBO, and quits buying Tyrone $150 Nikes, there might be room for food without WIC. Plus Michelle Obama says that these kids are all obese (she should know, as she sports an ass like a borax mule) so a little hunger will help those pounds just melt away. Gotta run, the filet on the grill needs turning!
The stupid party lives!
It’s a drive-by trolling.
Excuse me? Was I talking to you to begin with? I don’t think I was. Since you can’t read, the discussion is about mothers with gold stars in their window. Not who served and who didn’t. So when two of your grandmothers and your mother have one, you’ve gone with your brother to pick up his son’s remains at Andrews; your great, great grandmother, and your great, great, great, great, great grandmother would have gotten one if they existed, you can talk to me about military sacrifice. But you’ll need to take that gun off your hip, first. Until then you’re nothing more than a scared pussy not worth my time.
Yet you keep “wasting” your time on us. Are you a glutton for punishment and ridicule or just not intelligent enough to know when you’re making an ass of yourself in public?
Soros is paying him good money to Troll so it’s not exactly a waste of time
Dennis, I am the guy standing behind the second fence, wearing the ACU hat and the white t-shirt. Do you have any more footage after that clip you have posted? I know that shortly after your clip ended, I was shoved around by the DC Metro Police and I would love to see the video of it.
Eric – I didn’t capture video from the White House, Christian did.
I didn’t want to remember the day when our Veterans had riot police called on them – I wanted to remember the day when we came together to remind a nation of the sacrifices that our heroes and their families have made in defense of liberty.
so,a few weeks ago there was money for a new war in syria,but now there spending money to close down war memorials and assaulting veterans?
the american collapse is one giant false flag.
“Today, America would be outraged if U.N. troops entered Los Angeles to restore order. Tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told that there were an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by the World Government.”
Dr. Henry Kissinger, Bilderberger Conference, Evians, France, 1991
Hey, one more thing. Wonder why the wing nuts had no interest in breaking down the barricades at the Lincoln Memorial? Can someone explain that, please? I already know the answer, just curious how y’all spin that one.
Because they know Lincoln was the POTUS that destroyed the Republic.
What?!? Lincoln held the Republic together. Hence, the reason for a memorial. Try again.
The states joined the union voluntarily, forming a republic of sovereign states. They did this based on the design of the concept that allowed them the benefits of the union while maintaining their sovereignty.
Following the war, they were forced to agree to never again leave the union. This was a major change to the original intent and design; many states would likely have not joined in the first place if they knew they could never leave.
Thus Lincoln, through these changes did hold the republic together as you say, however in doing so he destroyed the original design.
Imagine voluntarily joining a gym for your mutual benefit (they make a profit, you get in shape in a safe and comfortable environment) knowing that if you become dissatisfied with the prices or quality of services that you can cancel your membership. Now, would you agree to join that same gym if you knew in advance you could never leave or quit paying them? Would you be upset if – retroactively – they declared – by the use of force – that the terms of your membership were changed and you could no longer leave? Me thinks so.
The point is, the states came together voluntarily. They should be allowed to leave voluntarily (while wholly accepting the consequences of doing so). Lincoln ensured this would never happen. Thus, Lincoln destroyed the republic as it was originally designed.
just reread parts of this essential book last week.
kayser is correct,lincoln destroyed the republic as a voluntary association of sovereign states.
some anti-federalists foresaw this in their opposition to the constitution in favor of the articles of confederation.
https://mises.org/store/Real-Lincoln-The-P172.aspx
“this notion-that the federal union preceded the states-is not only a lie,but a spectacular lie.” donald l livingston ,emory university
All very nice if you’re into that sort of thing, but does not answer the original question. You’re typing a whole lot without saying anything.
I’m pretty sure your original question was, “What?” And, yes, I did answer it. But again, as per usual, you can’t (or won’t) put together an argument before resorting to insults.
Kayser: No, the original question was “why?” As in why were these protestors not concerned with opening the Lincoln Memorial? And you responded it was because Lincoln tore the Union apart. To which I responded “huh?” as in, did he really say that? To which you disagreed with yourself by saying he really did hold the union together, but he broke it by keeping the union together. To which I responded you’re typing a lot but not saying anything for not yet answering the original question. To which you were insulted. Got the summary?
All I want to know is why these protestors were so unconcerned with the closure of the Lincoln memorial, while being so concerned with the WWII memorial? That’s all I care to hear and it’s simple question.
That questioned too was answered.
No, I don’t think it was. Here’s why the wing nuts have no interest in opening the Lincoln Memorial: He stood up for people with brown and black skin. And there are few things a wing nut likes less than people with brown and black skin.
Might be true, but at least you finally made a point. But here’s the thing, ask any racist Southerner and they will tell you, the war was not about slavery, it was about taxation. Lincoln, like any politician worth his salt, used the slaves as leverage to get what he wanted. No different than those who tell us today, “it’s for the children.”
I’ve heard it was about states rights so many times I think I’ll puke the next time I do. I guess it was about states rights…state’s rights to protect the business of human bondage. To me a good reason to have a strong federal government in the first place, to protect Americans from oppression within their states.
Well get a bucket. It was about states’ rights. And dare I say if there is ever another one it will be about that again.
Oppression within the states occurs today just as it did then, but we also get oppression from the fedgov as well. In a growing number of peoples’ minds the oppression from the fedgov has risen to greater heights than the states. While people can move from one state to another in an attempt to escape whatever it is that oppresses them, they cannot escape the federal oppression. Worst yet, the fed gov has no incentive to change because they know you cannot escape. If we want less oppression we should lessen the strength of the fed gov, give it back to the states, and allow the people to decide where they want to live. This is achievable by redirecting tax dollars to the states from where they originated. If NC is too wing nut for them they can move to CA. If CA is too libtard they can move to AZ, and so on. States want tax revenue (corporate and individual), so they will cater politically to the people who live there. If they get too far out of whack left or right they will cause people to immigrate or emigrate. As such each state will develop what I call a “political personality and brand”. In essence we already have that to some degree, but with a weakend fedgov (limited to defense and interstate commerce), states will have to compete for labor and businesses based on their brand of political personality. I believe this would create a more centrist/balanced form of governing. The right would love to see this, of course, but the left would cry racism, etc. But the one fact of life that the left seems to miss is that most people want to associate and live among other people that are similar to themselves. And, right or wrong, that includes skin color among the other demographics such as income, education, religion, ethnicity, traditions/culture, etc.
We are all EQUAL, but we are not all the SAME. Why should we be forced to pretend we are?
there was a similar misunderstanding of history on cnn this weekend.charlie rangel demonstrates the widespread ignorance of the lincoln war of aggression and bob wenzel delivers the response,the comments are well worth the read;
http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2013/10/charlie-rangel-botches-history.html
We are living in a fascist police state
http://libertycrier.com/will-protect-police-rise-government-sanctioned-home-invasions/
and more and more are dying;
http://freedominourtime.blogspot.com/2013/10/rough-men-stand-ready-to-kill-you-in.html