Antiwar Iraq Vets Arrested for Dissent

Ten antiwar Iraq veterans, along with five civilians, pleaded not guilty to charges of disorderly conduct this week in Hempstead, New York. The Hempstead 15, as they've come to be known, were arrested on October 15 for for leading a peaceful protest outside the final presidential debate at Hofstra University . One of the charged veterans, Sgt. Nick Morgan, suffered severe injuries after being forced to the ground and having his face crushed by a police horse. Morgan, visibly shaken after the arraignment, said police officers had violated a number of his constitutional rights in the course of the action. The 24-year-old veteran of the US war in Iraq was among a delegation of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) who had come to the Presidential debates in Long Island demanding that veterans' concerns be heard during the nationally televised event.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• commentary
• analysis
• iraq
• veterans
• dissent
• fascism
• documentary

[Reegatron]

Yeah! Yeah! You are so right swiftlou.

What a bunch of fags they are for having the courage to stand up to the enormous war crime, and massive shitting-on of the US constitution, that is the Iraq war...the greatest violation of international law since Vietnam.

Hellz yeah swiflou, why don't you have a fucking barbecue to celebrate the fascist repression of these men's freedom of speech by your own government.

Sorry for using big words, I know grunts don't like politics.

You are an IDIOT

[Dixonberry9]

Honestly I am for the war but cops beating veterans pisses me off. That cop is a pussy who is hiding behind his badge and his horse. Until that cop has done a tour in Iraq he is nothing more than horse shit compared to that vet. I feel that Vets are above all and should be treated with respect and reverence.

[hunhunter777]

sorry to say it but yer nation disgusts me,,,,,and this is just one of the reasons,,, ye attack countries and regimes all over the world for apparently havin no freedoms,,,, if any damn police officer tried to arrest me like that for protestin in a peaceful manner,,,,,i,d take thier fuckin head off,

[Spaceshotx7]

why would the cops go arrest people for a peaceful protest outside the building where the presidential debate was going on?

[AmericaDevil]

If there's anyone who has the right to protest the war, it's the war veterans.

[UrbanMilitare]

What a fantastic story. I love happy endings. And I should add that I hope it hurt like hell! Fuck Off Morgan

[Reegatron]

@swiftlou

I refer you again to my original comment:

What a bunch of fags they are for having the courage to stand up to the enormous war crime, and massive shitting-on of the US constitution, that is the Iraq war...the greatest violation of international law since Vietnam.

Why don't you have a fucking barbecue to celebrate the fascist repression of these men's freedom of speech by your own government.

Sorry for using big words, I know grunts don't like politics.

You are an IDIOT

[romeosevendelta]

@AngrySigh

Still, it shows just how desperate the IVAW is to get 'real' vets in. Of course, if they've got any better alternatives to letting a nation go to shit, they could always base their opposition to the war on a real solution to iraq's lack of government and a radical form of religion threatening the people's way of life instead of grabbing up a few token veterans to stand in front of the camera and say 'i don't agree with this illegal occupation' a lot.

[AngrySigh]

@romeosevendelta Hmm, I looked it up and there do seem to be a few of them. Of course, they are a minority. It's unfortunate the way a few nutcases can make everyone look bad. I imagine this is a problem with any cause.

[romeosevendelta]

@AngrySigh

Then you're mistaken in thinking i'm mistaken. There's at least 4 that were lying and weren't veterans of anything except pro bullshitting.

[AngrySigh]

@romeosevendelta I think you're mistaken. You don't have to have served in Iraq to be a member, you have simply to have served since the illegal occupation.