by Gabe Ignetti 04/15/2025
In May 1932, jobless WWI veterans organized a group called the a march on Washington. 43,000 demonstrators including 17,000 veterans their families, and affiliated groups gathered to demand to demand compensation from the Federal Government for their sacrifices in World War 1. That march and it’s suppression by the military was a key factor in the overturning of a deeply reactionary Republican Administration and the onset of the New Deal.
In this same month of May 2025 plans are being made in Washington for a military parade by Donald Trump’s birthday on June 14th honoring himself. All this is occurring in the face of his planned cut of 72,000 employees in the Veterans Administration to improve “efficiency” on an agency with an already existing reputation for taking forever to process disability claims that are vital to the health of our veterans.
This is also occurring at a time when over 30,000 US war veterans are rotting on the streets and when nearly 26% of active-duty service members are considered food insecure, and about 15% rely on food stamps or food banks to help support their families.
It’s well past time that the United States government to put less care about it’s patrons at Lockheed Martin and more care into their soldiers and veterans. It’s time to build for a new Veterans March on Washington on June 14th to counter this military parade honoring this aspiring dictator and this is the best way to defeat him. This is not just a moral question alone but a tactical one as well. The crux of Trump or any dictator in history succeeding is based on the support of their rank and file soldiers and these are the same troops that are being grossly underpaid, exploited and expendable in the pursuit of the reckless dreams of our “fearless leader”.
Trump hast openly declared that he intends to use military force against political dissent in this nation and the question of whether these same exploited soldiers are ready to pull the trigger is pivotal as to whether he succeeds or fails. They will have to choose on whether or not to stand down and uphold the US Constitution. The stark choice will be to to either resist or to follow the path of least resistance. All of our efforts against Trump cannot and will not succeed unless and until we put the issues facing our troops and veterans front and center and June 14th is the day to do it.
REPLY FROM LORENZO CANIZARES
There is no doubt that the Veterans March became a turning point in the history of this nation by contributing immensely to the election of FDR and the implementation of the New Deal.
The nation’s mindset has to be adjusted towards taking bold steps towards rallying the American people in the fight against encroaching fascism.
But let’s not make the mistake of comparing today with the 30’s. Today we are in a much more difficult position, today WE are the imperialist nation that is involved in several wars with 840 military bases throughout the world. And we are looking for more wars threatening foes and allies alike. All due to a desire to maintain ourselves as the sole hegemonistic power in the world.
See this thought by Professor Jeffrey Sachs
“The multipolar world will be born when the geopolitical weight of Asia, Africa, and Latin America matches their rising economic weight. This needed shift in geopolitics has been delayed as the US and Europe cling to outdated prerogatives built into international institutions and to their outdated mindsets. Even today, the US bullies Canada, Greenland, Panama and others in the Western Hemisphere and threatens the rest of the world with unilateral tariffs and sanctions that are blatantly in violation of international rules.
Asia, Africa and Latin America need to stick together to raise their collective voice and their UN votes to usher in a new and fair international system. A crucial institution in need of reform is the UN Security Council, given its unique responsibility under the UN Charter to keep the peace. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the P5) – Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States – reflect the world of 1945, not of 2025. There are no permanent Latin American or African seats, and Asia holds only one permanent seat of the five, despite being home to almost 60% of the world population. Over the years, many new potential UN Security Council permanent members have been proposed, but the existing P5 have held firmly to their privileged position.”
