I just got arrested for the primary time in my life… and it was value it.
When information broke earlier this month of President Donald Trump’s undesirable, pointless, and unneeded mobilization of California’s National Guard in Los Angeles to squash protests, I used to be livid.
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I used to be already pissed about Trump’s insistence {that a} navy parade be held to mark the Military’s 250th birthday, however which additionally “occurred” to fall on his birthday and can price taxpayers upwards of $45 million dollars.
I’m a veteran who works with veterans on daily basis.
I’m intently linked with a big community of service organizations (each federal and nonprofit) whose missions are to assist veterans with their advantages, with homelessness, with emergency help, with employment. There’s not a single one in every of these organizations that isn’t at the moment affected by funding cuts. A few of them, like this system I work for, are on cusp of being eradicated altogether.
Trump’s “Large Stunning Invoice” proposes to get rid of my group beneath the guise of “saving” taxpayers cash. The work we do is significant and has a measurable impact on the lives of the veterans we serve. What measurable objective does this present of narcissistic propaganda present? I can not consider one.
We don’t “deal with veterans” by eliminating — or making it tougher for veterans to obtain — the providers they want. I do know Trump doesn’t care about veterans or about active-duty navy personnel. If he did, he wouldn’t ship them into our civilian communities and pit them towards their fellow residents. If he did, he wouldn’t go to our navy bases, hock his cheap MAGA merchandise there, and politicize our troops with inflammatory rhetoric towards his opposing political occasion.
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I wanted to do one thing productive with my rage, so I linked with Veterans for Peace and realized that About Face, an anti-war veteran nonprofit, deliberate to protest towards the precise points which are making my hair stand on finish.
I flew into Washington, D.C., on Friday afternoon to participate of their demonstration. I had no particulars about what would happen, only a time and a location, however I went with out hesitation.
Once I arrived, I used to be met by a room stuffed with women and men who had given years of service to this nation — from Vietnam veterans to those that had simply returned from serving — together with some relations of vets.
Most of the people there had been injured in fight. Some required assistive units attributable to disabilities or as a result of age required it. A lot of them wrestle with ache each single day. However it doesn’t matter what most of us are going by, even when our our bodies are failing us, we proceed to struggle for what is correct. We struggle for what we signed up for. We struggle for what we swore an oath to — not an individual or an workplace, however the Structure of america.
What’s occurring proper now on this nation is just not regular. Trump and his administration are uncontrolled. Our troops shouldn’t be used as pawns in an tried political coup. Their lives shouldn’t be put in danger for the sake of a political occasion’s rabid pursuit of whole energy.
As soon as everybody arrived, we gathered on the steps of the Supreme Courtroom constructing for a press convention. Many veterans shared their tales of the emotional battles they confronted between what that they had been commanded to do and what their conscience advised them to do.
Too typically, troops are used to profit political figures or the firms that again these figures. This can not stand. Our troops have names and faces and households and lives, and we deserve higher than for use in a recreation of “how a lot can we achieve from their sacrifices?”
After the press convention, we made our approach to the Capitol Constructing for a photo-op. It will have been straightforward to cease there — take an image with our banner and our indicators, and name it a day.
However would which have made the information? Most likely not.
There was a gap within the barricade within the very middle of the grounds. We didn’t want to maneuver something. As soon as the primary veteran in our group slipped by, the remainder of us flooded in. There have been positively extra of us than Capitol police, however they instantly sprang into motion.
I can not think about what they have been pondering — or feeling — after they noticed us.
We knew that trying this type of direct motion within the aftermath of the rebel that befell on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was extremely dangerous for therefore many causes. Individuals had died on that day, and at least four Capitol police officers later died by suicide after responding to the carnage that befell there.
Our purpose — our objective — had nothing to do with violence. We merely wished to get our message out into the world. Nevertheless, there was no approach for these officers to know that, in order that they did what they have been skilled to do. They laid palms on whomever they might get near. They charged demonstrators who they in all probability assumed have been a menace.
Leigh Vogel by way of Getty Photographs
As quickly as we reached the second barricade and I noticed the police’s response escalating, I sat down on a step. That’s what we have been there for: to take a seat on the steps of the Capitol Constructing and inform our message.
“Advantages not Bullshit!” we chanted. “Disgrace, disgrace, not in our identify!” we yelled. “Vets say get up! Navy stand down! Time to decide on a facet! Select the folks now!” “We won’t cease! We won’t retreat! Get our navy off our streets!”
I’m unsure how lengthy they allow us to go on like that. I didn’t have a watch or my cellphone, simply my I.D. and $50 money for bail.
After they snatched our banner and our flags and started to take us into custody, I went and not using a fuss. Our goal had been met. The mission was completed.
They lined us up, zip-tied our palms behind our backs, and stood us in a single file arc. One officer was assigned to every protester to maintain a grip on one in every of our biceps always.
The cop who “apprehended” me was younger — so younger. He was tall, athletic, and gave the impression to be in his early 20s. As a result of there have been so many protesters, it took some time for everybody to be zip-tied, so he stood subsequent to me for fairly a very long time as we waited.
I used to be utterly effective with the whole lot that was occurring. As a Gen-X vet who has discovered herself mobilized by activism for the primary time in her life, I don’t give any fucks about being arrested for rising up towards what I imagine to be a Nazi regime. However this younger police officer didn’t appear to be OK. In truth, he was shaking. I knew the climate forecast had predicted rain, so after I felt droplets on my arm, I assumed a storm had began, however then I noticed it was sweat from this cop’s forehead.
That second — that single second — hit me tougher than my very own arrest. More durable than nearly anything I felt this complete weekend.
I noticed this child was completely terrified.
I used to be so involved for him. Scaring the Capitol Police had not been our mission. Inflicting them hurt was not a part of our plan. It made me notice that if a bunch of nonviolent vets peacefully chanting had rattled a younger Capitol cop that badly, the occasions of Jan. 6, 2021, should actually have been an absolute nightmare.
After all most of us knew that, no less than in idea. We’ve all seen the footage. We’ve all learn the tales. However till I had seen the fear in that child’s eyes, I hadn’t even begun to understand the complete weight of what befell on that day and the reverberations which are nonetheless being felt. I do know I by no means will — how might I? However I really feel sure of some issues within the wake of our protest and our arrests.
What we did on Friday night time was our patriotic obligation. Utilizing our our bodies and our voices to peacefully confront and problem what is going on in our nation is probably essentially the most American factor that an individual can do, and I’m proud that I used to be a part of it. Our motion was very completely different from what befell on Jan. 6 — in conception, in spirit, and in consequence — and anybody who compares these two occasions is both silly or willfully attempting to deceive others. What’s extra, due to what occurred on Jan. 6, our protest was much more necessary. We have been there to problem the whole lot that the insurrectionists — and their leaders — stand for.
“What we did on Friday night time was our patriotic obligation. Utilizing our our bodies and our voices to peacefully confront and problem what is going on in our nation is probably essentially the most American factor that an individual can do, and I’m proud that I used to be a part of it.”
People who’ve devoted their lives to defending the general public and our Structure — whether or not it’s troopers, law enforcement officials, the nationwide guard or anybody else — shouldn’t be requested or ordered to take part in unlawful actions for the good thing about corrupt would-be kings or his merciless minions. In addition they shouldn’t need to defend property, politicians or Americans from his unhinged followers.
However we are actually in a wierd time when “shouldn’t” doesn’t appear to use.
Our democracy is in peril. The reality is being trampled. I imagine none of us may be protected when those that rule us are solely excited about energy and earnings.
So, we should proceed to point out up and converse out in no matter methods really feel proper for us. For me, and the courageous veterans who demonstrated with me, that meant getting arrested to make the purpose that we refuse for use within the service of fascism. For you, that may look very completely different.
However please, I urge you, do one thing.
I’m not sorry for my actions. Our message is necessary. We’re at a vital second in historical past. However I’m sorry for any concern the Capitol police skilled due to our motion, and I’m disheartened to consider the concern they have to face on daily basis — particularly since Jan. 6.
I like this nation — a lot that I signed as much as defend her, even when it meant shedding my life. A lot that I confirmed up on Friday night time realizing that I may be arrested. And I’ll hold doing no matter I can to assist guarantee america doesn’t fall. Will you be a part of me?
Katie Bauer has an M.F.A. in artistic writing from Goddard Faculty, a J.D. from Thurgood Marshall College of Regulation, and a B.A. in training from Western Washington College. Her e book, “Discovering My Reflection: A Caregiver’s Perspective on Life Classes Discovered Too Late,” is a set of essays associated to her late husband’s battle with ALS. Her historical past is comprised of jets, plane carriers, college students, theatres, and courtrooms. She is obsessed with advocating for veterans’ rights and the constitutional rights of all folks throughout america. She lives in Maine together with her menagerie — two canines, one daughter, and three cats, one in every of whom is known as Kevin.
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