To: US Marine Corps
We,
the undersigned, call for an end to the attacks
on all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans for
practicing their right to free speech after
discharge. In particular, Liam Madden, who both
resides in Boston and co-founded the Appeal for
Redress, a statement calling for withdrawal from
Iraq that has been signed by 2,000 active duty
troops. Liam has been an active member of Iraq
Veterans Against the War. The United States
Marine Corps is threatening to change his
honourable discharge to a less than honourable
discharge, ostensibly for wearing his uniform at
a political event and reportedly making disloyal
statements despite not currently serving in any
military capacity as a Marine. This is a clear
attempt to silence a leading voice in the
anti-war movement.
As Howard Zinn says, "Liam Madden sets a
wonderful example, not only for other veterans
of the Iraq war, but for all of us. It is
absolutely essential that there be a full
discussion among the citizenry about the
morality of this war, and
we
cannot have a full discussion without the
participation of soldiers who have engaged in
war and know it first hand. So Liam Madden's
right to speak must be defended, not just for
his sake, but for the sake of democracy itself."
We demand that all discharged veterans, be they
marines, soldiers, airmen and seamen, have the
right to speak out against the war as guaranteed
to all citizens under the US constitution.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned