VIDEO
Fayetteville:
Forward March Toward Peace
Video by Laura Jones and Bennett Jones Phillips
DVD 46 minutes $22. postage included
See the film on the National Film Board site
In USA order
from Quaker House qpr@quaker.org
In Canada info@laurajones.ca
Fayetteville, North Carolina, home of Fort Bragg, the largest military installation in the world, marched to a different step as military families, veterans of the Iraq War and veterans of the Vietnam war, joined faith communities and peace organizations for an intense anti-war weekend.
Fayetteville: Forward March Toward Peace discusses the war the resistance movement within the 82nd Airborne in Fayetteville, North Carolina to the Vietnam War and documents the current resistance against the war in Iraq.
Laura Jones, moved from the United States to Canada in 1967 with John Phillips a war resister from the Vietnam War.
This sample clip was shot on March 18-19, 2005 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, home of Fort Bragg.
These video clips are in two sizes, and you must have Windows Media Viewer to play them.
“Fayetteville:
Forward March Toward Peace "
Fayetteville, March 19–20, 2005
Video by
Laura Jones
Bennett Jones-Phillips
Simple
Goods Canada in co-operation with Video Events
There’s
almost 80 people from this community Fayetteville, who have lost a loved
one in this war, so when people ask me, why would you have an anti-war
demonstration in Fayetteville? I tell them, I can think of 80 reasons.
Every one of those reasons has a name; every one of them has a tombstone.
Every one has lost their lives in a war that doesn’t benefit any
of us.
Lou Plummer
Rally coordinator
Member Veterans for Peace
On March 19th, the weekend of the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, 800 protest rallies took place in cities across the US and in Canada.
Bennett and I wanted to show the growing peace movement in the US South and particularly the military families and veterans who are speaking out against the war. The individuals, who we interviewed, are patriotic Americans who, for the most part support the US military, but not the actions in Iraq. I was touched by their courage, actions, and commitment. We want their voices to be heard. Also noted in the film is the high profile deserters trained at Fort Bragg who are seeking refugee status in Canada.
The rally in Fayetteville was not the usual “peaceniks”. The participants were primarily military families, veterans, and even active duty soldiers.
Fayetteville has a population of 130,000. A few miles from Fayetteville is Fort Bragg, the largest military installation in the world.. There are 175,000 employees and their families living on the base. It’s an exclusively military city with its own homes, schools, hospital, mall, and entertainment facilities. Fort Bragg adds about $4 billion annually to the local economy.
About 4000 people gathered nearby at Rowan Park in Fayetteville to protest US actions in Iraq.
Concern for security at was high. Picket signs were deposited at the park entry, so there would be no sticks at the rally. Participants were searched and scanned with metal detectors, a process that kept protesters lined up for a couple of hours.
…You support the troops by demanding that we are not used in this
war in Iraq. Yes horrible things have happened in Iraq. Yes, myself and
my buddies have taken innocent lives in Iraq but the ultimate blame does
not lie on us / It lies on the people who put us in those situations.
Michael Hoffman
National Coordinator
Iraq Veterans Against the War
I am the face of the Iraq War…
When I got the news that my son died, and I literally could not walk.
I was walking and collapsing to the floor, I couldn’t pick myself
off the floor and I screamed at God, why did you take my child and when
I was screaming at him, why he had to take my child, a voice went off
in my head that told me why not your child? Why not your son? Who are
you that pain would not touch you and that was the beginning of me being
a humble servant.
I am just
a servant for my God, that’s all I can be and with him as my guide,
who do I fear?
Lila
Lipscomb
Co -Founder Gold Star Mothers for Peace
Interviews (Partial List)
Michael
Berg
Father of Michael Berg
Michael is the father of Nick Berg, an electrical contractor who was kidnapped
and murdered in Iraq in 2004. The video depicting his tragic death became
world news.
Chuck
Fager
Director of Quaker House
Quaker House assists and supports military personnel who are conscientious
objectors to seek discharge or noncombatant service. Chuck was a staff
member to Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership
Conference.
Michael
Hoffman
Coordinator
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Michael, a former Marine Corporal, participated in the initial invasion
of Iraq. He is the co-founder of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Kara Hollingsworth
Member Military Families Speak Out
Kara is a 25-year-old student, mother and army wife living at Fort Bragg.
Her husband is serving his second tour of duty in Iraq.
Nancy
Lessin and Charlie Richardson
Co-Founders of Military Families Speak Out
Nancy and Charlie’s son Joe is an active duty Marine. He was deployed
to Iraq for 10 months.
Lila Lipscomb
Mother of Michael Pedersen
Member of Gold Star Families for Peace
Lila’s son, Army Sgt. Michael Pedersen, was killed in Iraq. Lila
appeared in Michael Moore’s film Fahrenheit 9/11
Michael
McPhearson
Executive Director, Veterans for Peace
Michael is a Gulf War Veteran, former field artillery office and the father
of an active duty soldier.
Jimmy
Massey
Member Iraq Veterans Against the War
Jimmy was a Marine Sargent with 12 years of active duty. He was involved
in the initial invasion of Iraq. Jimmy came to Toronto to speak at the
Refugee hearing of deserter Jeremy Hinzman.
Lou Plummer
Tina Plummer
Andrew Plummer
Military Families Speak Out
Lou’s comes from a long line of veterans. Lou and Tina’s son,
Petty Officer Andrew Plummer, served in the military for 7 years then
deserted. After serving a few weeks in prison, he arrived back home in
Fayetteville on March 18 and joined the peace rally.
Ann Roesler
Mother of active duty soldier serving his second deployment in Iraq.
Member Military Families Speak Out
Ann’s son joined at age 17 because of promises for good benefits,
including a college education. He served in Iraq during the initial invasion.
Although he is now opposed to the war, he is under contract and is serving
his second deployment to Iraq. He has served 7 years, including Bosnia,
Kosovo, and Korea. He has two more years to serve.