Thousands of troops will line up through Washington, DC as part of President Donald Trump’s National Military Parade on Saturday to respect the 250th anniversary of the US Army. That day also coincided with the 79th birthday of the President. But the parade is arguably unable to come at a more dangerous time. Trump’s government was involved in a legal battle with California, after deploying the National Guard Forces to Los Angeles without the request or approval of Governor Gavin Newsom. There is also a big concern about what happened abroad, when Israel and Iran traded deadly missiles after Israel launched a military operation that targeted nuclear facilities and Iranian personnel.
In the midst of all this, protests are expected throughout the country because organizations and individuals take part in the demonstration “No Kings Day”. While protests have long been arranged, they have been mostly rejected by Trump’s actions regarding LA protests, which have since spread to other cities throughout the US, protests are “taking action to reject authoritarianism – and show the world as to what democracy is actually,” per website “No Kings”, which also states “in America, we do not do the king.”
Differences of opinion on the parade also come in part from one of the most reliable Trump support bases: veteran. Although the former US military personnel historically voted with a broad margin that supported Trump and the Republican party, there was dissatisfaction that developed among some in society.
Read more: Veteran condemned the ‘abuse of Trump’s military power’ in the midst of LA protest
On Friday, a group of about 60 veterans and members of the military family who protested the placement of national guards in LA and the military parade on Saturday were captured by police capitols, after they violated the bicycle rack police line.
“President Trump threatens Americans who come to use the first amendment rights they will meet with a ‘great force,'” said Michael T. McPhearson, Veterans and Veterans Director for peace, a protest organizer. “We are the real people who wear uniforms because we believe in the freedom that should have occurred in this country and we will not be intimidated into silence.”
McPhearson words echoed other people’s sentiments, including Chris Purdy, a US national army guarding veteran who served from 2004 to 2012 and was deployed to Iraq in 2011.
Purdy maintains the values of military strength and respect that will be displayed in the parade in the “striking contrast with how Trump treats both veterans and also” our neighbors and our allies who have helped build peace. “
“[Veteran Affairs] announced ending the vasp [Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase] program. This is a program that makes around 13,000 veterans in their home last year, and there are 90,000 veterinarians who are financial risk through them [VA] The loan will benefit from this program, “Purdy said, highlighting the reported $ 45 million parade fee.” I saw many attacks on the nature of military apolitis, in the veteran community itself. And then, to wrap everything in this parade, it feels dirty. “
Purdy told a lesson from a sergeant in the Army, who told him that “respect was built by a coalition, by relationship.” Purdy pointed to the determinants of Trump’s first months, which included controversial relationships with many US allies, including Canada.
“I thought of my time in Iraq and coalition partners that I presented together – British, Poland and Lithuania soldiers – we built this coalition to help us complete the mission,” Purdy said. “We [veterans] Believe that America can lead the world without oppressive. So, the look of a striking American like this feels unnecessary. It feels like a nuisance in a playground that needs to go around and flex his muscles to prove as if he is the biggest child in the block. “
And Purdy is not alone in his concern. A survey conducted by data for joint progress and defense, conducted in April, found that around 70% of the veteran approached said they opposed the Trump government “ordered an active US military forces to hold a parade to respect President Trump’s anniversary.”
Janessa Goldbeck agreed with Purdy’s assessment, pointing to VASP slaughtering, as well as “Big and Indah Trump bills, who proposed cuts for Medicaid and Additional Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), that Goldbeck said many military and veteran households” relied on. “
“And then you pair it by endangering and complete abuse of the active national bodyguard and military. Obviously, no one appreciates veterans or people in uniforms from this government,” claims Goldbeck. “All of this is an attempt to reshape the United States military as a tool of domestic power for the president who sits … of course not in line with the principles that are enshrined in the constitution that I swear to uphold and defend.”
But not all veterans agree that the parade is the appearance of “dirty” power.
Read more: What to know about Trump’s military parade
Many veterans have traveled to Washington, DC for celebrations to celebrate military members active tasks who choose to serve their country.
“It is good for Americans to see what their tax money is paid and what troops are used to protect them,” said Veteran John Norton, who was in the bomb team in the Army and served in Athens, Greece and Vicenza, Italy. Norton refers to tanks and soldiers to be displayed during the parade, during an interview with ABC News.
Veteran Ana Salazar attended the parade to “thank” military members who were actively duty for their service. “Proud to be a fellow brother and girl with fellow veterans and members of active assignment services,” he said. Salazar served in the military from 2003 to 2014, and was placed in Belgium, Kansas, Missouri, and Hawaii, and tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Still, Libby Jamison, a military pair and former president of the JD JD JD pair, said the veterans he knew might agree with various aspects of Trump’s policy, but those who “crossed the political spectrum” in their community “worried about this level of expenditure for this type of wine.”
At present, Jamison is trying to drop a 20% unemployment level among active task pairs, and says the parade message as a celebration feels contrary to the conditions he sees many veterans and military personnel in.
“I think if you ask [those] What family they need right now, it won’t be a parade. That will be, ‘I need a job’ or ‘I need a child care,’ “Jamison said.” For whom this parade really is? Because it doesn’t feel like for service members or family. ”
