IVAW Update: Oct. 15th Presidential Debate Protest

Subject: They've received their warning...

Just wanted to make sure this made it out to you all.  A clear demand,
and clear intent to lead a non-violent action to ensure that our voices
are heard.

Dear Mr Schieffer,

I'm writing you today as a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War to
make clear the details of a demonstration we will be leading Oct. 15th
at Hofstra University prior to the final presidential debate and what
our demands are and will be.

We in IVAW demand that two of our members, myself and Kristofer
Goldsmith, be permitted entry to the debate and be allowed to ask each
candidate one question. If this demand is not agreed to IN FULL by 7 p.m. EST on the 15th, members of IVAW will lead a large contingent of veterans and our supporters on a NON-VIOLENT procession to the debate center and are prepared to risk arrest and/or bodily harm attempting to enter to have our voices heard. (This action will look very similar to our marches at the DNC and RNC which were widely covered in the media and on youtube, should you wish to see what's coming.)

As the economy has continued its downhill slide this election season,
the issue of Iraq has been pushed further and further away from peoples'
minds, as well the platforms of the candidates. In addition, little to
no attention has been paid this election season to the abysmal failure
of the Veterans Administration to adequately care for our returning
troops and their families and how we can work as a nation to fix this
problem.

As a result, more and more veterans are falling into debt, starving,
going homeless and killing themselves while the government REFUSES to
allocate sufficient funds for our much needed and deserved care while
simultaneously lining the pockets of the richest with $700 billion in
taxpayer (including servicemembers and veterans) money.

Such blatant betrayals of our services and sacrifices cannot go
unaddressed by IVAW, thus we will have our voices heard on the issues one way or the other, be it from inside the debate hall, or be it to a hoard of domestic and international press outside the event who have already expressed great interest in and dedication to covering our demonstration.

What yourself and the candidates must decide now, Mr. Schieffer, is
what the legacy of this debate will be. Will this be remembered as an
event where both sides of the isle and the media came together to hear from our nation's heroes, even if only for five minutes, or will the words
and promises of both candidates be forever shrouded in the image of a
host of uniformed veterans and their supporters going to jail because
these campaigns cared too little to hear from them?

Again, we are dedicated to 100% non-violence during this demonstration and will resist no arrest. However, we will NOT, I repeat, we will NOT back down, be intimidated or moved in any way shape or form until our demands are met or we are arrested.

I thank you for your time, sir, and look forward to meeting you in
person.

For honor and country,

Matthis Chiroux

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