Rally outside Eugene Federal Building, left to right Mike, Larry, Jeanine, Frank, Ron, Pat, Peter, and Rick from Corvallis
Veterans For Peace (VFP) Chapter 159 held a rally and press conference in Eugene on Wednesday, September 30, to expose and condemn authoritarian abuses by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Veterans are uniting to oppose fascist practices on U.S. soil, highlighting the case of Zahid Chaudry, a decorated and disabled U.S. Army veteran who was abducted by ICE during his citizenship interview in Washington State.
Chaudry, president of the Rachel Corrie Chapter 109 of Veterans For Peace in Olympia, was detained in Tukwila, WA, despite his honorable service. Even more troubling, he is being denied urgent medical treatment necessary to prevent permanent vision loss.
“As veterans, we are all anti-fascist—our service was a direct rejection of tyranny and authoritarianism,” said Pat Driscoll, spokesperson for VFP Chapter 159. “ICE’s treatment of Zahid Chaudry is not only a betrayal of his service, but an unmistakable sign of fascist tactics creeping into our own country. Veterans will not stand by while the rights we fought to defend are trampled here at home.”
Our action received both local and statewide coverage.
Peter representing for Veterans everywhere.
