Common Defense Veterans Reflect on Black History Month and the Struggle Our Black Community Faces to Live and Thrive with State Sanctioned Violence
WASHINGTON – As Black History Month begins, Common Defense, the nation’s largest progressive veterans organization, recognizes that this month is supposed to be a time for us to celebrate Black lives, joy, and contributions to this nation. However, nothing about these past few days feels like celebrating. Another Black man was murdered at the hands of police just weeks ago. How many times must we see police murder people before we finally take the necessary actions to end their brutality?
Common Defense Released the Following Statement:
“Black veterans and service members have made endless sacrifices for their nation, despite their government’s historic unwillingness to treat Black Americans as equal and the continued over-policing and state sanctioned violence against Black Americans. For too long, their contributions to the Armed forces have been underrepresented and forgotten. And for too long, Black communities have been unsafe and targeted simply for existing as Black people. Common Defense welcomes Black History Month, although a month is not enough, highlighting Black veterans’ efforts in the military and the fight towards social justice even while they are fighting for their very lives in a country that has never fought for them in the same way they have fought for it.
“As veterans, we swore an oath to defend and protect our Constitution. In the face of segregation and injustice, pioneering Black veterans – the Tuskegee Airmen, Golden Thirteen, Harlem Hellfighters, Buffalo Soldiers, Montford Point Marines, and the United States Colored Troops – took the same oath. Black veterans, stationed here at home and across the globe, faced many hardships that came with service while sacrificing for a country that refused to recognize them as full citizens when they returned.
“Today, we stand on the shoulders of Black veterans who had the courage to defend our democracy and demand better from it. We are proud to honor the sacrifices of Black veterans and service members who shaped our nation with a commitment to fighting for a democracy where liberty and justice truly are for all. There is still work to be done. Common Defense is committed to advocating for anti-racist policy solutions, as Black communities across our nation disproportionately face the burdens of systemic racism, voter suppression, police militarization, and climate catastrophe.”