Veterans Unite to Protect Democracy: Common Defense and Task Force Butler Announce Partnership to Counter Extremism and Authoritarianism
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 11, 2024
Veterans Unite to Protect Democracy: Common Defense and Task Force Butler Announce Partnership to Counter Extremism and Authoritarianism
Washington, D.C. — On Veterans Day, Common Defense and Task Force Butler are launching a powerful new partnership to defend democratic values and counter rising authoritarianism in the wake of Donald Trump’s re-election. This alliance brings together two veteran-led organizations with a shared commitment to justice and a mission to protect communities from extremist threats.
Prior to the election, Generals Mattis, Milley, and Kelly—who each served at the highest levels of Trump’s first administration—issued stark warnings, describing Trump’s behavior as “fascist” and cautioning that his actions threaten the very foundation of American democracy. Common Defense and Task Force Butler have heeded this call, responding with a fortified commitment to uphold democratic principles and counter threats from authoritarianism.
Founded in 2016, Common Defense has grown into the nation’s largest progressive grassroots veterans organization, mobilizing tens of thousands of veterans across the United States to advocate for justice, equality, and democracy. With a multi-racial, multi-generational coalition, Common Defense has consistently opposed hate and disinformation, championing a more just and inclusive society.
Task Force Butler, founded by Kristofer Goldsmith and inspired by Marine General Smedley Butler’s anti-fascist legacy, trains veterans to conduct investigations on extremist groups using open-source intelligence. Their work has led to successful prosecutions, supported civil rights lawsuits across the country, and contributed to community safety. Task Force Butler has become a vital force in the fight against extremism, complementing Common Defense’s grassroots power with targeted intelligence.
“This partnership honors the legacy of veterans like Harriet Tubman, Medgar Evers, Harvey Milk, and Lt. Colonel Charity Adams, who fought to uphold democracy, justice, and equality,” said Jose Vasquez, Executive Director of Common Defense. “Together with Task Force Butler, we’re equipping today’s veterans to stand up against authoritarianism and protect our democracy.”
Goldsmith shared his commitment to this mission, emphasizing Task Force Butler’s role in defending democratic principles: “Veterans across this country have taken an oath to defend the Constitution. By joining forces with Common Defense, we’re giving veterans the tools to counter extremism, protect communities, and ensure that the values we served for are upheld.”
This partnership will expand training programs, mobilize veteran-led grassroots initiatives, and support veterans in their work to defend democracy against rising threats of extremism and disinformation.
To highlight the significance of this new alliance, Task Force Butler and Common Defense are releasing a video titled Going on Offense for Democracy, which details their joint mission and invites Americans to support veterans standing in defense of democratic values. The video is embedded below.
For further details about the partnership and opportunities to support the mission, visit CommonDefense.us and TaskForceButler.org.