Veterans Rally in D.C. Calls for Action Against Government Corruption
Hundreds of veterans protest to demand accountability amid growing concerns over the future of Medicaid and Veterans Affairs
WASHINGTON — This past weekend, the National Mall was the site of a large veteran’s protest, as activists gathered to demand accountability from the government and to voice their outrage over political corruption. The protest, also called the "Now March" hosted by the Fourteenth Now! movement, took place on Friday, attracting hundreds of protestors in person and drawing a consistent audience of 7,000 viewers through a YouTube live stream. The protest was also a call for accountability under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which prohibits individuals involved in insurrections from holding the office of President of the United States.
The rally began with comedian Cliff Cash taking the stage to address the crowd, setting the tone for the day. Cash, who was also the emcee, spoke candidly about the sacrifices made by veterans. “All the days and nights brave military were away from their families. You were away for months and years. You lost legs and arms; you lost so much. You gave so much." He then turned his attention to the political climate, denouncing the actions of the current administration. "Now a draft-dodging Russian asset is cutting your healthcare," he said, referring to the felon president, whose policies have sparked outrage among many veterans. Cash also referenced the significance of the protest's date, 3.14, calling for the invocation of Constitutional Amendment 14: Section 3, against the felon President.
The protest featured several passionate speakers, including an unnamed woman who spoke passionately about the need for collective action. "I was born without having to do much of this. It's our turn," she declared to the crowd, receiving enthusiastic cheers in response. "We're going to stand together every single day until we have our country back," she continued, rallying the crowd with chants of "We are one!" She then led the crowd in cheers for veterans and active-duty military personnel.
The organizers went on to play a video on a large projector screen to the right of the stage, featuring speeches from a previous Fourteenth Now! protest. This included a speech from Craig Sicknick, the brother of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was tragically killed by January 6th insurrectionists. In his remarks, Sicknick directly blamed the president for his brother’s death, a sentiment that resonated with the crowd. However, the video also prominently featured the protest organizers, including political commentators Josh Johnson and Jessica Denson, whose appearances were interspersed with footage of civil rights protests. This shift in focus—from honoring veterans and their sacrifices to centering the personal careers of two political commentators—felt self-serving. The integration of civil rights imagery, alongside the preaching of the white commentators, seemed to co-opt the civil rights movements message. It overshadowed the original purpose of the day as standing up for veterans and turned the moment into a platform for personal political agendas.
As the protest continued, Sharee, a disabled veteran, took the stage to discuss safety protocols, stressing the importance of maintaining a peaceful demonstration. With her service dog by her side, Sharee advised the crowd against engaging with potential agitators and reminded everyone to be mindful of the privacy of others, especially when it came to taking photos. She also warned about the potential risks of sharing photos online, due to concerns about metadata.
Anger toward felon President Trump intensified as the rally unfolded. Cash returned to the stage, referencing Trump’s ties to Russia and the ongoing political battle surrounding the felon president's involvement in the insurrection. "Donald Trump is a Russian asset," Cash boldly declared, pointing to Trump’s business dealings with Russian figures dating back to the 1980’s. He described Trump as someone who "always wanted to be a criminal" and who had laundered money for Russian interests. The crowd erupted with shouts of "Traitor!" as Cash elaborated on Trump’s alleged ties to Russia, mentioning figures like Felix Sater, a Russian businessman with whom Trump had long-standing connections. Cash also cited Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manager, accusing him of having "zero morals, ethics, character, [or] integrity," as he previously helped install a Russian politician into the Ukrainian presidency. The crowd’s anger was palpable as they expressed their frustration with what they perceived as a betrayal of American values.
During the rally, John Bonifaz, President of Free Speech for People and a constitutional attorney, delivered an informative speech by video message. Bonifaz stated, "No one is above the law, not even the President of the United States. He disqualified himself from holding public office on January 6th by inciting a violent mob to attack the Capitol after his electoral defeat." Citing the U.S. Constitution, Bonifaz emphasized that the framers designed it to protect the integrity of the office of the president. "Donald Trump is an illegitimate president," Bonifaz declared. He pointed to three separate jurisdictions—the Colorado Supreme Court, the Maine Secretary of State, and an Illinois court—all of which had concluded that the January 6th attack was an insurrection and that Trump’s actions disqualified him from holding office.
Bonifaz continued, "He has abused his power, making him impeachable," referencing the importance of the impeachment clause as a safeguard against corruption in the highest office. He condemned Trump’s actions, including the abuse of presidential pardon power, where he granted clemency to over 1,500 insurrectionists, and his attempts to undermine birthright citizenship through executive order. Bonifaz also pointed to Trump’s disregard for court orders, his efforts to retaliate against those who oppose him, and his declaration of a national emergency at the border—all of which he described as impeachable offenses. "Impeachment is the remedy for a corrupt, lawless president," Bonifaz asserted, urging Congress members to join Rep. Al Green (D-TX) in demanding impeachment. "We will continue to march on in the defense of our republic," he concluded, emphasizing the ongoing fight to defend the Constitution from the abuse and tyranny of the current administration.
Carlos Alvarez Aranyos, co-founder of American Opposition, began his speech with a fierce delivery that shook the crowd. "Our elected leaders have failed us," he yelled. "We refuse to sit by and watch as our country is dismantled from within." With urgency in his voice, he declared, "We're gathered here to demand action… to be heard… to win." He paused before adding, "Sometimes the enemies are foreign," and then, with intensity, continued, "But sometimes they’re domestic," referring to the current administration. Aranyos accused Trump of transforming the country into a fascist dictatorship, corrupting the courts, and ruling like a king. He condemned Trump for attacking the press, purging civil servants, elevating billionaires to positions of power, and cutting taxes for the rich. "We are watching our country be taken from us in real time," he said.
Aranyos went on to describe how Trump had weaponized the Department of Justice to attack his opponents, pardoned criminals, and installed loyalists who would carry out illegal orders. "He has shut down investigations into his own crimes!" he added, while also highlighting Trump’s betrayal of allies and his damage to America’s global standing. "Trump has spent his entire life serving only himself," Aranyos said. But his fury didn’t stop there; he also turned his anger towards Republicans in Congress, accusing them of knowing the truth about Trump and doing nothing. "They know who he is," Aranyos roared. "They know he’s a danger, a fraud, a criminal, and a coward. And yet they stay silent. They stay silent because they fear his followers. Because they fear him."
With the crowd hanging on to every word, Aranyos shouted, "Justice bends because people like us demand it. Because we make it so." He then called on Republicans to, "Stand the fuck up!" The crowd erupted in cheers. He continued, "You can stand with Donald Trump or with America. You can step forward and do what’s right. You can fight for your own career, or you can fight for your country, but you can’t do both." He shifted the focus back to the American people, empowering them to take action. "We want this president removed from office, and we are naming names," he said. "We will protest. We will boycott." He emphasized, "The American people are more powerful than Elon Musk. We are more powerful than Congress. We are more powerful than Donald Trump."
Aranyos then delivered a powerful call to action. "This is not a fight we can afford to lose," he said. "We are not going to wait for the next election or for the courts to save us. We are taking action now." His anger then turned to Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, for his decision to vote “Yes” on the Republican budget bill, which threatens to strip Medicaid from veterans to provide tax cuts for the rich. Aranyos said, "My message to Chuck Schumer and every Democrat who voted to censure Al Green," — "Wake the fuck up!" The crowd responded with loud chants of "Wake the fuck up!" He continued, "Who needs enemies when we have friends like these?" Referring to Schumer and others, he called their actions "the worst betrayal in American history." He accused them of losing without even trying, adding, "Your cowardice will forever be your legacy."
The speech following Aranyos’ was possibly the most heartfelt of the day. Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who was assaulted by insurrectionists on January 6th, took the stage, wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with, "I d f w p w f w p I d f w," which means that he severs ties with anyone who associates themselves with untrustworthy individuals. As the crowd erupted in cheers of "Harry! Harry!" Dunn stood before them, visibly emotional. In a vulnerable moment, he shared, "I had a PTSD attack on the way in. The last time I saw everybody like this, they were beating the shit out of me and my coworkers at the Capitol." The crowd responded with loud shouts of "Fuck traitors!" Dunn then referenced Trump’s infamous comment about January 6th being a "day of love," which was met with boos. "This is what a day of love looks like," he declared. "Not what happened on January 6th." Dunn made it clear that he was not there to seek attention or self-promotion, saying, "I just want to be here in solidarity. Veterans are the backbone of this country… And look what Trump is doing to y'all." He was referring to the administration's proposed cuts to Veterans Affairs (VA), which provides essential services to veterans.
Dunn expressed his disillusionment with the government, pointing out that the House, Senate, and Supreme Court had failed the people, especially the latter as "They ruled that he's immune now!" Turning to the 2020 election, he lamented, "November 5th... we had an opportunity, and we fucked it up. People got complacent." Anger overtook him as he declared, "America failed me. This is about what’s fucking right and what’s fucking wrong." Dunn added that he was very encouraged to see so many people protesting at the rally. As for engaging with Trump supporters, he said, "I can’t have a conversation with anyone who believes in Donald Trump for sending a mob on his watch to the Capitol for an insurrection." Dunn emphasized that the very definition of an insurrection is a violent uprising against the government, and he called on the government to invoke Section 14, Article 3 of the Constitution to remove Trump from office. "We need people with backbone to get things done," he said. Dunn ended his message with a statement of solidarity, saying "I’m here in unity, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Keep fighting!"
Big Sarge, an administrator of the progressive veterans group Sons of Liberty, took the stage next, accompanied by a large group of fellow veterans, many of whom covered their faces with neck gators and held signs reading "Protect Trans Troops" and "Deported Veterans," featuring images of U.S. veterans who were deported after service. “I’m here because I’m a veteran. I love my country,” he said, followed with asking the crowd how many in the crowd were veterans or received care from the VA. He then highlighted the dangerous radicalization of veterans to the far right, sharing, “A bunch of guys I served with in 2015 decided liberals aren’t patriots. Liberals hate their country. I heard that from civilians too. If I’m not a patriot, why the fuck did I serve, and you didn’t?”
Big Sarge also decried the privatization of the VA, calling it a move for billionaires to profit off of veterans. "Stop firing people from the VA. Honor the social contract with soldiers," he demanded. Addressing those in the crowd who were not veterans, he urged them to get involved in politics by contacting their representatives, voting, and primarying those who didn’t represent their interests. He turned his anger towards Chuck Schumer too, stating, "Someone get rid of his punk ass!" He emphasized that politicians who allow Americans to face these issues do not care about them. "Nobody is coming to save you, but you," he proclaimed, followed by encouraging the crowd to take action to honor the oaths veterans took to defend the Constitution. As comedian Cliff Cash rejoined the stage, he echoed the sentiment that "tough, brave veterans do not support fascism," reminding the crowd that "Republicans don't have a monopoly on freedom."
The organizers then turned back to the projector screen, showcasing a video that featured dozens of veterans expressing their deep frustration with the current administration. One of the most poignant moments came from the granddaughter of a veteran who played a significant role in shaping the Department of Veterans Affairs. She passionately stated, “The Trump regime is tearing down everything he built,” vowing not to let her grandfather's legacy be destroyed. Combat veterans from every major war post-WWII also voiced their anger, receiving loud cheers from the crowd. However, a livestream commenter raised a point about the video’s lack of diversity, asking why there weren’t more women veterans or veterans of color featured.
Following the video, Jessica Denson, founder of Fourteenth Now!, took the stage. Denson first gained national attention when she successfully sued Donald Trump to be released from her NDA after working on his 2016 campaign. Since then, she has remained a vocal critic of the felon president, even starting her podcast Lights On! through MeidasTouch. However, she was later let go for discussing her belief that the 2024* election was stolen. She began her speech by stating, “It’s day 53 of the illegal Trump presidency,” and vowed, “We will dismantle it.” Denson expressed admiration for Jane Fonda, calling her a role model for always using her voice to fight for what’s right. She declared, “This is your documentary moment. We’re not gonna let democracy die on our watch,” and urged the crowd to understand that the power rested not with the politicians in the Capitol building but with the people on the outside. As her speech continued, however, her words became less focused.
Denson went on to talk about how as a child she was so excited to do a speech on Marion Anderson, the famed black singer who sang at the Lincoln Memorial. She also spoke about the innocence of children, saying, “We’re not born with hate and fear,” and called on the nation to see the world through the eyes of “little children.” Denson went on to criticize members of Congress for enabling a man who “violated the transfer of power” to occupy the White House, suggesting they had been cowed by death threats from MAGA supporters. She singled out Rep. Al Green too, praising his courage and calling for all Democrats to support him in impeaching the felon president. Her frustrations with Chuck Schumer were clear as well, as she labeled him and others in Congress “fearful cowards” and vowed, “We’re going to light up bright. They won’t know what to do with all the light we shine in this country.”
The event continued with powerful speeches, each calling for urgent action and accountability. Michael Embrich, a former VA policy advisor and Navy veteran, delivered a passionate message about the threat posed by the Citizens United ruling, which he claimed has led to the rise of oligarchs and despots in America. "Elected leaders have done nothing to stop them," he said, as the crowd shouted, "Do your job!" He highlighted the devastating impact of government neglect on veterans, citing the tragic fact that 17 veterans still die by suicide every day and the cancellation of critical programs like the PACT Act and cancer research, while veterans continue to suffer from toxic exposure and cancers. He also condemned DOGE for its plans to fire 80,000 VA employees and gut the public healthcare system that serves veterans, saying, "They're going to lose their houses, their cars, and their families so Musk can become the first trillionaire." Embrich's impassioned call to action was clear: "We can't wait until 2028. We need action today." The frustration was palpable as he spoke of billionaires who have sacrificed nothing, taking from the people who served this country. The call to arms was urgent and unyielding: "Let’s tell them with one voice in this moment that we will not wait, falter, or abandon our oaths to the constitution."
Before Comedian Cliff Cash introduced the next speaker, he interjected with an encouraging message, urging veterans to run for office and reminding the crowd that they are just as capable, if not more so, than the current politicians in power. "Lauren Boebert is not smarter than you. Mitch McConnell is not more courageous than you," he said, in asking veterans to step up and lead.
The most inspiring speech of the day came from Susan Schnall, the President of Veterans for Peace and a former Navy nurse who was court-martialed during the Vietnam War for protesting the conflict. Schnall, joined by other veterans holding their groups flags, emphasized the importance of peace and social justice. "There are veterans in this country who stand for peace," she said, before recounting her own painful journey from war maker to peace maker. She condemned the felon president’s treatment of veterans, reminding the crowd that Trump called them “suckers and losers,” which was met with loud boos from the crowd.
Schnall spoke about the veterans who returned home from war with illnesses and disabilities—suffering from the effects of Agent Orange, burn pits, and PTSD—that not only affected them but also their children, families, and entire communities. She passionately stated, "Anytime a country decides to send its people to war, they have the obligation to prepare for the people who return home from war." She then turned to the crowd and asked, “Is that happening today?” The crowd responded with an emphatic "No!" Schnall continued, "We served and now you want to take away our needed services to give your friends tax breaks at our expense?" She asked of the president, "Who's interests are you serving besides your own?" Schnall also condemned the government's treatment of immigrants, calling them "human beings" and denouncing the rhetoric of exclusion that seeks to criminalize them. She also highlighted the government's complicity in war crimes, including its support of Israel’s actions in Gaza, and criticized the military’s role in deportation flights to Guantanamo Bay and the growing militarization of U.S. policy. Schnall ended her speech by posing the question to her fellow veterans, “If we who have known war don't dedicate ourselves to ending it, who will?"
As the event drew to a close, the crowd was left with a sense of purpose, but also a reminder of the broader struggle for justice and accountability. The speakers, from veterans to activists to political commentators, made it clear that the fight for democracy in America is not just a battle against one man or one administration, but against a system that allows inequality and injustice to thrive. It was a call to action for everyday Americans, urging them to stand up and take responsibility for the future of this country. At the end of the day, this is a people-led movement, one that should not be led by any single figure, no matter how charismatic or powerful. The American people must lead themselves, rather than putting faith in individuals who could lead us astray. This is a collective effort, one where everyone is held accountable, from those in the highest offices to members of our own communities, to ensure that democracy and justice prevail for all.
There is only one action you need to take you are veterans it looks like it is up to all of you. We need our own army with arms to unite in the thousands and storm the White House and the Capital and take back our country! They all need to be arrested and tried for treason and prosecuted! Where are all the generals they fired where are our leaders!
Funny, NOT A PEEP from legacy media🙄! Thank you these pictures are SO important please keep posting them!