Veterans Day is one of the most difficult days of the year for our community and many other communities impacted by the brutal, endless wars we're fighting to end. In 2020, it's especially fraught -- and we're asking you to help us lean into the work ahead by making an investment in our community today.
Grassroots fundraising helps us maintain our independence and stability, especially in politically tulmultuous landscapes like these.
This past week, we achieved something extraordinary together as Election Defenders, transforming a moment of fear into one of joy and power. At the same time, the ongoing tension and threats during this election season -- not to mention the political records of both candidates -- remind us just how far we have to go to build a future free of war and militarism.
Our members are ready to rise to the challenge, but we've got to have our community behind us. This Veterans Day, join us by investing in anti-war veterans.
This year has thrown all of us many, many, (MANY) curveballs and we're so proud of the way our members have pulled together as a community to care for each other, take action, and continue to develop and strengthen our skills and relationships for the long-haul. We are already strategizing with movement partners to expand our #DropTheMIC campaign, build an organizing school for veterans, launch an organizing fellowship program that will help new and rising leaders gain mentorship and experience, and much, much more in 2021.
Can we count on you to help make that vision possible by giving any amount you can today?
Across the country, our veteran members are sharing video testimonies, statements, and more around the power of our community and our role in this critical moment. This fall alone, we've:
- Helped train and organize nearly 10,000 people, including HUNDREDS of vets, in community safety, bringing our skills in communications, strategy, and more as part of the Frontline's Election Defenders program. Our presence was especially key given the threat of white supremacist and right-wing intimidation at the polls.
- Launched a revamped version of our Troop Support hotline, offering National Guard troops questioning deployments against their communities access to resources, peer networks, and a place to report immoral orders or situations
- Continued leveraging our experiences and credibility as veterans to set the record straight as candidates and elected officials attempt to deceive the public about their actual record when it comes to war and the military industrial complex
- Built a community care hotline and program series to support community members in these tough times and build up our healing and resilience skills.
This Veterans Day, our members are more committed than ever to growing our critical work and community. Please consider investing in anti-war veterans this Veterans Day, and if you have social media, helping us spread the word by sharing the fundraiser!
In gratitude and solidarity,
The Veterans of About Face
