WKBT - News Channel 8
LaCrosse, Wisconsin
August 9, 2009
For three days about fifty people protesting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan went on the thirty mile Walk for Peace. They ended Sunday at Fort McCoy.
Bob Tammen is a Vietnam Veteran, he says he’s on the walk to get his message out.
“Public awareness and for these young soldiers here to think about what they’re being asked to do,” said Tammen.
Fort McCoy police shut down their main gate and told about a dozen protestors if they tried to enter the base, they’d be detained and ticketed for trespassing.
“Ensuring that we have the safety and security of our soldiers and the post that we have been given. That’s what our concern is,” said Linda Fournier, the Public Affairs Officer at Ft. McCoy.
But that didn’t stop some from passing police.
“We’re written letters and spoken to our representatives and clearly that’s not enough,” said Brian Terrell, who tried entering the base.
Terrell says his efforts go far beyond today.
“You’re not going to be reporting tomorrow the troops are coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq…..all any of us can do is work to be a small part of making that change,” said Terrell.
Those who didn’t cross still walked to raise awareness.
“These are my brothers, my brothers and my sisters over there…and they’re dying for nothing,” said Tammen.
Officials at Ft. McCoy say this is the third group of protestors they’ve seen at the base.
NewsChannel 8- “Is it frustrating at all to have protestors come to the gate?”
“Absolutely not, because the one thing is…the soldiers that are here training at Ft. McCoy and come through here, they are fighting for the rights of the people to protest,” said Fournier.
It’s not just the war demonstrators want the public to know about. The three day walk also commemorates the 64th anniversary of the atomic bomb hitting Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
