Media

READ: IAVA and 37 Other Organizations Release Statement on the Peaceful Transfer of Power

January 21, 2021
Media Hits

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — 38 Organizations, including the [Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America], releases following statement about the inauguration of the 46th President of the United States:

Following the failed insurrection attempt of January 6, 2021, the undersigned organizations, who serve members of our military, veterans, caregivers, and their families, join in condemning this violent attack on our country, our democracy, and our Constitution.  We affirm our commitment to the US Constitution, our free and fair elections, and the tradition of a peaceful transfer of power. 

We endorse the statement made by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the joint force, which is made up of about 1.3 million active-duty service members and more than 811,000 National Guardsmen and reservists,

“The violent riot in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021 was a direct assault on the U.S. Congress, the Capitol building, and our Constitutional process. We witnessed actions inside the Capitol building that were inconsistent with the rule of law. The rights of freedom of speech and assembly do not give anyone the right to resort to violence, sedition and insurrection.”

Our veterans and men and women in uniform each take an oath to uphold and defend the US Constitution, which provides for the peaceful transfer of power after an election – as confirmed by the States and courts, and certified by the US Congress.  Members of the National Guard are now activated to protect the results of that election.  We call on our fellow Americans to respect the electoral process, as well as the men and women of the National Guard who will be fulfilling their oaths to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.  There must be no further violence.  We, the undersigned, join in opposition to any effort to overthrow our democracy or disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. 

We also call for accountability for those responsible for the seditious acts leading up to and including January 6, 2021. We call upon veterans, members of the military, and each of us who have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution to stand firmly in support of democracy and to recommit to the peaceful transfer of power. We ask our political leaders, who have sworn that very same oath, to do the same. 

Signed,

1.  AMVETS
2.  Brighton Marine, Inc
3.  Code of Support Foundation 
4.  Easterseals DC MD VA
5.  Elizabeth Dole Foundation 
6.  Esposas Militares Hispanas USA
7.  Final Salute, Inc
8.  Give an Hour
9.  Higher Ground Veterans Advocacy 
10.  Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America 
11.  Military Child Education Coalition 
12.  Military Family Advisory Network
13.  Military Order of the Purple Heart
14.  Minority Veterans of America   
15.  Modern Military Association of America   
16.  Ms Veteran America
17.  Mt. Carmel Veterans Services   
18.  MVAT Foundation 
19.  National Military Spouse Network 
20.  Partners in Promise 
21.  Project Sanctuary   
22.  Psych Armor 
23.  Psych Hub
24.  Reveille Foundation 
25.  Secure Families Initiative   
26.  Student Veterans of America 
27.  Swords to Plowshares 
28.  Team Red, White & Blue 
29.  Team Rubicon
30.  The Independence Fund
31.  The Mission Continues 
32.  Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors 
33.  Travis Manion Foundation 
34.  Veterans Community Connection
35.  Veterans Education Successes 
36.  Veterans for Common Sense 
37.  Volunteers of America
38.  wear blue: run to remember 

This press release was originally published on the Cision PR Newswire platform on January 19, 2021.