Media Release
Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)
Los Angeles, CA
Contact Person: Arturo P. Garcia
Phone- (213) 241-0995
November 12, 2009
HUNDREDS PROTESTS AT THE LA FEDERAL BUILDING NOVEMBER 11 VETERANS DAY IN LA
Los Angeles – DVA DON’T DELAY, SPEED UP THE CLAIMS, YOU’RE BUSTED!
Hundreds of protestors led by the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)- a national alliance of veterans, youth marched from Historic Filipinotown in the Temple-Beverly corridor towards downtown Los Angeles to the Federal building to dramatize their protest against long delays and slow-processing of the veterans claims.
The JFAV protest march started from FACLA compound at 1740 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026. The march started at 10; 15 AM after an hour program inside the FACLA social hall.
While scores of veterans, widows and seniors rode on vehicles provided by JFAV, hundreds of students from different colleges and universities marched the 2-mile route from Temple St to the federal building. This is the second march by the community led alliance towards downtown LA. The first was in 1997.
FULL RECOGNITION IS TRUE JUSTICE
“ The US discarded the Filipino soldiers after using them. When the US during World War II need more than 500,00 soldiers because it has no army, they used the Filipinos. Now they delay our benefits.” JFAV leader and veteran Franco Arcebal said in his closing speech at the rally.
Different youth student leaders from San Diego, Irvine, Northridge, UCLA, Riverside and Pomona lambasted the false promises of the US government, which causes the delays to the veteran’s claims.
ANSWER-LA and American Iraqi veteran Michael Prysner harangued the crowd on the big expenses of the War in Iraq and Afghanistan while the working people of the US are suffering. He chanted; “ Money for the veterans, not for the war!”
Less than 3,000 out of 11,000 Filipino veterans in the United States have received their checks. We want to know what keeping the claims so slow” This was the remarks on the Society of Guerillas and Scouts (SGS) Commander Nick Gadia of Los Angeles.
This is contrast to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) claims that more than 25% of the veterans have received their claims. This is while the Philippine Ambassador Willy Gaa admitted that more than 32,627 claims have been filed. More 2,000 claims were rejected by the DVA.
“JFAV promised more mass actions until full recognition and inclusion of the Filipino veterans in the Enhanced American Veterans law is achieved.” JFAV coordinator Arturo Garcia pledged. The rally ended at 12:00 PM.
For more information please call (213)241-0995 or email us at
jfav_us@yahoo.com.
