Local group to march Saturday for veterans’ rights, benefits in remembrance of D-Day

QUINCY — 50501 Quincy Illinois recently announced a mass mobilization in remembrance of D-Day for veterans and their allies in Quincy. The Bonus Army patriotic rally in support of veterans’ rights and benefits will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, at 3236 Broadway. All Quincy and surrounding area residents and organizations are invited to join the veterans in the protests.

“Since Inauguration Day, this administration has declared war on veterans and even some of our most dedicated active duty service members,” Allison Huber, civilian organizer for 50501 Quincy Illinois, said in a press release. “They are gutting our benefits, disappearing our transgender service members and immigrant veterans and dismantling critical alliances around the world that have ensured our nation’s security since World War II.”

The Unite for Veterans Unite for America nationwide mobilization was called by 50501 Veterans, The Unite for Veterans Coalition and American Opposition, in the wake of cutbacks targeted at veterans and active duty service members. Among the cutbacks pointed out by 50501 Quincy Illinois were:

• The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to cut 83,000 jobs.
• As of March, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) accounts for 90% of the VA’s 482,000 workers, so these cutbacks will significantly impact the quality of health care available through the VA to veterans.
• The VA is slashing workers at the Veterans Crisis Line, which fields 60,000 calls a month.
• The VA increased the risk of foreclosure for tens of thousands of veterans and their families when it closed the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase program in May.
• The Pentagon delayed plans to hire 1,000 more civilians to prevent sexual assault, suicides, and behavior problems in the military.
• In an emergency ruling, the Supreme Court allowed the Department of Defense to separate transgender people who are serving on active duty, in the Reserves or the National Guard. The Pentagon will no longer allow transgender Americans to join any branch of the military.

For more information on the Bonus Army patriotic rally, visit https://www.facebook.com/share/15bMrmBWdT.

50501 Veterans says it is committed to nonviolence and is a nonpartisan group dedicated to veterans who seek to strategize, mobilize and take action on key issues that impact their community and beyond.

The group wants:

• Reverse cuts to the Veterans Administration.
• VA support, healthcare and counseling for military sexual trauma survivors.
• The ban on transgender service members overturned and full healthcare access for trans veterans and active duty service members ensured.
• Protections restored for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) in the VA and Department of Defense.
• Diplomatic norms restored and strong alliances maintained with global democratic leadership.

For more information on 50501 Veterans, go to: https://50501vets.com/