Recent 'No Kings' rally attracted many veterans

At the spring "No Kings" rally in Newport, Wash., I met Bajun Mavalwalla. Look at PBS.org/NewsHour, March 27. His son is the topic; “Army veteran faces conspiracy charges after participating in anti-ICE protest.” 

Bajun Sr. is a retired intelligence officer with three bronze stars. Bajun Jr., his mother and partner are veterans. Father and son served in Afghanistan. Bajun Jr. was at a non-violent anti-ICE protest in June then arrested by the FBI for conspiracy in July facing a six-year prison term for locking arms with protestors to stop ICE from grabbing two LEGAL asylum applicants. Bajan Sr. is worried about his son and also that he will be recalled from retirement to be court martialed.  

In my family, my first cousin, a three-star general, was fired for being too woke. To respect his anonymity, I’m not naming him. This patriot served for 33 years, a West Point graduate, from a military family with male and female relatives serving since WWI, did duty in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria and Pentagon. He found out he was fired while in Army fatigues in Ukraine by seeing his face with four other fired officers on CNN. He initially was informed he may not get his pension.  

POTUS says rallies aren’t important except to protestors and reporters. Eight million protestors were watched across the world by millions more. In Newport, hundreds of cars gave us waves, smiles, thumbs up compared to a few one-finger salutes from old and young white men. The young guys are those who will be drafted if Trump’s war escalates so why don’t they enlist now with all five of Trump’s kids? Trump actually mentioned campaign fundraising at the transference group of dead soldiers who came home recently. To the many veterans at the rally, Thank you. 

BETTY GARDNER

Priest River