Veterans Groups Plan to Expel Any Members Who Took Part in Capitol Riot
Supporters
of Trump march on Pennsylvania Avenue towards the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, January
6, 2021, in Washington DC. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Posted: January 12, 2021 --- Military.com | By Richard
Sisk
Disabled
American Veterans (DAV) is warning that any member who is found to have
participated in the U.S. Capitol riots last week will face expulsion from the
one-million member veterans service organization. And it is not the only
veterans service organization looking to come down hard on these
insurrectionists.
The
rioters' actions were "a disgrace to our national values and must not be
tolerated," DAV National Commander Stephen "Butch" Whitehead
said via Twitter on Saturday. On January 6, 2021, Trump supporters swarmed into
the building, resulting in fatal injuries to U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian
Sicknick. At least a handful of veterans have been identified as
taking part; one was shot and killed by police.
Altogether, 6 deaths are linked to the incident, including a Capitol Police
officer who is believed to have died by suicide.
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"As
veterans who have sacrificed to support and defend the Constitution from all
enemies foreign and domestic, DAV abhors and rejects the insurrectionist acts perpetrated
at our Capitol on Wednesday," the statement added. "We are saddened
that any veteran would desecrate our nation's capital and will take immediate
action to initiate the removal of any DAV member found guilty of committing
illegal acts against our nation."
Todd
Hunter, a DAV spokesman, said Monday that the group would look to expel any
member who may have joined in the Capitol riots, not just those found to have
committed criminal acts. He said the DAV had no indications as yet that any of
its members had participated, but the organization felt compelled to make it
known that "here's where we stand."
"We
wanted to make it known as an organization that we will not have any members
who are insurrectionists," Hunter said. Other veterans’ organizations also
have such a rule. In a Twitter post Saturday, Joe Chenelly, National Executive Director
of American Veterans (AMVETS), applauded the stance taken by the DAV.
"This
is indeed a great message from DAV," Chenelly said. "What is outlined
here is already the written rule in AMVETS as well, but DAV is doing a great
service with this clearly stated reminder. We will look at how we can enhance
this within AMVETS."
The
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) also has policies for expelling members whose
actions bring disgrace on the organization. "We have policies and
procedures in place to take organizational action against members who engage in
conduct unbecoming to the organization," VFW spokesman Terence Hayes said
in a statement.
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