Bailout the Filipino Veterans Not the Capitalist

JFAV Statement
for Oct 10 Mass Actions
October 10, 2008
San Francisco, CA


JUSTICE AND EQUITY FOR THE FILIPINO VETERANS! BAILOUT THE FILIPINO VETERANS NOT THE CAPITALIST

Today, we protest the racist attacks against the Filipino World War II Veterans. Again, the fast disappearing Filipino World War II veterans and the seniors were the first victims of the Bush $700 capitalist bailout.

We gather today at the foot of the monument to the Spanish-American War of 1898. At proof that the United States occupied the Philippines and colonized the Philippines. And that on 1941, when the Second World War broke out, we have to fight a war that is not of our own making.

Filipinos were ordered and conscripted into the United States army and were ordered to fight for the war. But the United States refuse to honor the wartime services of the Filipinos saying the fought for their own country. What a shame!

The US Congress again insulted the veterans and Filipino American community by passing SB 1315 bill minus their recognition and one billion's worth in benefits.

And then they passed a lump sum bill HR 6897, treating the veterans like mercenaries. But, to cap the greater insult, they have not passed any bill in a joint conference committee even if there is money to be spent. Once again, they promised to give them something next year - another empty promise.

Why do they treat the Filipino Veterans and the community as if they were rags? Is this how they treat veterans of the wars for America? Plain and simple, they can easily bailout capitalist banks, but they refuse to give a single cent to the Filipino veterans.

Why, because the US Congress is racist. Racism is alive and well in America. They choose to let thousands of Filipino veterans die, give the remaining a simple lump sum, and let them go home to the Philippines and die.

For 63 years, the US Congress refuse to recognize the Filipino veterans despite the fact that one million Filipinos died during World War II in defense of freedom. To the legislators, the question of money is paramount; to them, honor and dignity is nothing. What is this but racism plain and simple.

As they allow the Confederate flag continue to fly in the south, they allow racism to be alive as they want to offer the lump sum to Filipino veterans, with the condition they renounce their claims as veterans of the United States.

We must act against this increased racist and capitalist attacks against the people.

Only through concerted and unified actions can we beat back these racist racist and capitalist attacks against the Filipino veterans, workers and all communities.

ACT NOW TO FIGHT RACISM!

JUSTICE AND RECOGNITION FOR FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS!

NO LUMP SUM BILL!