Anti-war soldiers host rocking event at Hell’s Kitchen

IRAQ VETS AGAINST THE WAR

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is hosting a concert Feb. 21 to show active duty soldiers that they aren’t alone in their frustration with the war in Iraq.

The aptly named “Soldier, You Are Not Alone” concert aims to get area active duty soldiers, veterans, students and the public together to start a discussion, and hopefully become actively involved in the IVAW’s first mission: immediate withdrawal from Iraq.

“One of the things that had an impact in ending the Vietnam War was the soldiers that didn’t want to fight it anymore,” said Tom McCarthy of the Peace Action Coalition of Tacoma and a supporter of IVAW. “Almost everyone in Pierce County is connected to the military in some way, and I guess the idea is that the peace movement is starting to think about how we can make that connection…stronger. One of the ways we can do that is by supporting veterans and reaching out to soldiers.”

And that is exactly what IVAW is trying to do this upcoming week, the finale of which will be a five-act concert at Hell’s Kitchen.

Seattle IVAW chapter President Chanan Suarezdiaz said that anyone can come to the event, but the target audience for the show is military (active duty soldiers get in free with military identification). He also said he hopes students will attend.

“Getting active duty people, veterans, together with students, it’s a powerful combination. There’s a lot of ideas, a lot of activism,” he said. “They are critical in the ‘ending the war’ movement.”

The concert will showcase two politically conscious hip-hop and folk artists, Son of Nun and Ryan Harvey, who have toured nationally in support of IVAW in the past.

Three Puget Sound area bands – Saints of Everyday Failures, Eastern Sunz and Ancient Head (fronted by an IVAW member) – will also be taking the stage in support of IVAW’s efforts.

“Other chapters of IVAW have been [hosting concerts] nationally, but there hasn’t been a strong effort in the Fort Lewis area,” Suarezdiaz said. “A lot of G.I.s go to Hell’s Kitchen. We’ve been getting a lot of support from them; people [at Hell’s Kitchen] say this is an important event and there’s a lot of soldiers who would relate to it.”

In addition to the concert event Feb. 21, IVAW is also organizing a march in line with the war’s fifth anniversary, March 22, outside Fort Lewis (President George W. Bush launched the invasion of Iraq March 19, 2003). The family friendly event, which will rally support from soldiers, veterans and their families, will focus on the truths of the war and G.I. rights.

“Military people have a huge…voice in this movement we’re building. Talking about their experience in the military, their participation in Iraq and in Afghanistan…is critical,” Suarezdiaz said.

For more information about IVAW, visit http://www.ivaw.org. You can also visit http://www.givioce.com, which is a resource for soldiers and their families, and will soon host a G.I. operated radio show.

“Soldier, You Are Not Alone” is 7-11 p.m. Feb 21 at Hell’s Kitchen, 3829 Sixth Ave. The show is all-ages, $8; service members with I.D. get in free.

Commenting rules