Press Release
Six Months After Insurrection, New National Veterans Group Forms to Address Domestic Extremism and Misinformation
WASHINGTON -- Veterans and military family members from across the country have marked the six-month anniversary of the insurrection in Washington, D.C. by launching a nonpartisan organization -- We the Veterans -- dedicated to building a more perfect union.
American democracy is currently under attack. Democracy is not a given but a process requiring grit, cooperation, integrity and commitment to the public good -- the very characteristics that define veterans and their families. We the Veterans will provide veterans, their family members, and allies a community through which to continue their service to America from their station as citizens. Volunteering for democracy, the group hopes to recenter positive patriotism in American life and use their skills and passion as veterans to promote and protect our nation’s values.
“A more perfect union starts with a strong democracy, grounded in a commitment to truth and empowered by positive patriotism,” said Christa Sperling, a U.S. Air Force veteran and We the Veterans Foundation board member. “We the Veterans is ‘country over party’ in action. We aim to set an example for what civil discourse and collaboration can look like.”
In addition to fostering civic engagement at the local, state and national levels, We the Veterans is taking action to address violent extremism and misinformation in the veteran community. Veterans represent a target of interest for domestic extremist groups and hostile foreign influence operators. In addition to military expertise and experience, they are highly respected members of society who bolster a movement’s legitimacy and are capable of influencing their country and their communities. But veterans and their families are well-equipped to address these issues, and We the Veterans will empower them to blunt the efforts of those seeking to manipulate the community and American democracy.
“Pushing back against misinformation and veteran participation in extremist organizations is essential to addressing the issue of violent extremism in our country on a broader scale,” said Anil Nathan, a U.S. Air Force veteran and We the Veterans Foundation board member. “We the Veterans will play a key role in rallying the veteran community to serve our country and democracy beyond the uniform.”
We the Veterans is organizing an expert in-person convening and a virtual veteran community summit to create solution-oriented partnerships and mobilize the veteran community and its allies around the urgent issue of extremism and misinformation. More information about the summit, which will be held in Washington, D.C. on the one year anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection will be released later this summer.
"When we assumed the soldier, we did not lay aside the citizen and we shall most sincerely rejoice with you in that happy hour when the establishment of American liberty, on the most firm and solid foundations, shall enable us to return to our private stations in the bosom of a free, peaceful, and happy country."
-George Washington, 26 June 1775
Contact: Press@wetheveterans.us
June 6, 2021
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