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Posted On: July 9th 2026, 09:32 pm
Chanting “No more rich man’s wars,” hundreds of veterans and active-duty GIs marched at an “Independence from Billionaires” parade in Philadelphia on the 4th of July.
It was the largest such protest since Dewey Canyon III, the veterans' week-long protest on the Mall in Washington in April 1971. Not as massive or confrontational, but participants just seeing each other together at this event seemed to give everyone more confidence –– it seemed like there was a lot of potential for future actions.
Coming from as far away as California,
Maine and Florida, the veterans and GIs contingent made up the majority of the large “Peoples Parade” during a mile-long march that was led by an “Independence from Billionaires” blue and red banner.
Critical of mass deportation, forced displacement, climate crisis, and international wars, local and national groups organized the event as counterprogramming to the official 250th anniversary of the signing of the
Declaration of Independence.
The significant Veterans Against Fascism contingent featured dozens of black and white signs and banners targeting U.S. forever wars. The signs attacked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) kidnappings and fascism as the military veterans and family members took the streets despite temperatures over 100 degrees.
Current military members who oppose U.S. support for genocide in
Palestine walked side-by-side with veterans of U.S. wars against Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam.
A short rally took place near Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was
signed 250 years ago. Representatives from Veterans for Peace, About Face, Military Families Speak Out, and
Fayetteville Resistance Coalition raised the necessity of military personnel active and no-longer-active to speak out
against unjust wars and attacks on democratic rights.
Speakers emphasized the right
of active-duty military members to
refuse illegal or immoral orders.
More photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCYm1Z
It was the largest such protest since Dewey Canyon III, the veterans' week-long protest on the Mall in Washington in April 1971. Not as massive or confrontational, but participants just seeing each other together at this event seemed to give everyone more confidence –– it seemed like there was a lot of potential for future actions.
Coming from as far away as California,
Maine and Florida, the veterans and GIs contingent made up the majority of the large “Peoples Parade” during a mile-long march that was led by an “Independence from Billionaires” blue and red banner.
Critical of mass deportation, forced displacement, climate crisis, and international wars, local and national groups organized the event as counterprogramming to the official 250th anniversary of the signing of the
Declaration of Independence.
The significant Veterans Against Fascism contingent featured dozens of black and white signs and banners targeting U.S. forever wars. The signs attacked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) kidnappings and fascism as the military veterans and family members took the streets despite temperatures over 100 degrees.
Current military members who oppose U.S. support for genocide in
Palestine walked side-by-side with veterans of U.S. wars against Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam.
A short rally took place near Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was
signed 250 years ago. Representatives from Veterans for Peace, About Face, Military Families Speak Out, and
Fayetteville Resistance Coalition raised the necessity of military personnel active and no-longer-active to speak out
against unjust wars and attacks on democratic rights.
Speakers emphasized the right
of active-duty military members to
refuse illegal or immoral orders.
More photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCYm1Z
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