Civil Rights Attorney Restores First Amendment Rights for Veterans

By Robert L. Rosebrock

Rees Lloyd, a prominent civil rights attorney, took prompt action last Friday on behalf of Veteran residents at the Los Angeles National Veterans Home and restored their Constitutional "Right to Assemble" and protest against the proposed public park on Veterans property.

Mr. Lloyd was contacted by “We the Veterans” for his assistance regarding the Constitutional Rights of Veterans receiving residential treatment in the New Directions program to exercise their First Amendment Rights of expression, assembly, and/or to petition for redress and participate in demonstrations being held on Sunday’s in opposition to the plan to convert 16-acres of land that was exclusively deeded in 1888 for the healthcare and rehabilitation of veterans into a public park by the special interest group operating under the name of Veterans Park Conservancy, an organization not remotely a "veterans organization."

At the first Sunday Rally on March 9th in protest against the public park, the Veterans of New Directions marched to the site chanting "USA, USA, USA" and then organized and sang "God Bless America." The fellow Veterans were very spirited and the Sunday Rally proved to be great therapy for everyone in attendance.

Unfortunately, these Veteran residents were intimidated within the West Los Angeles V.A. and told not to join any more rallies. This action was reprehensible because they seemed to thoroughly enjoy their participation at the Rally.

The very individuals that pledged their lives to defend the U.S. Constitution for others were suddenly having their own rights to it violated.

With their Constitutional Rights being suppressed for more than two months, the call for help to liberate the Veterans fell upon the deaf ears of major media. Only “VT,” “The Front Page On Line,” and the “Greater West Los Angeles Business Monthly” gave news coverage regarding this outrageous violation against Veterans and their civil rights.

"Operation Firing For Effect," The highly respected Veterans organization headquartered in Rochester, New York, provided broadcasts of the civil rights violations on their StarDust Radio program over the Internet.

The major question remains as to why none of the local Veterans organizations offered any assistance in this matter?

Several well-known civil rights attorneys were contacted in Los Angeles, including Leo Terrell, Peter Schey, Douglas Mirell and Lawrence Watts, but to avail.

On Friday, May 16th, a phone call was made to Mr. Lloyd in the Coachella Valley more than 100 miles away, and he unhesitatingly stepped forward and took immediate action.

Mr. Lloyd made telephone calls to Mr. James Duvall, the Public Affairs Officer at the V.A. Greater West Los Angeles Healthcare System, and to Ms. Toni Reinis, Executive Director of New Directions, to inquire about Veteran residents being denied their Constitutional Right to join the Sunday rallies and protest against the public park.

Mr. Duvall assured Mr. Lloyd “that the VA fully respects the rights of those veterans, and all veterans, to exercise their constitutional rights, and that no veteran receiving treatment there should have any fear whatsoever of any retaliatory acts if they choose to participate in the ongoing protests.”

Ms. Reinis also assured Mr. Lloyd that "the Veteran residents of New Directions are free to exercise their constitutional rights as they see fit, and none need fear retaliation.” Mr. Lloyd wrote back to Mr. Duvall and Ms. Reinis confirming both of their assurances and further declared, “In reliance on your assurances, no further action will bet taken at this time.”

American citizens should be extremely grateful to Mr. Lloyd, a constitutional lawyer for more than a quarter-century, for stepping forward without hesitation and defending the rights of our fellow Veterans at New Directions.

In addition to being a highly successful civil rights attorney, Mr. Lloyd is a Vietnam-era Veteran and past Commander of District 21 of the American Legion Department of California, a Judge Advocate, and Director, Defense of Veterans Memorials Project of The American Legion, Department of California.

Members of “We the Veterans,” organizers of the Sunday Rallies protesting against the public park, are indeed proud and grateful for Mr. Lloyd’s bold initiative and we can now look forward to the unification of New Directions Veterans with other fellow Veterans in this very necessary cause to “Save Our Veterans Land.”

John Keaveney, Chief Operating Officer of New Directions, is now resisting the unification of resident Veterans by personally declaring that he “could not allow any New Directions Veteran joining the Sunday Rallies because it would be harmful to their treatment and rehabilitation." We are waiting for Mr. Keaveney to provide medical and psychiatric tests to corroborate and document his dubious statement.

Nonetheless, the Rallies are held every Sunday from 1:00 – 4:00 PM at the corner of Wilshire and San Vicente Boulevards and the public is strongly encouraged to join in support of this noble and honorable demonstration.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rosebrock is co-director of “We the Veterans” and he can be contacted at [email protected]

Robert Rosebrock

U.S. Army, 1965-67, Schofield Barracks, Hqs., U.S Army, Hawaii. Director, The Veterans Revolution, Captain, the Old Veterans Guard, and Director, We the Veterans.