The VA's Own Tiananmen Square

by Robert L. Rosebrock, Staff Writer

The commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the pro-democracy demonstrations at Tiananmen Square in China brings back grateful memories of the thousands of peaceful protesters demanding more political freedoms, more human rights and a crackdown on crime and corruption within the Communist government.

To show their hope and respect for a democratic government, the student-led protesters erected a replica of America’s Statue of Liberty and called it their own "Goddess of Democracy."

Who could ever forget the photograph of a brave young man standing alone in front of a line of Chinese army tanks? The photo was taken by Jeff Widener of the Associated Press, and in a recent USA Today article, “How An Iconic Image Came To Be,” he explained how the Chinese government tried to prevent the Western media from documenting the student protest and how he had to hide his own camera and film in order to get his famous photo and keep from being arrested. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-06-03-chinaphoto_N.htm?csp=34

That was China 20 years ago and they’ve come a long way toward a more civil government since then, but they still have a longer way to go given their recent oppressiveness against those who tried to celebrate this 20th anniversary in Beijing.

On the other hand, it is curiously interesting how the student-led protest two decades ago has a similarity to the Veterans-led Sunday Rallies of today outside the Los Angeles National Veterans Home.

The stark reminders of the June 4, 1989 protest at Tiananmen Square hearkens back to November 30, 2008 at the 38th consecutive Sunday Rally of The Veterans Revolution outside the Veterans Home. Like previous Rallies to “Save Our Veterans Land,” fellow Veterans hung the American Flag, the POW/MIA flag, and a “We Support Our Troops” banner on the outside of the fence of the revered National Home.

With grave overtones of the thug police at Tiananmen Square, two VA federal police came out and demanded that fellow Veterans remove the “We Support Our Troops” banner and threatened me with arrest for taking a photo of them interrogating an 85-year old World War II Veteran in a wheel chair.

Rather than elaborate in this article on the details of this shameful incident that took place on American soil, it was documented in a VT article, “Attention Congressman Henry Waxman," https://www.veteranstoday.com/article4198.html

Make no mistake; the VA has its own brute force in trying to destroy the spirit of the peaceful demonstrators who are demanding more Veterans’ rights, full protection of their deeded land, and a crackdown on crime and corruption within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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RIGHT: Steve Palmer, an 85-year old World War II Veteran in his mobile wheelchair is interrogated and harassed by two armed VA federal police outside the L.A. Veterans Home during a Sunday Rally to "Save Our Veterans Home."  The banner seen between the two police officers says "We Support Our Troops" along with the five seals of the branches of our Armed Forces. Veterans were told to remove the banner and I was threatened with arrest for taking this photo.  Do you really think this is the same kind of democracy that the Chinese students were demonstrating for at Tiananmen Square 20 years ago?

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While the VA Police have not intervened since the November 30th debacle, this past Sunday they drove a patrol car on the grass along the inside of the wrought iron fence on the VA grounds and parked, sitting for several minutes observing our gathering of fellow Veterans peacefully demonstrating, and then left.

About an hour later, the same VA federal police patrol drove outside the VA grounds on Wilshire Boulevard heading west and turned north onto San Vicente Boulevard.  This is at the intersection where we hold our Sunday Rallies. The patrol officer drove very slowly observing us and then made a U-turn (illegal) on San Vicente and came back, observing us again.  He turned left onto Wilshire and had headed east back toward the VA compound.

These same VA federal police that watch every move of innocent Veterans demonstrating outside the VA, could not investigate and stop the recent corruption, crime and embezzlement of $200,000 in green fees at the VA golf course, which is right under their nose. Now they’re back again harassing senior Veterans at their peaceful Sunday Rallies.

Clearly, the Veterans who are demonstrating on the outside of the VA are the only ones who are trying to protect Veterans land and assets on the inside, while sleazy VA bureaucrats, corrupt politicians and greedy homeowners are abusing and stealing it. 

Consider how far China has progressed from being an uncivil nation to how far we have regressed from being a supposed civil nation, particularly the treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs against the very defenders of our own freedom and democracy.

Consider how young students hungering for democracy led a revolution by honoring a symbol of it with their own “Goddess of Democracy,” and how Veterans in their 70s and 80s are leading a revolution by hanging a banner in honor of those who are now defending our own freedom and democracy, with a “We Support Our Troops” banner.

Consider how a brave young student challenged Chinese armored tanks but Communist government forbade anyone to take a photo of the showdown. 

Consider how a brave old Veteran challenged two armed VA federal police but the Department of Veterans Affairs forbade anyone to take a photo of the showdown.

This shameful harassment and intimidation by the VA federal police against America’s Veterans outside of the VA must cease posthaste.

More specifically, it is imperative that Secretary Shinseki promptly remove Captain Ron Mathis, Chief of the VA Federal Police and Security. Then, he must begin cleaning up all the crime and corruption within the largest VA healthcare center in the nation.

If there is to be any hope of operating and maintaining honor, dignity and professionalism at the National Veterans Home, Secretary Shinseki must promptly remove the following VA bureaucrats:

Ronald Norby, Director of the VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network (Long Beach)

Donna Beiter, Executive Director, VA Greater West Los Angeles Healthcare System

Lynn Carrier, Associate Director

Ralph Tillman, Director of Asset Management and the Chief of Public Affairs

Jenelle Happy, Freedom of Information Officer

Until there is a complete house cleaning at the largest VA in the nation and the elimination of the pillaging and plundering of Veterans’ land and assets, America can never live up to its moral promise and responsibility to permanently provide a safe and quiet sanctuary for America’s Military Veterans to heal from war.

During a recent Memorial Day ceremony honoring America’s dead and living Veterans, President Barack Obama declared:  "We have failed to give them the support they need or pay them the respect they deserve. That is a betrayal of the sacred trust that America has with all who wear — and all who have worn — the proud uniform of our country. And that is a sacred trust I am committed to keeping as President of the United States."

Mr. President, fellow-Veterans urge you and Secretary Shinseki to come to Los Angeles and demand that the largest VA in the nation honor your commitment.

What the VA federal police are doing to America’s Veterans land to America’s Veterans who peacefully demonstrate outside the Los Angeles National Veterans Home will remain a very dark mark on American history and will forever be remembered as the VA’s own Tiananmen Square.

God Bless America and The Veterans Revolution!

About the Author: Rosebrock is a U.S. Army Veteran, Vietnam War-era, HQ USARHAW, Schofield Barracks. He is Director of The Veterans Revolution and Co-Director of We the Veterans, and a Member of the American Legion Press Association. [email protected]