Veterans to Thank Pittsburgh City Council for Standing Against Wars

Pittsburgh war veterans will assemble at 9 a.m. this morning at the Pittsburgh City-County Building portico for a press conference and to deliver a letter of gratitude to the council for standing up against the current wars that the United States is involved in.

A press release from the Iraq Veterans Against the War states that veterans want to thank Pittsburgh City Council for recently passing a resolution that supports its message: "Bring Our Troops and War Dollars Home."

While the veterans appreciate city council's support, they will encourage council to try to understand the harsh reality veterans face when they return from deployment.

"We want city council to recognize the varying difficulties that veterans face when returning home from war or simply being separated from the military," the press release states.

The release also reveals statistics, such as the fact that 18 veterans commit suicide every day and that they make up a large percentage of the country's homeless population. Iraq Veterans Against the War hope that this type of information helps city council understand the severity of the situation.

"We need the city of Pittsburgh to stand with veterans as we return and learn to heal," the report says.

In addition to discussing the well-being of veterans, the group will address the recent policy brutality enacted on Iraq war veteran, Scott Olsen in Oakland, Calif.

The release says that veterans will ask city council to stand up to all police violence in our neighborhoods.

Tomorrow's speakers will include members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, and veterans who have been involved with the Occupy Pittsburgh movement.