Vietnam Veterans Against The War Anti-Imperialist
Encyclopedia
Vietnam Veterans Against the War Anti-Imperialist (VVAWAI) is a small group based in Seattle, Washington
claiming to be one of two groups formed after the split of Vietnam Veterans Against the War
(VVAW). VVAW, Inc is the other. The VVAW, Inc web site originally described VVAWAI as "the creation of an obscure, ultra-left sect called the Revolutionary Communist Party
(RCP) ... designed to pimp off of VVAW's history of struggle" and currently uses a modified version of that description omitting reference to the Revolutionary Communist Party. VVAWAI states they have no affiliation with the current VVAW, Inc, but shares the legacy of the original VVAW.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
claiming to be one of two groups formed after the split of Vietnam Veterans Against the War
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
Vietnam Veterans Against the War is a tax-exempt non-profit organization and corporation, originally created to oppose the Vietnam War. VVAW describes itself as a national veterans' organization that campaigns for peace, justice, and the rights of all United States military veterans...
(VVAW). VVAW, Inc is the other. The VVAW, Inc web site originally described VVAWAI as "the creation of an obscure, ultra-left sect called the Revolutionary Communist Party
Revolutionary Communist Party, USA
The Revolutionary Communist Party, USA , known originally as the Revolutionary Union, is a Maoist Communist party formed in 1975 in the United States. The RCP states that U.S...
(RCP) ... designed to pimp off of VVAW's history of struggle" and currently uses a modified version of that description omitting reference to the Revolutionary Communist Party. VVAWAI states they have no affiliation with the current VVAW, Inc, but shares the legacy of the original VVAW.
Notable events
- In April 1980 there was a court battle between this group and Vietnam Veterans of the War, Inc., and VVAWAI (at the time calling itself "Vietnam Veterans Against the War") was ordered by court decision to use “Anti-Imperialist” or "A-I" in its name, and to include the disclaimer, "NOT AFFILIATED WITH VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR, INC." in all their publications.
- Dave BlalockDave BlalockDave Blalock , is an American anti-war activist who helped overturn the 1989 Flag Protection Act. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans Against The War Anti-Imperialist....
(a member of VVAWAI) was one of the defendants in United States v. EichmanUnited States v. EichmanUnited States v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 was a United States Supreme Court case that invalidated a federal law against flag desecration as violative of free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution. It was argued together with the case United States v...
, a 1990 United States Supreme Court case which overturned the 1989 Flag Protection ActFlag Protection ActReacting to protests during the Vietnam War era, the United States 90th Congress enacted Public Law 90-381 , later codified as 18 U.S.C. 700, et. seq., and better known as the Flag Protection Act of 1968. It was an expansion to nationwide applicability of a 1947 law previously restricted only to...
. The defendants were defended by the late William KunstlerWilliam KunstlerWilliam Moses Kunstler was an American self-described "radical lawyer" and civil rights activist, known for his controversial clients...
. - In 1993, VVAWAI hosted a “National Conference to Reforge the Anti-Intervention Movement” in Seattle.