Let the flowers bloom: Interview with Veterans For Peace leader Michael McPhearson
Michael McPhearson, Executive Director of Veterans For Peace, spoke with People's World about his life in the anti-war and pro-peace movement. | McPherson photo via Vets for Peace / Flower photo: Mindy Welland

Editor’s Note: This interview with Veterans For Peace Executive Director Michael McPhearson was conducted before Israel launched, and the U.S. joined, the war on Iran. 

In a world of so much violence, many people forget about the ideas of peace and justice. They can’t imagine a world without nuclear weapons, inflated military budgets, and mass displacement of communities.

Flowers have long been global symbols of peace and solidarity. Following World War I, the white poppy represented the phrase, “peace without violence,” according to the Imperial War Museum. During the 1974 Carnation Revolution in Portugal, when anti-fascist military officers started a peaceful coup against the country’s fascist dictatorship, the wider population joined in revolt and put carnations in the barrels of soldiers’ guns in support for the mass democratic revolution. 

Within the United States, during the anti-Vietnam war protests of the 1960s, the famous “Flower Power” photo focused on a protester placing a carnation within a soldier’s gun barrel as a symbol of peace. But with many historical instances of the masses being against war, why does it still occur today?

Flowers have long been global symbols of peace and solidarity: From the white ‘peace’ poppy, to the ‘Flower Power’ revolution during the movement against the Vietnam War, to the 1974 Carnation Revolution in Portugal.

What can we do to act against weapons makers and others who endanger our people and our world for profit? How can we steer the U.S. government away from spending our money on bombs, planes, and tanks, and focus it instead on housing, education, and healthcare? 

In talking with Michael McPhearson, the Executive Director of Veterans For Peace, we find out how to give the world its flowers.

People’s World: What age were you when you joined the anti-war movement, and what issue brought you in?  

Michael McPhearson: “I grew up around military bases near Fort Bragg and Fort Lee. So, I respected the military. I still do. I saw what looked like happy families, people taking care of their families. Three of my best friends’ fathers had been in the military, and I respected them. They were good people. And like I said, people are taking care of their families. My friends got out of school and made good money. New cars and things like that. 

So, when you grow up in a military town, generally, you respect the military, and in a city like Fayetteville, N.C., where I grew up, it’s one of a few job opportunities. Also, my family, including my uncles, and stepfather, were in the military. My grandfather fought in World War I. One of my uncles fought in World War II. I had an uncle who was a Sergeant Major. I mean, you know, I had all these people around me who were good examples and were in the military.  

So, I never thought war was a good thing. I do believe service to the country was a good thing, and I still believe that. Today, I know that you can find other ways to do that, and you don’t have to go into the military to serve your country. But back then I didn’t. 

I thought war was a necessary evil. I’ve come to realize that it is more of a choice than a necessary evil.

I came to the anti-war movement through a peace lens. So, I got out of the military, which is its own story, and became more involved. I have always been aware of the issues impacting the Black community. My mother was a schoolteacher, and she taught my family our heritage and to be proud of it. So, I was aware of our political and social heritage.

I looked at how economic and social forces impact my community. I examined how these forces affected other people’s communities. While the way these forces impacted communities is different, with different histories and all that, they are similar. So, I just saw peace as an overarching way to look at how we need to move forward together. No matter your color, no matter your religion. No matter your gender, and so on. 

So, I had started looking at peace before I thought about being an anti-war activist. I was not thinking about U.S. foreign policy. It was mostly how to bring peace at home; I started writing about that. Then, I heard President George W. Bush talk about the Star Wars missile defense system. I thought that would lead to more tension globally. This was in the summer of 2001, before September 11. So, I went to an anti-war protest in Washington which was pretty small. I can’t remember who put it on; perhaps it was Peace Action. That was my first anti-war demonstration.  

It wasn’t my first time in the streets, though. I started doing things with the NAACP, the People’s Organization for Progress in Newark, the Organization for Black Struggle in St. Louis, and the Universal African People’s Organization, also in St. Louis. My first actual in-the-street activism was the Million Man March in 1995. That was the first time I went out in the street in a protest, even though it really wasn’t a street protest. It was more of people coming together to pledge to do something to help the community. That launched my activism; I was 37 at the time. However, the 2001 summer before the 9/11 event was specifically for peace.  

Then, September 11 happened, and I kept going to peace and anti-war demonstrations. I want to distinguish between anti-war and peace. You can’t have peace, of course, unless you end wars. But the end of a war does not necessarily mean peace. And I think many times, anti-war activists aren’t always peace-oriented in how they approach their anti-war and anti-imperialism work, so I don’t see them as being the same. But I think that if you are a peace activist, you’re inherently anti-war, anti-imperialist.

What’s it like to be a veteran advocating for peace against a pro-war government? 

Before my peace and anti-war activism, I didn’t think about using my voice as a veteran. I talked about being a veteran, but when I was doing anti-racism, justice, and human rights work, being a veteran wasn’t a big part of my message or what I talked about. 

It still was not a big part of my thinking when I started doing the anti-war and peace work until I found Veterans For Peace.

I went to a panel about civil liberties after 9/11 in 2002. I met David Cline there, who was president of Veterans For Peace at the time. And that’s when I thought to myself, I’m a veteran, and I’m working for peace. I was writing this stuff under something called Conversation Peace, or CPeace, so I decided, well, why don’t I check out Veterans For Peace?

Veterans For Peace in several Northern California chapters were the first veterans to go back to Vietnam for humanitarian work and reconciliation. These members helped construct the first Medical Clinic by Americans since the war. | Photo via VFP

It was a little strange speaking up as a veteran against my government’s foreign policy, especially going back to North Carolina, because Fayetteville, where I grew up, is where Fort Liberty, or Fort Bragg, is located. I’m not sure what it is called now. I went there and directly participated in demonstrations in my hometown. 

I consider myself a patriot of sorts in that I want to hold my nation accountable to what we profess to be and the promise of democracy and human rights, which I think is what makes this nation unique—our understanding of the balance of powers and that the government just can’t do whatever it wants to you. I want to hold my government accountable. Whatever it takes to do that, and if using my veteran voice moves things forward, then so be it.

 In all of your time protesting, marching, and advocating for peace, what is the memory that will always make you proud of your work?  

That’s a tricky question because I don’t really think that way, so I don’t know. I just feel honored that I have the opportunity to do work that I think is important and helps people. 

I did go to Iraq in 2003, not long after the invasion, and it was a hell of an experience to meet people who were supposed to be my enemy. It was eye-opening to see just how much they are like me but also to witness how hospitable the people of Iraq were. They were so nice to me while my country was invading and bombing. I was in Baghdad, and we, the U.S., had just bombed the city, yet people were offering me tea in their homes and sharing their feelings and thoughts with me. In many ways, that was one of the most humbling experiences I’ve had in that work. 

Additionally, my work in St. Louis during the Ferguson Rebellion involved supporting the efforts of the young people out in the streets. There were a few times when I know I played a significant role in keeping people safe and preventing the police from escalating tensions. At least twice, I helped steer things in a more positive direction, which makes me feel good about that.

Members of Veterans For Peace block the street at the U.S. Capitol demanding that Congress hold the U.S. military accountable to release full reports on their greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the military budget, and redirect to funds toward climate solutions on Aug. 3, 2022, in Washington. | Joy Asico / AP for Veterans For Peace

There was one occasion at a protest at the Pentagon when a confrontation with the police occurred. They eventually detained three of us because some individuals placed anti-war information in the visitor center. They accused members of Veterans For Peace and, at the time, Iraq Veterans Against the War, now known as About Face.

We had a brief confrontation, during which I challenged the police, essentially taking charge of our actions by creating a dilemma for them. Despite that, they did apprehend the three of us, which left me dissatisfied. I also feel I played a positive role in various other instances. Still, I am simply honored to have had the chance to do that.

You’ve probably had to deal with a lot of pro-war politicians and talking heads before. Any memories of that which still gets you fired up?

I guess the thing that makes me angriest is the hypocrisy and the twisting of facts. Well, that makes me upset no matter who does it, because sometimes anti-war people do that to spin things. I don’t like spinning things; there’s enough horrible truth that you don’t need to spin anything. 

But the hypocrisy of saying you’re for human rights and claiming that the United States is always the good guy angers me. Yes, we somewhat stand for human rights, but our foreign policy is not aligned with that. You can see that right now with what’s happening in Gaza and how we conduct wars. 

The way they conflate issues is concerning. The biggest problem currently is the conflation of being against Israel’s policies in the West Bank or Gaza with supporting Hamas. That kind of reasoning is hypocritical; it’s just a way to justify immoral policies. To stand before me and claim some mantle of human rights or morality while lying and twisting things makes me so angry. The constant lying, especially today, angers me a lot, as there’s a whole other level of it. 

Another thing that bothers me is the fact that many decision-makers are not impacted by their decisions. They move on from them. I remember once when I was with Military Families Speak Out. My son served in the military, so I am a member of MFSO. We went to the White House and spoke to some representatives of the Obama administration. 

I told them that they are in this administration now, but when it’s over, they’ll move on to other jobs while all of us sitting here will still be dealing with what we are facing. The issues with our families and what has happened to service members will still be our burden while they move on. People make and implement decisions they won’t have to live with but that negatively impact others.

How have you seen the peace movement landscape change over the years?  

In some ways, it hasn’t changed. Much of what we’ve been doing and what we have done, people continue to do. In some respects, that’s positive—the carrying over of institutional knowledge can be beneficial. However, it can also feel like there’s a lack of critical evaluation, failing to recognize the need to change tactics or reconsider how you frame conversations with others. It may also be important to realize that your perspective might not be relevant to today’s context. 

One thing that has changed since I first got involved, which was immediately after 9/11, is that a large number of people, including myself, entered the anti-war and peace movement. It was primarily an anti-war movement with some interest in peace. High anti-war/peace activism continued throughout the Bush administration.

However, when President Barack Obama took office, that momentum dissipated. There have been slight increases in interest in peace and anti-war efforts on the streets since, but the movements have not regained the same momentum we experienced back then. I recognized that part of the reason was that Bush was most vulnerable when it came to public opinion regarding the war in Iraq, not so much when it came to Afghanistan. But eventually, the Afghan war was vexing to Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden.

Gaza action: Veterans for Peace and others protest to pressure Maersk to cease shipments to Israel on Aug. 28, 2024, at the Port of Los Angeles. | Damian Dovarganes / AP

Our coalition during the early 2000s was more of an anti-Republican and anti-Bush coalition than an anti-war, pro-peace coalition. That is not to say that the people protesting in the streets then did not and do not care about peace or holding individuals accountable for war; it’s just that domestic issues often take precedence.

Given this situation, we need to think about how we can integrate anti-war and pro-peace paradigms into our domestic struggles in a manner that reveals the existing connections. How do we achieve that? I don’t believe we have effectively addressed this issue, but we need to be talking more about the military-industrial complex and how every dollar for war is one less dollar for domestic needs. 

Nonetheless, I feel that today, amidst all the chaos, we have an unprecedented opportunity for people to unite. This moment presents us with an excellent chance to find ways to incorporate anti-war and peace sentiments into the current political landscape. The terrain is more favorable than it has been in the past. 

What words do you have for young people today standing up against the U.S.’ funding of and participation in wars?  

Think outside the box because that’s what we need more than anything. Thinking outside the box means new ideas. I believe that to be the vanguard—if you want to use that term—means whoever can communicate messages that help people recognize each other’s humanity.

Dr. King discussed a revolution in values. What do people value? If we change people’s mindsets, systems will change, and our way of living will transform. When enough people desire change, we will invent what is needed.

When we want to live together, when it becomes unacceptable to see people without shelter, when it becomes unacceptable to see people lacking sufficient food, for children to endure sexual abuse, and for women to be treated unequally, when these situations become intolerable, change will occur. 

So, don’t let outdated mindsets hinder you. It’s good to feel angry; channel that anger. Don’t let it control you, as it can lead you down negative paths. Use your anger for energy to propel and sustain yourself. However, don’t allow that anger to turn into bitterness or hate.

The struggle for peace and against imperialist war is a struggle for the future of humanity. When we think of the word peace, we must also think of our friends, family, and community. To win peace in our time is to also win equity and equality for all people. To win peace is to let all of our flowers bloom.

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CONTRIBUTOR

Bryesen Cooper
Bryesen Cooper

Bryesen Cooper is a student, community activist, and labor advocate from Missouri.