It was a celebratory mood at University Methodist Church over the weekend as more than 100 guests marked the Syracuse Peace Council’s 83rd anniversary of anti-war and social justice efforts.
But the cheerfulness was tempered when guest speaker and Army Reserve Captain, Brittany DeBarros took the mic to condemn militarism for going against American values.
"The wars that we're in...there's no definition for what winning looks like that is consistent for the arguments that have been made for why we're there in the first place."
DeBarros was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012. She says what she saw on the ground is not the way it’s sold to the American people.
"We're not framing the fact that we've killed tens of thousands of civilians in countries that we've invaded under the auspices of liberating and bringing democracy to them. We've harmed far, far more of those people than the supposed enemy."
After returning from deployment, DeBarros was disappointed to see social injustice here at home. It was public sentiment against Colin Kaepernick taking a knee that finally pushed her to join a Veterans Against War Group.
"Fighting for freedom is fighting on the front lines of social justice movements. Stop claiming that you think soldiers and veterans fight for our freedoms and then demonizing people who are literally fighting for our freedoms here in protest."
DeBarros is a contradiction for speaking out against the military while still serving in it. But the way she sees it, she’s just doing her job.
"I truly believe that speaking out against the unconstitutional use of our military, the immoral wars we're carrying out around the world is in line with my oath. I took an oath to defend the constitution from enemies foreign and domestic. How can I know what I know and not speak up and claim that I'm doing that."
She says she would have resigned years ago, but a contract she signed at age 18 requires her to remain until she turns 30. DeBarros plans to step down this May.
