Marching Valley Vets Threatened With Arrest
Reported by Kimberly Wyatt
Channel 4 Television News
"This is a protest of an ungrateful nation" said one Valley veteran.
Dozens of veterans from the Rio Grande Valley are taking on the state of Texas step by step gripping the American Flag protesting the lack of military medical facilities in the Valley for the 46,000 veterans who live in South Texas.
Lacking on the state of Texas step by step gripping the American Flag protesting the lack of military medical facilities in the Valley for the 46,000 veterans who live in South Texas.
But their mission could land them in jail.
"They're classifying us as second class citizens as if were invisible, we'll we're not, we're here," said Jay Solis.
Lydia Caballero served in the military as a nurse. Caballero is now the public relations specialist for America's Last Patrol in the Valley and she lobbies for veterans and Latino issues.
"We want to make sure veterans are going to be taken care of," she told Action 4 News on Wednesday night.
After trekking 160 miles their protest may meet a harsh roadblock.
"They are threatening to arrest all of us if we enter the city of San Antonio," said Commander Juan Vasquez.
Vasquez says the Bexar County sheriffs department called the group and told them they could not enter Bexar County or the city of San Antonio without a permit. If they do they risk being arrested.
"They said it was illegal and now they changed their story and said they need a $250,000 bond to walk," said Caballeros.
Caballeros said his organization already had a bond and should not be required to purchase another.
Action 4 News tried reaching the San Antonio police department and the Bexar County sheriffs department for comment, but no one was available for comment.
Caballeros says he will meet with San Antonio's mayor on Thursday morning. The American Civil Liberties Union has also been called on to investigate the permit problem.
The Vietnam veterans were in Pleasanton Wednesday night. They held a vote on whether to walk or get arrested.
State Representative Aaron Pena, who's been with the group since they left Edinburg on Saturday said the men and women voted to continue their walk.
"We've gone to far and we've lost to much in this day and in the last 35 years. We are not going to take it anymore," said Caballeros.
The meeting with the San Antonio mayor is scheduled for 8:30am Thursday morning.
"There are approximately 15 veterans that are at Valley Manor nursing home down in the Valley. They are World War II Vets that no one goes to visit. We are dedicating this march to them.."
To follow the march online you can go to State Representative Aaron Pena's blog at www.acapitolblog.blogspot.com.
Channel 4 Television News
"This is a protest of an ungrateful nation" said one Valley veteran.
Dozens of veterans from the Rio Grande Valley are taking on the state of Texas step by step gripping the American Flag protesting the lack of military medical facilities in the Valley for the 46,000 veterans who live in South Texas.
Lacking on the state of Texas step by step gripping the American Flag protesting the lack of military medical facilities in the Valley for the 46,000 veterans who live in South Texas.
But their mission could land them in jail.
"They're classifying us as second class citizens as if were invisible, we'll we're not, we're here," said Jay Solis.
Lydia Caballero served in the military as a nurse. Caballero is now the public relations specialist for America's Last Patrol in the Valley and she lobbies for veterans and Latino issues.
"We want to make sure veterans are going to be taken care of," she told Action 4 News on Wednesday night.
After trekking 160 miles their protest may meet a harsh roadblock.
"They are threatening to arrest all of us if we enter the city of San Antonio," said Commander Juan Vasquez.
Vasquez says the Bexar County sheriffs department called the group and told them they could not enter Bexar County or the city of San Antonio without a permit. If they do they risk being arrested.
"They said it was illegal and now they changed their story and said they need a $250,000 bond to walk," said Caballeros.
Caballeros said his organization already had a bond and should not be required to purchase another.
Action 4 News tried reaching the San Antonio police department and the Bexar County sheriffs department for comment, but no one was available for comment.
Caballeros says he will meet with San Antonio's mayor on Thursday morning. The American Civil Liberties Union has also been called on to investigate the permit problem.
The Vietnam veterans were in Pleasanton Wednesday night. They held a vote on whether to walk or get arrested.
State Representative Aaron Pena, who's been with the group since they left Edinburg on Saturday said the men and women voted to continue their walk.
"We've gone to far and we've lost to much in this day and in the last 35 years. We are not going to take it anymore," said Caballeros.
The meeting with the San Antonio mayor is scheduled for 8:30am Thursday morning.
"There are approximately 15 veterans that are at Valley Manor nursing home down in the Valley. They are World War II Vets that no one goes to visit. We are dedicating this march to them.."
To follow the march online you can go to State Representative Aaron Pena's blog at www.acapitolblog.blogspot.com.
posted by Tejano Insider at 10:52 PM
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