Veterans, Supporters in Cumming Rally Against Government Shutdown

As veterans across the country and in Washington D.C. gathered Sunday for the planned "Million Vet March on the Memorials," a few dozen took to Cumming's Veterans War Memorial to show their support.

Peaceful protesters, angry at the federal government shutdown—including reports of delays in death benefits to the families of fallen soldiers and the possibility VA benefits could be affected—spoke out against the closures of memorials and monuments dedicated to those who have served, sacrificed and gave all, 11 Alive reports.

"Benefits should never be cut off," veteran supporter Kathy Yoakum said, according to the TV station. "And these memorials were built for veterans and paid for with their blood, sweat and tears. They should never be closed."

Thousands of veterans—holding signs that read the likes of, "Respect Our Vets," and "Impeach Obama," made it to Washington D.C. to protest the closures, a glaring symbol of the shutdown, ABC reports. Groups of protesters ripped barricades from closed facilities and piled them outside the White House, in what The Washington Post called "the latest burst of public outrage over lawmakers' inability to compromise over the budget."

More than 60 rallies across the country coincided with the events in the nation's capitol, according to the Million Vet March blog, which Sunday night displayed a message that read:

The political agenda put forth by a local organizer in Washington D.C. was not in alignment with our message. We feel disheartened that some would seek to hijack the narrative for political gain. The core principle is about all Americans honoring veterans in a peaceful and a political manner. 

In Georgia and across the U.S., protesters also gathered throughout the weekend on highway overpasses to protest the shutdown and call for the impeachment of President Barack Obama. The Overpasses for America movement started in June, and has organized Facebook groups and forums for non-Facebook users in each of the 50 states.
Sunday, the Facebook group Overpasses For Obama's Impeachment Georgia had more than 1,800 members. It's unclear how many Georgians are involved on the forum for non-Facebook users in the state.

Do you or would you support the impeachment of President Barack Obama? Or are you an Obama supporter? What do you think of the movements and the protests?

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