Latest news with #JohnSpitzberg
The Independent
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
87-year-old's five-word response to being arrested at Trump protest
One of the U.S. military veterans arrested for protesting President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. last week had a short and sweet response when he was asked how it felt to be cuffed at 87 years old. John Spitzberg was arrested during a veterans' protest against Trump's military parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States Army on Friday in Washington, D.C. Footage captured by other protesters shows him being handcuffed by law enforcement outside the U.S. Capitol. According to local broadcaster WCJB, he and approximately 75 other protesters knocked over a bike rack and crossed a police line, after which many were arrested. Carolina Lumetta, a reporter for WNG who was at the scene and witnessed the arrest, said that rather than arresting him, police initially just returned back over the police line while other protesters were arrested. Spitzberg reportedly walked back across the line with the aid of his walker and told the offices he would rather stay with the protesters, even if it meant his arrest. After Spitzberg was released from custody, journalist Chuck Modio caught up with the veteran and asked him how it felt to be arrested at age 87. "I'm just beginning, my friend," Spitzberg replied. He added that he needed to "get a little sleep" before he starts protesting again. Spitzberg, who served in the US Air Force, told WCJB that he doesn't "wanna make more of it than it is," referencing the video of his arrest that went viral. 'All I knew is I had to be with my brothers and sisters who were being pummeled. That's all I knew, that they were being pummeled," he said. Spitzberg lives in a retirement home in Gainesville and was visiting the nation's capital for a work reunion party. He said he was disappointed to see police arresting the veterans at the Capitol. 'It feels like a betrayal of the Americans and other people who served this country for the purpose of keeping democracy, freedom," he told the broadcaster. He said he hopes that people who see the video focus less on him and more on the message of the protest. 'I'm really not the issue. The issue is what President Trump is doing,' Spitzberg said. 'I'm not a leader there. I don't wanna be a leader.' On the day of the protest, approximately 75 veterans gathered outside the Supreme Court wearing shirts that said "Veterans Against Fascism." Shortly after the group gathered, about 60 marches to the U.S. Capitol, where police had established a perimeter. That was the line that the protesters crossed before they were arrested. "A few people pushed the bike rack down and illegally crossed the police line while running towards the Rotunda Steps," Capitol Police said. "Our officers immediately blocked the group and began making arrests." Veterans for Peace explained the protest in a Friday Instagram post that said "approximately 60 veterans and military family members staged a sit-in on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to demand the military get off our city streets from LA to DC, and taxpayer money be directed towards real investments in housing, health care, and food — not political stunts or militarism."
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
This 87-Year-Old Veteran Was Arrested For Protesting Trump's Parade, And What He Said After Is Going Viral
87-year-old veteran John Spitzberg was arrested in DC on Friday. According to WCJB, he was one of 75 veterans peacefully protesting against Donald Trump's military parade when they pushed down a bike rack and crossed a police line. WORLD reporter Carolina Lumetta captured footage of the arrested, saying, "One elderly veteran was originally returned to the group and then pushed past the fence back to the Capitol plaza. Officers offered to return him again but he said he wanted to be with the rest of the protesters. They cuffed him and loaded into the vans." CarolinaLumetta/Twitter: @CarolinaLumetta Related: "Let Them Eat Teslas": People At The "No Kings" Protests This Weekend Brought Signs That Were So Clever I'm Still Laughing About Them Upon his release, journalist Chuck Modi captured video of the veteran saying how it felt to be arrested at 87: @chuckmodi1/ Related: Well, Well, Well, For The Second Time In 2 Weeks, People Are Letting JD Vance Know EXACTLY How They Feel About Him In Public "I'm just beginning, my friend," he said. "I'm gonna just get a little sleep, but I'm starting again." People are (obviously) finding the whole thing pretty inspirational. They're calling him a "true patriot." Another person said, "At 87 he is still serving his country!" And this person said he's "Way more of a king than you know who!" Also in In the News: "Honestly Speechless At How Evil This Is": 26 Brutal, Brutal, Brutal Political Tweets Of The Week Also in In the News: This Dem Lawmaker Is Going Viral For His Extremely Shady Question To Secretary Kristi Noem Also in In the News: This Conservative Said He Wears A Fake ICE Uniform For A Really, Really, Really Gross Reason
