Adam Kokesh: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 16:28, 18 May 2013 editSPECIFICO (talk \| contribs)Extended confirmed users35,510 edits →Marine Corps service: Copyedit (major) Copyedit (minor)← Previous edit		Revision as of 16:31, 18 May 2013 edit undoSPECIFICO (talk \| contribs)Extended confirmed users35,510 edits →Ready Reserve discharge: Copyedit (minor)Next edit →
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	In May 2007, a hearing was convened to consider changing Kokesh's ] from "honorable" to "other than honorable" on two points:<ref name=muzzle/><ref>{{cite news\|title=Marine Corps Wants America's Favorite Marine To Shut Up \|newspaper=] \|date=May 31, 2007\| url=http://wonkette.com/politics/dept%27-of-we-could-be-heroes/marine-corps-wants-americas-favorite-marine-to-shut-up-264911.php\| accessdate=May 12, 2013 \|archiveurl=http://www.nogw.com/download/_07_kokesh.pdf\| archivedate=2007\| deadurl=yes}}</ref> "Disrespect toward a Superior Commissioned Officer," and violating "Wearing of the uniform" regulation.<ref></ref> The panel recommended Kokesh be given a "general discharge under honorable conditions,"<ref>{{cite news \|title=Marines Reduce Penalty For Reservist-Protester \|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/04/AR2007060401874.html\|author=David Montgomery \|newspaper=] \|date=June 5, 2007 \|url= \|page=C.2}}</ref> which is a discharge status below "honorable," and above "other than honorable".<ref>{{cite news \|title=US panel punishes anti-war marine \|newspaper=BBC News \|date=June 5, 2007 \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6723521.stm \|accessdate=<!--October 10, 2010-->}}</ref> Kokesh appealed the decision, but was denied.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/06/AR2007060602965_pf.html\| title=Iraq War Veteran Loses Protest Appeal\|publisher=Associated Press\|date=June 7, 2007\|accessdate=May 13, 2013}}</ref>		In May 2007, a hearing was convened to consider changing Kokesh's ] from "honorable" to "other than honorable" on two points:<ref name=muzzle/><ref>{{cite news\|title=Marine Corps Wants America's Favorite Marine To Shut Up \|newspaper=] \|date=May 31, 2007\| url=http://wonkette.com/politics/dept%27-of-we-could-be-heroes/marine-corps-wants-americas-favorite-marine-to-shut-up-264911.php\| accessdate=May 12, 2013 \|archiveurl=http://www.nogw.com/download/_07_kokesh.pdf\| archivedate=2007\| deadurl=yes}}</ref> "Disrespect toward a Superior Commissioned Officer," and violating "Wearing of the uniform" regulation.<ref></ref> The panel recommended Kokesh be given a "general discharge under honorable conditions,"<ref>{{cite news \|title=Marines Reduce Penalty For Reservist-Protester \|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/04/AR2007060401874.html\|author=David Montgomery \|newspaper=] \|date=June 5, 2007 \|url= \|page=C.2}}</ref> which is a discharge status below "honorable," and above "other than honorable".<ref>{{cite news \|title=US panel punishes anti-war marine \|newspaper=BBC News \|date=June 5, 2007 \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6723521.stm \|accessdate=<!--October 10, 2010-->}}</ref> Kokesh appealed the decision, but was denied.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/06/AR2007060602965_pf.html\| title=Iraq War Veteran Loses Protest Appeal\|publisher=Associated Press\|date=June 7, 2007\|accessdate=May 13, 2013}}</ref>

	The national commander of the ] Gary Kurpius ~~defended the free speech rights of~~ Kokesh and two others arrested with him at the protest saying "All they're doing is exercising the same democratic voice we're trying to instill over in Iraq right now." The ~~organization~~ issued a "blistering statement" with the headline: "VFW to Corps: Don't Stifle Freedom of Speech."<ref name="Montgomery">David Montgomery, , ], June 2, 2007.</ref>		The national commander of the ] Gary Kurpius supported Kokesh and two others arrested with him at the protest, saying "All they're doing is exercising the same democratic voice we're trying to instill over in Iraq right now." The VFW issued a "blistering statement" with the headline: "VFW to Corps: Don't Stifle Freedom of Speech."<ref name="Montgomery">David Montgomery, , ], June 2, 2007.</ref>

	==Protest activities==		==Protest activities==

Revision as of 16:31, 18 May 2013

Adam Charles Kokesh
File:Kokesh 2010 Headshot Original 2-2.jpgKokesh in 2009
Allegiance	USA
Service / branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1999–2007
Rank	Corporal
Unit	3rd Civil Affairs Group
Battles / wars	Iraq War

Adam Kokesh
Born	(1982-02-01) February 1, 1982 (age 42) San Francisco, California
Nationality	United States
Occupation(s)	Talk show host, political activist
Movement	Libertarian, Anti-war
Website	AdamVsTheMan.com

Adam Charles Kokesh (born February 1, 1982) is an American libertarian anti-war activist, podcaster, and self-professed anarcho-capitalist. In 2010 and 2011, he hosted a talk radio show, and a brief television stint on RT. Kokesh was a corporal in the United States Marine Corps and is a veteran of the Iraq War. Starting in 2007, he became a member and leading proponent of "Iraq Veterans Against the War". In 2011, he went on to found "Veterans for Ron Paul" alongside co-founder Nathan Cox. Some of his demonstrations protesting U.S. military missions overseas and his acts of civil disobedience have been controversial.

Personal background

Adam Kokesh was born on February 1, 1982 in San Francisco, California. He is the son of Charles Kokesh, a Santa Fe businessman and former owner of the defunct Santa Fe Horse Park. He has two brothers, Alex and Alden, and a sister, Audrey. Kokesh is Jewish,

Kokesh attended the Native American Preparatory School in San Ysidro, New Mexico. After graduating in 1999, he signed up for the United States Marine Corps Reserve and upon completion of Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton he attended Claremont McKenna College" as a psychology student. During his junior year, in February 2004, he was deployed to Iraq. Kokesh later resumed his studies and completed his Bachelor's degree at Claremont. Kokesh learned Arabic for his tenure in Iraq.

Marine Corps service

In 1999, Kokesh enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. In 2004, he was deployed to Iraq and served in Fallujah. He was a liaison between the U.S. military and Iraqi civilians as a member of the 3rd Civil Affairs Group. He also worked a security checkpoint while in Iraq. He brought home a pistol from Iraq in 2004 in violation of military rules, as a result of which he was demoted from Sergeant to Corporal, and shortly thereafter he was honorably discharged from the military. Kokesh received the Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Commendation Medal for his combat in Fallujah.

Ready Reserve discharge

After his discharge, Kokesh was a member of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) and on March 19, 2007 he participated in an anti-war protest and was named in a photo caption of that event in the Washington Post. As a result, on March 29, a Marine major sent him an e-mail to tell him he was being investigated for misconduct by appearing at a political event in uniform. Kokesh responded, using an expletive in his reply, thereby incurring an additional misconduct charge under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

In May 2007, a hearing was convened to consider changing Kokesh's military discharge from "honorable" to "other than honorable" on two points: "Disrespect toward a Superior Commissioned Officer," and violating "Wearing of the uniform" regulation. The panel recommended Kokesh be given a "general discharge under honorable conditions," which is a discharge status below "honorable," and above "other than honorable". Kokesh appealed the decision, but was denied.

The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Gary Kurpius supported Kokesh and two others arrested with him at the protest, saying "All they're doing is exercising the same democratic voice we're trying to instill over in Iraq right now." The VFW issued a "blistering statement" with the headline: "VFW to Corps: Don't Stifle Freedom of Speech."

Protest activities

In February 2007, he became an active participant in the Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW). On March 19, 2007, to mark the 4th anniversary of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Kokesh and 12 other Iraq Veterans Against the War members participated in an occupation-like mock patrol of Washington D.C. Kokesh first came to national attention after he was interviewed on CNN and his photograph appeared in newspapers throughout the country, including the front page of the Los Angeles Times at a protest during Alberto Gonzales's testimony to Congress regarding the dismissal of U.S. attorneys. Kokesh, wearing his Marine Corps Boonie hat, held up a large sign counting the number of times Gonzalez said "I don't remember" or "I don't recall" (Kokesh claimed Gonzalez used such phrases 74 times).

Kokesh arrest at Senate Hart office building, April 26, 2007

In April 2007, Kokesh and a number of other activists were arrested for protesting the Iraq war in the Senate Hart Office Building. Kokesh had performed a ceremony for lost service members using an American flag.

In June 2007, Kokesh along with IVAW members Liam Madden and Nate Lewis, were arrested for crossing onto the property of Fort Benning during an anti-war protest. A spokesperson for the IVAW said the three had accidentally stepped onto the base while talking to a guard. The trespass charges were dismissed.

Kokesh enrolled in graduate studies in political management at George Washington University. In October 2007, Kokesh, along with six other students, created controversy by putting up mock political posters across the university campus to mock what they called the racist and Islamophobic "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" being observed at the campus. The event was organized by a conservative student organization, and invited controversial speaker David Horowitz on the George Washington University campus.

On September 2, 2008, Kokesh spoke at Representative Ron Paul's Rally for the Republic in St. Paul, Minnesota. There he stated, "While it is our responsibility now to resist tyranny civilly, while we still can, there may come a time when we will say to the powers that be, be it with your blood or ours we have come to water the tree of liberty … who will stand with me?"

On September 4, 2008, Kokesh interrupted Senator John McCain's acceptance speech of the GOP nomination for President at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. Holding a sign reading "McCain Votes Against Vets" on one side and "You can't win an occupation" on the other, Kokesh yelled, "Ask him why he votes against vets!" Kokesh was released shortly after being detained by local police.

On May 28, 2011, Kokesh and other activists participated in a flash mob-silent dance at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. in protest of a recent ruling against dancing in the monument. The activists were arrested. A much larger protest on June 4, 2011, organized by Kokesh and Code Pink, involved about 200 protesters and 75 dancers. About 10 minutes after the dancing began, police began clearing the monument. No arrests were made. When asked by a journalist if he had a permit to protest, Kokesh reportedly produced a copy of the Constitution and said, "Actually I got a permit. It's the same one I swore an oath to when I enlisted in the Marine Corps. And it says something about 'freedom of assembly.'"

In 2011, Kokesh, along with fellow IVAW activist Nathan Cox, founded "Veterans For Ron Paul". The group organized a rally in Washington, D.C. titled "Ron Paul is the Choice of the Troops", to coincide with President's Day, February 20, 2012. After a rally, 500 marchers, including veterans and families and supporters, marched in formation towards the White House. There they engaged in ceremonial flag-folding in memory of deceased soldiers and periods of silence for soldiers who died in battle and for those who died of suicide after returning.

In May 2013, Kokesh announced he is planning an armed pro-gun rights march from Virginia to Washington, D.C. on July 4, 2013 to coincide with Independence Day.

2010 congressional campaign

In 2010, Adam Kokesh planned to unseat Democratic representative Ben Ray Luján in New Mexico's heavily-Democratic 3rd congressional district running as a libertarian-leaning Republican. Kokesh received mostly out-of-state money, endorsements from Ron Paul and from the Republican Liberty Caucus, the organization that represents the libertarian wing of the Republican Party. Kokesh's opponent in the New Mexico GOP primary was Tom Mullins to whom he lost the nomination.

Adam vs. The Man

Beginning in July 2010, Kokesh hosted a talk radio program called Adam vs. The Man which aired weekdays from the studios of 1550 KRKE in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In April 2011, his show was picked up by RT America. Conservative media watchdog Accuracy in Media criticized Kokesh's appeareances on RT, which is a non-profit organization largely funded by the Russian government. The group claimed that RT uses Americans like Kokesh to make propaganda points. David Weigel writes that Kokesh defended RT's "propaganda" function, saying "We're putting out the truth that no one else wants to say. I mean, if you want to put it in the worst possible abstract, it's the Russian government, which is a competing protection racket against the other governments of the world, going against the United States and calling them on their bullshit."

On a June 2011 show, Kokesh endorsed support and fundraising for Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign, leading to a complaint to the Federal Election Commission charging a political contribution had been made by a foreign corporation. Kokesh denied his cancellation in August was related to the complaint.

Kokesh has continued his Adam vs. The Man podcasts and video reports independently on his website and YouTube channel, notably admitting he "got fired from my only radio and TV gigs." On the channel he has filed some critical reports of the "Occupy DC" version of the Occupy movement.