An 87-year-old veteran who was arrested outside the Capitol building during a rally against the military parade on June 14 has been released. After spending over 24 hours in jail in the capital of Maryland, the veteran has now made it known he has no intentions of backing down in the fight against the Donald Trump administration. In a post on Reddit, the elderly citizen was seen slowly leaving the Department of Justice building with his walker, accompanied by three other demonstrators. He was still wearing his protest shirt, which had the words “Veterans against Fascism” boldly printed on it.
The person recording the clip asked him, “How does it feel to get arrested at 87?” In response, the former military man said, “I’m just beginning. I’m just beginning, my friend.” The man reiterated that he was not backing down. “I’m gonna just get a little sleep. But I’m starting again,” he vowed.
The camera panned to show other demonstrators on the side of the road with what appeared to be a tarpaulin on the ground. The recorder joked about making a bed for the 87-year-old while another person offered him a ride.
The veteran’s arrest went viral after a video showed how the police mistreated him at the protest. As The Nerd Stash reported, the former military officer was captured after some protesters broke through the barrier placed by the Police and headed up the Capitol’s stairs.
The police took away his walker, forcing him to stand, before they tied his hands to his back with a zip tie. While the officers maltreated the old citizen, members of the crowd yelled, “Put his hands in front of him.” However, their pleas were ignored by the authorities. As one of the officers led the man, it was evident that he was struggling to walk.
The Internet Sings Veteran’s Praises
Social media users reacted to news of the elderly man’s release, with many singing his praises. One netizen commented, “Patriot has become a dirty word lately, but that is exactly what this man is.”
Other Redditors gushed about the man’s courage. “Brave and badass,” praised one supporter, and the second person added, “A true hero.”
A third netizen lengthily penned, “He’s still standing. Hitler ain’t. Massive energy, this hero. Every LEO who even looked at him wrong, let alone the traitorous wretches who arrested him, owes him their lives and sincere apologies.”
The 87-year-old is the first to be released among over 50 veterans who were arrested that day. As of this moment, it remains unclear if the others have been released.
