This image by Aaron Hughes is from Celebrate People’s History/Iraq Veterans Against the War: Ten Years of Fighting for Peace and Justice, a portfolio that celebrated IVAW’s first ten years and was produced by Justseeds, IVAW, Booklyn, Repetitive Press, and the Civilian Soldier Alliance.
(IVAW is now known as About Face: Veterans Against the War)
A closeup black and white photograph of a young man with a short beard, short hair, white skin, and a bloodied and swollen black eye, who looks out at the viewer. Text is placed on white strips of what looks like cut paper against a black background, saying, “In 2008, outside the Obama-McCain debate, Iraq Veterans Against the War organized a nonviolent demonstration to request entry into the debate to present questions to the presidential candidates about the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and veterans’ issues. Marching in uniform and in formation IVAW members led several hundred activists to an intersection in front of the Hofstra campus gates where they were confronted by and army of mounted police and riot cops. Officers of the Nassau County Police Department reacted with reckless violence and arrests. Nick Morgan, IVAW member and Iraq veteran was left bloodied and nearly unconscious after being trampled by a police officer on horseback.”