Kerry Visits Harvard Amid Some Protests

Anti-war protesters amassed at the Kennedy School of Government on Friday, when 2004 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass) spoke with former Senator Max Cleland and a group of veterans to a packed John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum.

While Kerry came to Harvard for the premiere of “Hidden Wounds,” a documentary on veterans of the war in Iraq suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the event took a political turn as several dozen protesters gathered together at 79 JFK Street.

“Bush Lied. Kerry Complied. Bring the troops home now,” they chanted outside the Kennedy School.

The protest was sponsored by the organizations Not One More (NOM) and Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) as part of their continued effort to provoke a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

One man, who was sitting inside the forum, called out to Kerry after the documentary.

“Stop this war, John, grow some balls” the man said. “You can do something, John.”

The man was taken out of the forum, but his message did not fall on deaf ears.

“I wish that young man who stood up was still here because those of you who know me, know that I don’t shy away from any conversation on any subject,” Kerry said. “I understand the anxiety and the frustration people feel here in this country.”

But Kerry emphasized that the purpose of the forum was for the discussion of the documentary and PTSD.

The documentary, which was made by New England Cable Network (NECN), follows three soldiers through their experience in Iraq and their return to life at home.

“The first definition of patriotism back here at home for all of us is to keep faith to those who wore the uniform for our country,” Kerry said.

At the event, Kerry introduced a new funding push he is making in Congress to allocate $100 million to Veteran Centers for the screening and treatment of PTSD.

Cleland, who lost both legs and half an arm in 1968 when he was serving in the Vietnam War, took the stage with Kerry before the screening.

Cleland said that while he dealt with the physical wounds, for a long time, he was unaware of the “hidden wounds” of PTSD. He said that he was now in the kind of counseling which he should have sought out “ages ago” and stressed that PTSD is a legitimate diagnosis.

After the projection of the documentary, several veterans and military officials addressed the forum about PTSD.

Kerry’s Swift boat comrade Del Sandusky, whom Kerry calls his “brother,” spoke among them.

“PTSD is nothing to be ashamed of, but it’s something that we can’t control,” Sandusky said.

Kerry also used the forum as a chance to thank Harvard for its support in his presidential campaign.

“You did just about everything except move to Ohio,” he said to the forum. “I do bring you good news from Washington. It’s been three weeks and a bit and the vice-president hasn’t shot anybody.”

Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz, spoke briefly in a meet-and-greet with the Harvard College Democrats after the forum. The former presidential candidate expressed his gratitude and urged his supporters to continue their efforts in the 2006 midterm elections.

Kerry said that he had exceeded his goals in every precinct of America in the last election. “That means we have to set bigger goals,” Kerry said, stressing the need for the Democrats to gain control of one of the Houses of Congress.

—Staff writer Claire M. Guehenno can be reached at guehenno@fas.harvard.edu.