Fred Hofstetter, 21.5 year Army veteran and San Antonian, brought our briefing about this volunteer effort, Support and Defend. This is an extraordinary example in our Resistance with Reason in SA Series @TheIntersection.
Quick recap
This meeting focused on featuring the Bayer Collaborative Action Network (BearCan) and San Antonio Support and Defend organization, both veteran-led groups working on civic engagement and constitutional rights. Martha Spinks explained BearCan’s mission to connect approximately 100 activist groups in San Antonio through a new website launching within 21 days, while Fred Hofstetter detailed Support and Defend’s work promoting constitutional use of military forces and encouraging veteran participation in elections. The discussion covered the groups’ nonpartisan approach, recent activities including Memorial Day events and press conferences, and their focus on voter engagement, with Fred noting that veterans tend to be “quieter patriots” who need to speak out more. The conversation also touched on broader themes of dissent, accountability, and the importance of voting in democracy, with participants sharing resources about the Global Peace Index and conscientious objection opportunities.
Summary
Aging Resources Series Announcement
Ann welcomed participants to the final session of their “Resistance with Reason” series in San Antonio and announced an upcoming series focused on resources needed as people age. She promoted an upcoming Sacred Action Lab on Wednesday, July 15th from 9 to noon at the Southeast Events Center, featuring a keynote speaker Dr. Dawn and a panel discussion on aging-related topics including transportation and medical needs. Ann encouraged attendees to register for the event, noting there is no cost but donations are encouraged to support the program.
Bexar Collaborative Action Network
Martha Spinks introduced her project called Bayer Collaborative Action Network (Bexar CAN), which aims to connect and coordinate approximately 100 activist groups in San Antonio through a new website launching within 21 days. She invited community members to provide input at a meeting on Monday the 13th from 6-8 PM at the Bracken Ridge Conservancy Building. Martha then introduced Fred Hofstetter, a member of San Antonio Support and Defend, who served 21.5 years in the Army and will speak about constitutional use of the military and disobeying illegal orders.
Support and Defend Veterans Organization
Fred Hofstetter presented Support and Defend, a nonpartisan multi-generational veterans organization dedicated to supporting the Constitution and engaging veterans in public discourse. He outlined the group’s core principles, including the proper use of military forces and the importance of veterans’ rights, and described various activities they have organized in San Antonio. The organization is planning an event on August 1st focused on encouraging veterans to participate in elections as officials, monitors, or supporters. When asked about political affiliation, Fred emphasized that Support and Defend is nonpartisan and welcomes veterans from all political backgrounds.
Political Diversity and Progressive Views
The group discussed political diversity and progressive views among members, with Martha Spinks noting that while there are conscientious objectors including a Vietnam veteran against the war, most members identify as progressive. Martha Ann shared concerns about global peace declining over the past nine years and emphasized the importance of different groups working together to address these issues. The meeting had a time constraint with information needing to be completed by 8:30, as it was part of a longer briefing that started at 8:29.
Support and Defend Meeting Updates
Ann discussed the availability of meeting recordings for educational purposes and encouraged participants to share them with others to help spread awareness about Support and Defend. Fred mentioned an upcoming event in Lexington on August 1st focused on helping with November elections, and Martha invited attendees to join their weekly Thursday night gatherings at the ice house. The conversation ended with Ann announcing next week’s topic would focus on resourcing and the San Antonio Community Resource Directory’s new portal for aging population resources.