Ken O’Keefe is a former U.S. Marine and Gulf War veteran.
His military career began when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1991. During his time in the Marines, he served in the Gulf War and experienced firsthand the realities of war and the complexities of international conflicts.
His experiences in the military played a significant role in shaping his later activism and worldview.
He embarked on a journey of self-discovery and began questioning the prevailing narratives of politics, power, and global events, dedicating himself to advocating for justice, particularly in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the impact of U.S. foreign policy.
Ken gained international attention in 2010 when he participated in the Freedom Flotilla, a humanitarian aid mission to the Gaza Strip. The flotilla aimed to challenge the Israeli blockade and bring attention to the suffering of the Palestinian people. The mission ended in a tragic incident when Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla, resulting in the deaths of several activists.
Ken was on one of the ships but escaped unharmed in spite of disarming multiple Israeli soldiers.
Following the Flotilla incident, his activism became even more prominent and he continued to speak out against injustice, particularly focusing on issues such as human rights violations, war crimes, and the disproportionate influence of corporate interests on global affairs.
American exceptionalism is the belief that the United States Of America occupies a unique and exceptional position in the world, suggesting that America is distinct from other nations due to its historical, political, and cultural attributes, and that it has a special mission or destiny to fulfil.
Ken has participated in initiatives to protect indigenous rights, support organic farming, and promote alternative energy sources.
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