Former Pendleton Marine will Answer to Charges in Occupy Arrest (Poll)

A former Camp Pendleton Marine will go to court next month to answer to charges stemming from an Occupy Santa Ana arrest.

Anthony Velloza, 26, of Redondo Beach, was arrested Oct. 22 at the Ronald Reagan Federal Court House along with three other protesters, the Orange County Weekly reported.

“We knew what we were getting into,” Velloza — who was stationed at Camp Pendleton from 2006 to 2009 — told Patch.

The veteran will answer to charges of illegally camping at 8 a.m. Dec. 5 at the Santa Ana Courthouse, 909 N. Main St. The charges, according to Santa Ana Police officer, are a misdemeanor and can carry a fine.

The arrest was peaceful, Velloza said, adding that the Santa Ana Police officers were respectful.

Velloza joined the movement because he’d like to see an end to the Federal Reserve.

"Most of our wars will disappear overnight if we end the Federal Reserve," the Orange Coast College student said. "That directly affects our troops, more than anything."

He became anti-war after reading retired Gen. Smedley D. Butler’s 1935 book, “War is a Racket,” in which the two-time Medal of Honor winner describes wars as being a profit-making mechanism for businesses.

"We are pawns of big-business, currently,” Velozza said. "We're the ones killing for some else's profit."

A military concern was also the reason Davina Stein, of San Juan Capistrano, joined the Occupy Santa Ana Movement.

Stein was moved after hearing the news of former Marine Scott Olsen being critically injured by police at an Occupy Oakland protest last month.

“I had been following the Occupy (movement) since the beginning,” she said. “Hearing about the Scott Olsen thing was enough to put me over the edge.”

Former service members have been a vocal part of the Occupy movement and have taken to the OccupyMARINES Facebook page to share the stories, largely dealing with the job market and issues unique to disabled veterans. The page has garnered an active following of more than 17,500 members.

Patch has not been able to secure an interview with members of Occupy Marines despite numerous requests.

Follow Camp Pendleton Patch on Twitter and Facebook.