Adam Kokesh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adam Kokesh
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Kokesh in 2013
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Adam Charles Kokesh
February 1, 1982 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Libertarian (2013–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican (before 2013) |
| Residences | Ash Fork, Arizona, U.S. |
| Education | Claremont McKenna College, George Washington University |
| Occupation | Activist, author, independent journalist |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1999–2007 |
| Rank | .svg){kind=small} Corporal |
| Unit | 3rd Civil Affairs Group |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Adam Charles Kokesh, born on February 1, 1982, is an American activist, radio host, and author. He is known for his strong belief in individual freedom. He was a candidate for president in 2020, running for the Libertarian Party. His main idea was to peacefully reduce the size of the U.S. federal government.
Kokesh served as a corporal in the United States Marine Corps during the Iraq War in 2004. After returning home, he became an important voice in the anti-war movement. He also supported a group called Iraq Veterans Against the War. In 2011, he started a talk show called Adam vs. The Man.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Adam Kokesh was born in San Francisco, California. He grew up in a middle-class family and is the oldest of five children. His parents divorced when he was 10 years old. Kokesh found comfort in punk rock music during that time.
His father, Charles Kokesh, is a businessman. As a teenager, Adam was interested in sports, science, and technology. His parents encouraged him to read many books. When he was 14, he attended a junior training camp at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.
Kokesh went to Stevenson School for his first year of high school. He later attended the Native American Preparatory School in New Mexico. During high school, he started the campus radio station. He earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Claremont McKenna College. There, he was the president of the Libertarian Club. He also studied political management at George Washington University.
Military Service
Kokesh joined the United States Marine Corps reserves when he was seventeen. He was inspired by his grandfather to enlist. After high school, Kokesh volunteered to go to Fallujah, Iraq. He served there from February to September 2004 with the 3rd Civil Affairs Group.
During his time in Iraq, he worked in schools and mosques. He also observed house raids and was in convoys that were hit by roadside bombs. For his service, he received a Navy Commendation Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon. He was also promoted to sergeant.
After his first tour, Kokesh felt differently about the war. He learned Arabic while in Iraq. He was honorably discharged in September 2004. He remained a member of the Individual Ready Reserve. Kokesh was supposed to return to Iraq for a second tour. However, he was demoted to corporal and discharged from the Marine Corps. This happened after he wore his Marine uniform during an anti-war protest.
Activism and Protests
Adam Kokesh became very active in the Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) in February 2007. On March 19, 2007, he and other IVAW members protested the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. They marched in Washington, D.C., to mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion.
Kokesh gained national attention after being interviewed on CNN and ABC. His photo also appeared in newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times. This was during a protest when Alberto Gonzales testified to Congress. Kokesh held a sign counting how many times Gonzales said "I don't remember."
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In April 2007, Kokesh and other activists were arrested. They were protesting the Iraq war in the Senate Hart Office Building. Kokesh performed a ceremony for lost service members using an American flag. During this protest, Kokesh wore combat fatigue pants. The Marine Corps prohibits reserve troops from wearing uniforms during anti-war demonstrations. Kokesh believed this rule limited military members' rights. The Marine Corps said it was standard discipline. Later, a panel of officers changed his "honorable discharge" status.
Supporters of Kokesh protested across the country. They held signs supporting him and criticizing the war. Many wore red badges with the number "3,495." This number represented the U.S. military deaths in Iraq at that time. In June 2007, Kokesh and other IVAW members were arrested. They had crossed onto Fort Benning during an anti-war protest. The trespass charges were later dismissed.
Jefferson Memorial Dance Protest
On May 28, 2011, Kokesh and other activists protested at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. They did a silent dance to protest a rule against dancing there. Kokesh and four others were arrested by the U.S. Park Police. They were told they were arrested for demonstrating without a permit. The way the arrests happened raised concerns about the officers' actions.
A larger protest took place on June 4, organized by Kokesh. About 200 protesters and 75 dancers participated. Police cleared the monument after about 10 minutes. No arrests were made that day. When asked if he had a permit, Kokesh reportedly showed a copy of the Constitution. He said it was his permit, referring to the "freedom of assembly" right.
Open Carry March on Washington
In May 2013, Kokesh announced an "Open Carry March on Washington." He planned for thousands of marchers to carry arms from Virginia into Washington, D.C., on Independence Day. This was to protest strict gun laws. He described it as a peaceful demonstration. He said marchers should not resist if met with force and be ready to be arrested peacefully.
On July 4, 2013, Kokesh posted a video online. It showed him with a shotgun in Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. This was against D.C. law. Police investigated the video. Kokesh was later arrested at his home in Virginia. He faced charges related to the protest. He was released from jail in November 2013. In January 2014, he was sentenced to two years of probation.
Political Campaigns
Kokesh has run for political office several times.
2010 Congressional Bid
On October 15, 2009, Kokesh announced he would run for the United States House of Representatives. He ran as a Republican in New Mexico's 3rd congressional district. He finished second in the Republican primary election. He received 29 percent of the votes.
2020 Presidential Campaign
On July 23, 2013, Kokesh announced he would run for U.S. president in 2020. He was the first Libertarian Party candidate to announce a bid for the 2020 election. His main idea was the "orderly dissolution of the U.S. Federal Government."
Kokesh believes that government is a major cause of violence. He thinks that government control is as bad as control by a private citizen. He believes that government should be ended to reduce violence and build a respectful society. Kokesh has said he does not dislike the people in government. However, he believes the government has lost its purpose by not following its founding principles.
If elected, Kokesh stated he would immediately sign an executive order. This order would declare the federal government bankrupt and without authority. He would then resign to oversee the process. Every federal agency would either be closed, moved to state control, or become private businesses over four years. Kokesh also supports a foreign policy that avoids getting involved in other countries' affairs. He is a strong anti-war activist.
In April 2020, he announced that John McAfee, a software developer, would be his running mate. Kokesh was eliminated in the second round of the 2020 Libertarian National Convention. He later supported Jo Jorgensen for president.
Adam vs. The Man
Adam vs. The Man was a talk show hosted by Adam Kokesh. It was available on AM radio, as a web show, and as a podcast. It started in 2011 as a two-hour radio broadcast in New Mexico. Later, it became a half-hour video news show on RT. It then moved fully to the internet as an hour-long video podcast.
RT America Show
Adam vs. The Man was licensed by RT America in April 2011. Some people criticized this move. They said RT used Americans to spread Russian ideas. Kokesh said that "Truth is the best propaganda." He believed his show shared truths that others did not. After a few months, Adam vs. The Man was canceled by RT. This was to avoid legal issues related to Kokesh supporting Ron Paul for president.
YouTube Channel
Kokesh regularly uploads activism videos to his YouTube channel, Adam vs. The Man. As of July 2019, the channel had 248,000 subscribers. The videos cover Kokesh's political views. In 2015, the channel was renamed Freedom!. As of December 30, 2020, the channel is named "Adam Kokesh."
Film Appearances
Adam Kokesh has appeared in several films. He played "A Soldier" in the 2016 film The Prey. He also appeared as himself in documentaries like The Road to Fallujah (2008) and Owned & Operated (2012).
On January 19, 2013, Kokesh appeared in the 2014 sci-fi thriller, Alongside Night. He played a future version of himself at an anti-war protest. Kokesh wrote the speech he delivered in the movie.
Images for kids
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Kokesh speaking at an anti-war protest in September 2007 wearing combat uniform.
See also
In Spanish: Adam Kokesh para niños
