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 |  Corporal |
| Unit | 3rd Civil Affairs Group |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Adam Charles Kokesh (born February 1, 1982) is an American libertarian political activist, radio host, and author. He believes in individual freedom and limited government.
In 2020, he ran for president in the U.S. 2020 Libertarian Party presidential primaries. His main goal was to peacefully end the U.S. federal government.
Kokesh is a former U.S. Marine Corps corporal. He served in the Iraq War in 2004. After returning home, he became an anti-war activist. He also supported Iraq Veterans Against the War.
In 2011, he started a TV, radio, and web show called Adam vs. The Man. It was shown on RT America. The show was later stopped because of a complaint.
Contents
Adam Kokesh: Early Life and Military Service
Growing Up in California
Adam Kokesh was born on February 1, 1982, in San Francisco, California. He grew up in a middle-class family. He is the oldest of five children. When he was 10, his parents divorced. Kokesh said he found comfort in punk rock music.
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 Kokesh was fourteen, he attended a junior camp at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California. He went to Stevenson School for his first year of high school. Later, he attended the Native American Preparatory School in New Mexico. During high school, Kokesh started the campus radio station.
Kokesh earned a degree in psychology from Claremont McKenna College. He was the president of the Libertarian Club there. He also studied political management at George Washington University.
Serving in the Marines
Kokesh was inspired by his grandfather to join the United States Marine Corps reserves. He enlisted when he was seventeen, while still in high school.
After high school, Kokesh volunteered to go to Fallujah, Iraq. He served with the 3rd Civil Affairs Group from February to September 2004. He received awards for his service. He also was promoted to sergeant.
He worked in schools and mosques. He saw house raids and was in convoys hit by bombs. After his first tour, he felt differently about the war. He learned Arabic while in Iraq.
Kokesh was honorably discharged in September. He remained a member of the Individual Ready Reserve. He was supposed to go back to Iraq for a second tour. However, he was demoted to corporal and discharged. This happened after he wore his Marine uniform at an anti-war protest.
Adam Kokesh: His Activism
Speaking Out Against War
In February 2007, Kokesh became active with Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW). On March 19, he and other IVAW members protested in Washington, D.C. This marked four years since the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Kokesh gained national attention after being interviewed on CNN and ABC. His photo appeared in newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times. This was during a protest when Alberto Gonzales spoke 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 pants. The Marine Corps does not allow reserve troops to wear uniforms at anti-war protests. Kokesh was warned, but he refused to stop. He believed it was an attempt to silence military members' rights. The Marine Corps said it was about discipline. Later, a group 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 "3,495" on them. This was the number of 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 a protest. The charges were later dropped.
Supporting Ron Paul
On September 2, 2008, Kokesh spoke at Ron Paul's Rally for the Republic in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Kokesh was also a spokesperson for "Veterans for Ron Paul." This was a group supporting the Ron Paul 2012 presidential campaign. On February 20, 2012, Kokesh organized a rally. Five hundred people, including veterans, marched to the White House. There, they folded flags to remember soldiers who had passed away.
Dancing for Freedom
On May 28, 2011, Kokesh and others did a "silent dance" at the Jefferson Memorial. They were protesting a rule against dancing there. Kokesh and four others were arrested for protesting without a permit. Kokesh was told he was under arrest after dancing a jig. The arrests caused concerns about how some officers acted.
A larger protest happened on June 4. Kokesh helped organize it with about 200 protesters and 75 dancers. Police began clearing the monument after about 10 minutes. No arrests were made that day. When asked for a permit, Kokesh showed a copy of the Constitution. He said it was his permit, mentioning "freedom of assembly."
Standing Up for Free Speech
On June 26, 2012, Kokesh organized a protest in Middleborough, Massachusetts. He was against a rule banning cursing in public. Kokesh said limiting free speech was "more offensive than any curse word." In October 2012, the rule was overturned. It was found to be unconstitutional.
Open Carry March in Washington
In May 2013, Kokesh announced an "Open Carry March on Washington." He planned for people to carry guns from Virginia into Washington, D.C., on Independence Day. This was to protest strict gun laws. He described it as a peaceful protest. He said marchers should not resist if met with force.
On July 4, 2013, Kokesh posted a video. It showed him with a shotgun in Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. This was against D.C. law. Police thought he might have used a special effects screen. But Kokesh said government cameras would show he was there.
On July 9, police searched Kokesh's house in Virginia. They were looking for the shotgun and video footage. Police entered the house and handcuffed Kokesh and his housemates. Kokesh was charged with possessing a gun. He was later released from jail after pleading guilty to the charges. He received two years of probation.
Adam Kokesh: His Book and Campaign
Writing FREEDOM!
While in jail in 2013, Kokesh started writing his book, FREEDOM! He got the idea from reading other books about freedom. The book suggests using digital money (cryptocurrency). It also says that a well-armed population is the safest. FREEDOM! was published on Independence Day (July 4) in 2014.
Book Tours
In August 2016, Kokesh began the "For the Love of FREEDOM!" tour. He visited over 60 places in the U.S. This tour helped him explore running for president in 2020. Free copies of his book were given to everyone at each event.
In January 2019, over 200,000 copies of FREEDOM! were mailed for free. They went to homes in New Orleans, Louisiana. The cost was about $131,000. This money mostly came from companies dealing with digital money.
Running for President
On July 23, 2013, Kokesh announced he would run for U.S. president in 2020. He did this during a jailhouse interview. His main idea was to peacefully end the U.S. Federal Government. He was the first Libertarian Party candidate to announce a presidential bid for the 2020 election.
On January 16, 2018, Kokesh confirmed his candidacy. He was eliminated in the second round of the 2020 Libertarian National Convention. He later supported Jo Jorgensen's campaign.
His Political Beliefs
Kokesh believes that government causes much of the violence in the world. He thinks that forcing people to do things is wrong, whether by government or by a private person. He believes government should be ended to reduce violence and build a society based on respect. Kokesh says he doesn't hate the people in government. However, he thinks government has failed its original purpose.
If elected president, Kokesh said he would immediately sign an order. This order would declare the federal government bankrupt and without authority. Then, he would resign. He would become "Custodian of the Federal Government." His job would be to oversee the process of ending the government. Every federal agency would then be closed, moved to state control, or made private over four years.
Kokesh supports a foreign policy that avoids getting involved in other countries' problems. He is a well-known anti-war activist.
Adam Kokesh: His Show Adam vs. The Man
Radio and Online Show
Adam vs. The Man was a talk show. It was available on AM radio, online, as a podcast, and on YouTube. It started in 2011 as a two-hour show on KIVA AM 1550 radio in New Mexico. Then it became a half-hour video news show on RT. Later, it moved fully online as an hour-long video podcast. In April 2014, a new version of the show launched from Los Angeles.
On RT America
Adam vs. The Man was licensed by RT America in April 2011. Some people criticized this move. They said RT used foreigners to spread Russian propaganda.
After only a few months, Adam vs. The Man was canceled in August. This was to avoid legal problems. A group had complained that Kokesh was supporting Ron Paul for President. This might have gone against rules about foreign agents.
YouTube Channel
Kokesh regularly uploads videos about activism 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 2020, it is named "Adam Kokesh."
Adam Kokesh: Film Appearances
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 For Liberty: How the Ron Paul Revolution Watered the Withered Tree of Liberty (2009). Other documentaries include Owned & Operated (2012), Derrick J's Victimless Crime Spree (2012), ShadowRing (2015), and Gray State: The Rise (2015).
On January 19, 2013, Kokesh appeared as a future version of himself. This was in the 2014 sci-fi thriller, Alongside Night. He gave a speech in the movie. Most of the speech plays during the end credits. The full speech is also on YouTube.
Images for kids
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Adam Kokesh's signature
See also
In Spanish: Adam Kokesh para niños
- List of peace activists
