(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Local veterans joined in on the national March 5th Day of Solidarity and Protest at the Veterans Affair (VA) Community Outpatient Clinic in support of healthcare providers and to protest the reduction in benefits.

Veterans nationwide stood together to demand the government hold its promise of providing quality healthcare benefits to those who have served. The goal of the rally was also to resist the administration’s cutback of personnel and services.

Moments before the rally began in Colorado Springs, the Associated Press reported that an internal memo from the Department of Veterans Affairs planned an aggressive reorganization that included cutting 80,000 jobs. More than 25% of the VA’s workforce are veterans themselves.

Earlier in February, the VA dismissed thousands of employees and suspended billions of dollars in planned contract cuts. The Associated Press showed a full list of the 875 affected contracts, which would affect everything from cancer care to the ability to assess toxic exposure.

“We need more vocal voices, more exposure, you can’t avoid it, that’s what they want,” said Angela Puente, a protestor. “Because if you avoid it, then you are saying is okay, so let’s stand up and say this isn’t okay.”