TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD/Gray News) — A veterans organization is asking troops to “refuse illegal orders” on a new billboard in Arizona.
The billboard can be seen along Interstate 10 in Tucson.
Veterans for Peace’s Tucson chapter said the billboard is meant to show support for Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., amid his lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The lawsuit stems from a video posted by Kelly and five other Democrats — all veterans of the armed services and intelligence community — in which they called on troops to uphold the Constitution and not to follow the Trump administration’s military directives if those directives were unlawful.
The sign reads, “Active duty and National Guard: I want you to refuse illegal orders,” and features a picture of Uncle Sam.(KOLD)
The 90-second video was first posted on a social media account belonging to Sen. Elissa Slotkin. Reps. Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan also appeared in the video.
Days later, in a social media post, President Donald Trump accused the lawmakers of sedition, calling it “punishable by DEATH.”
Hegseth threatened to lower Kelly’s military rank and retirement pay over the video. Kelly, who served 25 years in the military, is now suing the Pentagon, saying the Trump administration trampled on his constitutional right to free speech.
Cara Bissell served six years during the Vietnam War, caring for soldiers at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. She is now the president of Veterans for Peace’s Tucson chapter 13.
Bissell said the fight between Kelly and Hegseth prompted the organization to put up the billboard.
“It spurred all Veterans for Peace people to want to put this billboard up and publicize the idea that we do not follow unlawful orders,” Bissell said.
The sign reads, “Active duty and National Guard: I want you to refuse illegal orders,” and features a picture of Uncle Sam.
“We’ve all known that illegal orders are not to be obeyed when you are in the military. It’s drilled in OTS [Officer Training School]. It’s drilled in ROTC [Reserve Officers’ Training Corps],” said Bissell.
Veterans for Peace considers recent events like deployments of National Guard troops against states’ wishes and boat strikes near Venezuela without Congressional approval to be illegal.
However, Kathleen Winn, chairman of the Pima County Republican Party, takes issue with the billboard’s message.
“The military is not supposed to be used as a political weapon,” Winn said. “If you are instructing those who are currently in service to not follow the orders of their chain of command, that is dangerous. That is reckless, and I don’t care if you’re a veteran or not.”
The billboard will stay up through mid-February.
“The best thing I can do is feel that I am being effective in getting the message… for all the people of our United States,” Bissell said.
Copyright 2026 KOLD via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.