DEPARTMENTS
ANTI-WAR
DEATH PENALTY
ELECTIONS
ENVIRONMENT
GLBT ISSUES
HEMP
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
REVIEWS
|
Departments National Issues House leader not home when peace knocks In an eleventh hour effort on March 15 to appeal to the conscience of the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, six peace activists took their case to his office on Capitol Hill where they read the names of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians killed in the war, and negotiated with Hastert’s staff for a meeting with the Illinois congressman. The six were part of a 34 day campaign named “The Winter of Our Discontent” organized by Voices for Creative Nonviolence (Voices). The campaign includes 34 days of fasting, civil disobedience, Capitol Hill vigils and lobbying, to demand the U.S. end the occpuation and its economic and military warfare against the Iraqi people. Welcome, Please Come In A plaque at the entrance to Hastert’s office in the Cannon House Office Building reads, “Welcome, Please Come In.” Led by Voices member, Ed Kinane, the group entered the Speaker’s office and introduced themselves. They told his staff that four of them had been in Iraq to witness the effects of economic sanctions, Shock and Awe, the invasion, and the occupation. In some detail, they explained why they hoped the Speaker would vote against the legislation he would bring to the House floor the next day. At one point, Mike Ferner stated, “I know there is not much chance that he will, but I hope the Speaker will change the course of history and vote against another sixty seven billion dollars for this war.” After several minutes, Hastert’s receptionist told the Voices group their comments were appreciated, but with other people waiting and without an appointment they would have to leave. Within minutes, one, then three, Capitol Police arrived. Another member of the group, Jeff Leys, explained they had learned just days before that the spending bill would be considered by the Appropriations Committee and voted onto the House floor. “That’s why there is no time to ask for an appointment,” he said. Police and Hastert’s staff would hear none of it, however, and ordered the group to leave. Leys and Cynthia Banas refused. Said Banas, afterwards, “I just couldn’t leave. To leave that office would have been a betrayal of everything I learned from the people in Iraq. They are my brothers and sisters.” The Door Slams With Leys and Banas remaining in Hastert’s office, the other four campaigners exited, the door slamming behind them. In the hall, Kinane solemnly began reading names: three Iraqis and then three U.S. soldiers. With each, Lorie Blanding rang a small bell and pronounced, “dead.” She soon changed that to “killed,” later explaining that she felt it was more appropriate. Dozens of politicians and visitors passed by the scene in the hallway. A growing knot of besuited, frowning lobbyists formed. Kinane later said he had hoped “some of the people walking by us would give some thought to what we were doing,” but as Voices’ videographer Scott Blackburn’s footage showed, few did. Back inside Hastert’s office, Leys reported, a Capitol Police officer and a more senior member of the Speaker’s staff left to confer behind a closed door. Ten minutes later the officer emerged to tell the two activists the word from the Speaker’s office was that arrests should not be made. Behind the door, Leys and Banas knelt down to emphasize their insistence. Looking at Leys’ size, the three officers then on the scene seemed in no hurry to carry him out. “I told them I would voluntarily get up and go with them if I was under arrest, but not if I wasn’t.” For over an hour, the Voices members in the hallway continued reading names and ringing the bell. Mike Hersh, with AfterDowningStreet.org, and Karen Bradley with Democracy Cell, were the only two reporters on the scene despite the fact that the Voices team had emailed and faxed dozens of news releases early that morning and hand-delivered statements to every news agency on twelve floors of the National Press Building. Eventually, no one in the office of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representative would agree to swear out a complaint against Leys and Banas, and the two campaigners decided to leave of their own accord. The Voices team decided to call it a day and retired to a nearby coffee shop to summarize their experiences over the preceeding hours. Remarking on the lack of any significant response from passersby outside Hastert’s office, Blanding said that “The setting you’re in reminds you of how you fit into society, and the Capitol silences people. It’s hard to know, but I think some of the people walking by us in the hall were stirred by what we were doing and just were censoring themselves.” Banas stated that, “We ended up negotiating in there. That’s the way it’s gonna end in Iraq, too. After all these young kids die, that’s what we’re gonna do – negotiate.” The 76 year-old activist concluded by focusing on the gravity of the group’s mission. “I never thought I’d see my country invade another nation like Hitler did when I was young. What we’re doing now in Iraq is a crime, and we are all part of it – even more so than the Germans. They said they didn’t know what Hitler had planned, and we know. We have no excuses.” Blackburn telephoned Hastert’s office late that afternoon, asking for a comment in response to the action. The staff person who answered said the request would have to be referred to the their press office. “Larry” who responded in the press office said he would only identify himself by first name. Blackburn asked, “This is the Speaker’s press office and you can’t tell me your last name?” Larry replied “I can’t tell you that. We aren’t allowed to make any statements on the record. I’ll have to give you to Ron Bonjen.” The call left on Bonjen’s voice mail was not returned. --- Ferner (mike.ferner@sbcglobal) and Blackburn took part in Voices "Winter of Our Discontent" campaign. Kinane and Ferner were arrested at the House Appropriations Committee hearing that considered an additional $67,000,000,000 for the war and will appear in D.C. Superior Court on March 28. They extended the liquids-only fast until that date. |
|
Recent National Issues Articles The ethics of Palestinian resistance And the Empire Mourned . . . Dissecting the Big Lie A 'vast carelessness' - the president's and ours Gerald Ford’s historic mistake New year's utopianism needed fast Obama scores as exotic who says nothing Ignorant armies The GOP, butterflies' wings and the withering of empire: could your climax be the decider? If you don't try, you'll never know Announcement of candidacy for President of the United States Call me Ebenezer, but Christmas as we know it needs to go..... Intolerable questions: the search for the heart of New Orleans, part II Dear Mr. O’Reilly, THIS is culture: the search for the heart of New Orleans, part III Hillary Clinton and my Visa bill The Tin Man Challenge: Overcoming technology without Heart Bread, bread, everywhere, yet not a morsel to eat O come let us adore them: treasuring our American values of greed, self-interest, and enlightened oppression Blood fatigue Blind obedience to the canons of capitalism: of sick societies, American Dalits, and a nation of Lady Macbeths The peace majority U.S. v. Bush Milton lost: can we regain paradise? Progressive caucus rising: this election was no victory for centrists Rumsfield replacement (Robert Gates) was director of voting company Is there meth in Ted Haggard's heaven? The politics of hope Corrode your conformity: Big Brother doesn't practice fraternal love Grassroots matching grants: my five minutes as a donor The trek down to N’Orleans: home to hotel in a couple of bounds: the search for the heart of New Orleans, part I Peace Activists Arrested on Grounds of U.S. Capitol Foley's meltdown - the seductions of clicking Naked and afraid Piercing the simulacrum: Of faux democracy, petty tyrants, and painful realities The genius of John Nichols The arrogant, the misguided, and the cowards Mommy, what's waterboarding? Nuclear winter, global warming, or impeachment Here's why it's personal Reclaiming Omelas The brilliantly profitable timing of the Alaska oil pipeline shutdown My city, our president and exploiting 9/11 Palast charged with journalism in the first degree 9-11 compromise - the mini-series The fugitive girl act The year the levees broke Semper why? The smell of fear Cynthia McKinney's election night remarks Bush versus the Constitution The Lamont victory -- next steps for citizens Bush heir cut: Awards tax break to son of an Astor Where were you when they took your rights away? Chicago City Council passes living wage bill Conservatives and conscience They don't call it the "White" House for nothing Kansas Attorney General is Bush’s kind of guy Containing the military industrial complex Kinks among us: contemplations on pride and democracy Republican Congressman says Bush should be removed from office It's time Democrats aggressively play the terrorism card Cindy Sheehan to move Camp to National Mall Joe Lieberman's loyalties So much for "We'll Get bin Laden Dead or Alive" The Supreme Court issues a stinging blow to Bush. Score one for the little guy. Has this country gone completely insane? A line in the sand: why the Busby/Bilbray election and their voting machine "sleepovers" matter (or should) to the entire nation Bush at the tipping point: a lawless and incompetent leadership Shushing the big money The startling contrast betweeen Dems and Repugs this fall The strange case of San Diego's: lazy independents, self-destructive Minutemen, and closet Libertarian, voters Support the troops Gathering to demand the truth about 9/11 Building green websites Nine state Democratic parties back impeachment: Whose table is it, Nancy? Photo essay: Poverty and homelessness in San Francisco Safe passage on the Earth Why John Kerry is going to have it tougher the second time around Eleven excellent reasons not to join the military Another Swiss cheese Gore denial that leaves the door wide open for 2008. Who's he kidding? Bush pal says gay marriage is nothing more than a political issue for the Prez American capitalism and the moral poverty of nations Twenty-fifth anniversary of first reported case of AIDS a time to recommit to the fight Uproar downwind Last Call FTC and credit reporting reform -- or the next wave of multi-district national class actions Lay convicted, Bush walks (and Ahnold gets Lay'd) Used the phone lately? Worried? Enron's good fight So, how WOULD a Patriot Act? Shadow America When Ahnold Got Lay'd…and California got Screwed Blocking justice Fighting back in the language war and winning elections Immigration: Myths and Reality Let's raise gas taxes and lower income taxes Bush beats out Nixon: Least liked President ever The spies who shag us: The Times and USA Today have Missed the Bigger Story -- Again Divine strake Divine strake RNC attack on John Conyers demands action from Democrats Act now, pray later Impeach Cheney first Crossing the border The Bush administration and Wall Street – Two peas in a pod The "New Totalitarianism" now defines a desperate neo-con end game Rove's status as "Official A" spells indictment The FEMA gap Have a Koch and a smile: free markets and property rights Trump humanity and the environment! We are the deciders Out of the shadows -- the Seattle immigration march The beloved Cynthia McKinney: a White ex-cop speaks out about a Georgia Congresswoman An interview with fifteen term Congressman Andy Jacobs A Message from Dennis Kucinich Democracy be damned - Republicans need another war Loser nation Censure movement catching fire Gangster government: a leaky president afoul of 'Little Rico' The real problem with Bush's leak Public energy is misdirected An interview with Norman Birnbaum What’s really scary about the “new religious right” and their politics Fitzgerald will seek new White House indictments Housing cuts for the poor, tax cuts for the rich The definition of insanity House leader not home when peace knocks Just a Thought Americans call Bush "Incompetent, Idiot, Liar" Most Democratic senators fail as presidential candidates The age of anxiety redux National Lawyers Guild calls for the impeachment of South Dokota Governor Michael Rounds for signing anti-abortion legislation Libby attorneys identify CIA officials in Plame leak True to its history, FBI is still violating civil liberties On the executive branch and war powers, continued Obstruction trial may jog Libby's memory A powerful new voting block emerges: The anti-war movement becoming a political force that cannot be ignored Beating a dead horse Did Bush make mistakes in good faith? Hungering for justice at my first congressional testimony You know it’s hard out here being pimped: Thoughts Hustlin’ and Flowin’ in my mind Chicago pro-immigrant, anti-HR4437 rally CIA leak path: Cheney, Libby, Woodward Detroit's other Super Bowl Carnival Post-Katrina Port insecurities In the spirit of Lysistrata Details emerge in latest round of plame emails ‘found’ by the White House 15 arrested at White House torture protest Bush and Gandhi NY Times bungles coverage of AP video which proves Bush lied about breached levees White House ‘discovers’ 250 emails related to Plame leak Time to disband Homeland security and renew democracy Huge march planned for eve of Katrina evictions Bush violated the law on port sale Check your conscience at the door: we're building an empire NSC, Cheney aides conspired to out CIA operative Bush, Republicans, and Judas Priest: Breaking the law, breaking the law For whom does the Secret Service's bell toll? Guns don't shoot people--Vice Presidents do Impeachment could be the Democrats' best get-out-the-vote message DINO stands for "Democrats In Name Only" Founding Fathers, baseball, apple pie, and impeachment Road to peace goes through Santa Cruz Pogo was right The Republican talk radio “big lie” Gonzales withholding Plame emails The Nader effect The most incredible thing about Cheney's shooting The polite majority Debating impeachment among Democrats Removing Attorney General Gonzales What really happened back at the ranch The Bush pattern of deception continues Cheney spearheaded effort to discredit Wilson Give peace a vote What every Jew should know about new House Majority Leader John Boehner New discoveries about the Lucasville uprising Brown calls President's '07 budget "morally reprehensible" U.S. detention camps for political subversives Bring regime change home Evolution is intelligently designed: Social Darwinism, silver spoons, and our emperor’s call to arms to sustain the rich Cindy Sheehan terrorizes Bush and his trained clapping seals at the State of Disunion speech "Fixed" intelligence from Feith's "Gestapo Office" the CIA and the Bush administration's impeachable lies about Iraq's prewar links to al Qaeda Enron: The Bush Administration's first scandal What an idiot! Being a national activist Responses to State of the Union Address The State of the Union: Blah, blah, blah (Yawn) Bush & Cheney Are The Great "Protectors?" Give Us a F***king Break Rev. Jesse Jackson mourns Coretta Scott King What we didn't hear tonight Eggs Roll, Eyes Roll Unfathomed dangers in Patriot Act reauthorization Halliburton's Sleeze Relevant Saint Alito and Roberts: Evasion Confirmed Open letter to members of the US Senate Judiciary Committee How Dick Cheney used the NSA for domestic spying pre-9/11 The war on dissent gets creepy The polite majority NASA ready for the worst, response will be prompt if Atlas 5 explodes Woolsey's way to peace Bush and Republicans vs. rule of law Dr. King: Drum Major for Justice Filibuster Bush, impeach Alito Filibuster evasion Poll: Americans support impeaching Bush for wiretapping Birth of awareness Anti-war group has documents proving NSA spied on them Pants on Fire: The Liars of the Bush Administration will take the world down in flames if we let them Fitzgerald maintains focus on Rove but attorney says 'Architect' not a target It's been a long trek since Nov. 2, 2004 -- now getting shorter Man of the Year: Patrick Fitzgerald Another unqualified Bush appointment A peace movement demanding the rule of law On Martin Luther King Day: giving ourselves to the struggle Forum with Congressmen Moran and Murtha packs hall, 500 turned away Primal smirk A new year’s message from Ramsey Clark Extraordinary circumstances indeed ImpeachPAC forms Citizens Impeachment Commission Go to the light! Can Cheney save Bush's presidency? Read National Issues Articles by Year: |
FREE PRESS EMAIL UPDATE
Donate to the Free Press Election Protection Fund to help us investigate and monitor election fraud in this year's election.
FOLLOW US ON
twitter
facebook
SEARCH THE FREEPRESS
1021 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43205 | 614.253.2571 | truth@freepress.org
All content © 1970-2012 The Columbus Free Press
Disclaimer