05.06.08 Nancy Pelosi Stop Funding WAR Now

CODEPINK DC Peace Force went to the Georgetown Home of House Speaker

Nancy Pelosi to serve coffee as a wake call

"WE DON'T WANT A WAR Economy"

FUNDING THIS WAR KILLS OUR TROOPS!!!

STOP giving the bush criminals

ENDLESS FUNDING for the seriously flawed policy in IRAQ -it is making the entire world insecure.....as well undermining our safety at home

FULLY fund our troops home now safely!

Pelosi NO MORE $$$ for failed policy in IRAQ

Speaker Pelosi = 4071 military familes have lost

a family member since the illegal invasion of Iraq over 5 years ago!!

We the majority of this country demand an exit from Iraq not a continuation

of the same flawed policies

No MORE

funds for more war!

Lead US Out of this occupation & Defund the WAR Machine

Support our troops with a policy of WITHDRAWL-

Update from Des

Many of you at home follow our acts of protest and civil disobedience on Capitol Hill and the streets of Washington, D.C. What follows is my report from the consequences of the action I took last October 24th as I faced judgement in the court of Judge Richard H. Ringell recently.

After initially being charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer and one count of "disorderly conduct" for calling Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a "War criminal!" and telling her "The blood of millions of Iraqis is on your hands…"

I was found guilty this past Friday by Judge Richard H. Ringell of only one disorderly conduct charge. (Note that the "government" dropped the assault charges because, according to prosecutor Jeffrey Scott Shapiro, the "victim", Condoleezza Rice would have had to appear in court to testify.)

After the judge presented his reasons for the guilty verdict, I was given the opportunity to make a pre-sentencing statement, which I am including below:

Your honor, the decision to invade Iraq was illegal, and catastrophic, wreaking havoc on our domestic security and world stability. As citizens of the United States of America, I believe we must stand up and speak out against these crimes.

I have phoned, emailed, and written my congressional leaders. I have visited my senators' and congressman's offices at home in Texas and here in Washington, D.C. I have signed and delivered petitions. I have marched, camped out and participated in vigils and nonviolent demonstrations. I have fasted and mourned the loss of life, both American and Iraqi.

Nevertheless your honor, I intended no harm nor did I intend to disrupt the hearing proceedings on October 24th. My intentions were to embody and to reiterate the strong dissent in our country – that Americans continue to speak out for what is morally right and to denounce our government when it does wrong. I believe that anything less is consent to war crimes.

After reading my statement, Judge Ringell made mention of the civil disobedience acts of Thoreau, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, as models of resistance. He went on to say that they all understood that they would eventually spend time in jail for their acts. He told me," Some day you'll have to accept the consequences of your acts, but not in this forum [my court]." He could have given me 180 days in jail and up to $1000 fine per the charge and the request of the prosecution, but instead he sentenced me to 5 days suspended sentence, 3 months of unsupervised probation, and $50 for a mandatory victim's fund.

Although I was mentally prepared for the jail time, I was elated to know that I would continue working with my sisters and brothers-in-peace in the streets or on the Hill this summer as we struggle to end the violence in Iraq.

Thank you, Liz, Les & Jes, Gael, Polly, Ellen, Pete Perry, David Barrows and Jack Barringer, for being present at my sentencing and to cheer me on. Special appreciation to my court appointed attorney, Mark Loudon-Brown whose closing statement was so inspiring. Mark tried valiantly to get me acquitted of all charges and presented a clear argument in my favor that my action was political, was intense, but did not breach the peace by actually or potentially incite anyone to violence. Though the Judge did not accept his arguments I feel Lady Justice did prevail!

Thank you to all who called , texted and emailed their support!

Love & Peace,

Des

Gandhi Peace Brigade /Reverend Cox Comes to DC

News Update! Desiree Fairooz was initially charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer and one count of disorderly conduct for telling Condoleezza Rice,"The blood of millions of Iraqis is on your hands!" http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/10/24/nytfrontpage/20470788.JPG
Judge Ringell honored her actions by referring to Thoreau, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, all models of resistance, and explained how they understood they would eventually spend time in jail for their acts. He told Desiree," Some day you'll have to accept the consequences of your acts, but not in this forum [his court]." He found her guilty of "disorderly conduct" and could have given her 90 days in jail, but instead he sentenced her to 5 days suspended sentence, 3 months of unsupervised probation, and $50 for a mandatory victim's fund. Thank you Desiree ... and thank you Judge Ringell!

Dear Friends,

Leslie has known Reverend Ben Elton Cox, one of the last three remaining Freedom Riders, for forty-five years. She asked him to come to Washington DC to talk with Chairman John Conyers about starting impeachment hearings for Vice President Cheney. "Reverend Cox is an amazing mentor. Ben, Edward Blankenheim (my father) and John Lewis were Freedom Riders together during the Civil Rights Movement. If my father were here today, he would argue for impeachment as well." The Freedom Ride Story: http://www.al.com/unseen/video.ssf?lewis

During his stay Reverend Cox met with Chairman John Conyers, Dean Pollard of Howard University's School of Divinity, Marcus Raskin of the Institute for Policy Studies, Reverend Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus and Gael Murphy of CodePink. He shared his stories of courage and commitment with the CodePink House during our weekly Wednesday pot luck dinner: "We [the Freedom Riders] drew up our last will and testament before we left because we thought we might be killed. I have been arrested 17 times for my civil rights work and I've spent 38 days in solitary confinement. I've been shot at trying to get people to register to vote and my life has been threatened 87 times in writing."
Freedom Rider Endured Jail, Shootings, Attacks To Get Out Black Vote: http://orig.jacksonsun.com/civilrights/sec5_freedomrider_cox.shtml

Photos of Reverend Cox Visit with Congressman Conyers and CodePink in DC:
http://flickr.com/photos/codepinkalert/sets/72157604721443653/show/

Chairman Conyers was a gracious host, as usual. He said that there are situations when you're right [impeachment], but if the timing is wrong, the significance is diminished. Some in the administration have resigned, and we've let them go, but there are others that it doesn't matter if they leave office or not, they will still be held accountable and prosecuted. Some crimes are so unjust, so against any form of decency, that they must be investigated. Investigations are ongoing and they won't stop. There are international lawyers looking into this administration's war crimes and how they can be prosecuted by the Hague.

Leslie and I have met with Chairman Conyers on six occasions and he wants to continue the "National Conversation on Impeachment". Will these talks lead to impeachment hearings for Cheney or will they lead to more talks? Only the Chairman knows for sure. Since Fallon's "resignation", Chairman Conyers may now be the only person capable of standing between the Bush administration and a war with Iran. On one occasion he told us,"Why don't I advise the president if he goes into Iran without Congressional authority that he could be subject to removal immediately." Leslie's response:"Do it BEFORE they attack Iran!!"

Congressman Conyers doesn't want to jeopardize Obama's chances of being elected, but as we've suggested, impeachment hearings could only help Obama because the candidates would finally be forced to speak to the issues. McCain would be put on the defensive and have to distance himself from the Bush administration's polices. If impeachment hearings happen after the election, justice would be served, but it may be too late for Iran.

Peace and Freedom,

Jes & Leslie

"For Eli" by Andrea Gibson
PLEASE WATCH THIS: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19832.htm

"There's no doubt in my mind that the United States is planning right now, as we speak, a military strike against Iran." Scott Ritter on Democracy Now!: http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/28/un_nuclear_watchdog_chief_blasts_us

"It is 1939 all over again. The world waits helplessly for the next act of naked aggression by rogue states. Only this time the rogue states are not the Third Reich and Fascist Italy. They are the United States and Israel." http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19839.htm

"The Pentagon is considering 'potential military courses of action' against Iran, warns the nation's top military officer, Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff." http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042908J.shtml

U.S. defense secretary Gates said the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf could serve as a "reminder" to Iran of American resolve to defend its interest in the region: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/05/01/8652/


Jes & Leslie ... A Journey for Peace and Freedom: http://www.jfpf.org/

Blackwater sponsors Virginia gold cup races

CODEPINK says Blackwater is making a killing in Iraq with noncompetitive no bid government contracts and should be removed as sponsor of the Virginia Gold Cup Races for killing civilians in Iraq without penalty.Blackwater sponsors family events CODEPINK says Stop Kiling Civilians while sponsoring civilian life!!Get Blackwater contractors Out Of Iraq & New Orleans!!!

There should be proper oversight & accountability of Blackwater contracts

Shame on the State Dept for not providing security thus creating a market for contractors while running down our already exhausted military~

http://www.stopblackwater.net/

http://www.condimustgo.com/

05.01.08 Iraqi Refugee Hearing

We know there are millions of externally & internally displaced persons due to the BUSH

failed policy of permanent Iraq occupation! Baby Bush made a huge Mistake by immorally, unjustly,illegally, invading a soverign nation 5 years ago.We know the refugee crisis is deepening each day in fact the humanitarian crisis has escalated beyond the reach of the bordering countries ....the surrounding nations can't handle the tremendous burden!CODEPINK was present to support the IRAQI's in the plight for respect for some semblence of normalcy in this very important hearing today~

It breaks our hearts to think each day that people are still being killed and displaced by our military forces! We are not seen as liberators Cheney still makes mention of.......but occupiers without an end in sight

http://www.madre.org/

http://www.codepinkalert.org/

help the refugees with donation

we can do our part even when the

gov't that represents us doesn't!

trip to jordan and syria part 2

[see photos at bottom]


Amman, Jordan, Day 2, Wednesday, May 30, 2008

Maha from Iraqi Collateral Repair Project picked us up at 9am to take some aid to a poor Iraqi community. An Iraqi businessman had volunteered to drive us there, and Maha had packed the truck of the car with meat, drinks and other food supplies. The women had also brought toys for the children, carefully wrapped like Christmas presents. “Every month we bring food, especially meat, and other gifts because these people are really just barely getting by.”

After about a 20-minute drive, we reached a very poor neighborhood that had been full of Palestinian refugees and now was also home to Iraqis. The house of our host, Nadia Um Ali, used to be a stable for sheep but now housed several families.

In the modest living room about 15 women and children had gathered to meet me. Before we started talking, Nadia asked her 7-year-old granddaughter to recite a poem she had written herself. The poem said something like, “We had been promised happiness, and all we have gotten is misery and sorrow. There is no happiness for the Iraqis.” The women nodded in agreement.

After some general introductions, the group decided it would be best to hear from them individually. So on the couch in front of me, the women came forward one at a time to tell their grim stories while Asma translated.

We stayed for almost four hours, hearing tale after tale of sorrow, each more tragic than the next. A wave of guilt would come over me as each story unfolded and I realized that it was my government’s policy that led to her misery.

I’ll recount some of the stories below:

Nadia is a young woman with a round, jolly face and a quick smile that belies the tragedy she carries within. Married in 2002, a year later the couple was eagerly awaiting their first child. When the baby was born, her husband was out of town on business. He was rushing back to Baghdad to see his baby daughter when a US convoy approached from the opposite direction, spraying bullets. He was killed instantly. “My daughter, Daria, never got a chance to even see her father,” Nadia cried.

The mother and daughter remained in Baghdad, but in February 2007 American soldiers broke into their home and terrorized them. That’s when Nadia decided to flee to Jordan. Daria was so traumatized by the raid that she lost her ability to control her bladder and still has frequent nightmares.

Nadia now faces life as a single mother in a strange land, with no income and no hope. “The Americans invaded my country to steal our wealth, and in the process they stole my personal treasure—my loving husband.”

“I’m so sorry, so sorry,” was all I mutter as we hugged and cried.

Rana looks like a young student, but she is really a 33-year-old single mother of three. She was living with her children and husband, a carpetmaker, in Baghad. They were a mixed marriage—she was a Christian, he a Sunni Muslim—something that used to be quite common.

On September 11, 2006, her husband left the house in the morning and never came home. He simply disappeared. She spent the next days and weeks searching, filling out reports, checking the morgues. She never found him or his body. In the meantime, her neighborhood had erupted in violent Sunni-Shia clashes, so she packed up her three children and fled to Jordan. Two of her children are sick. One had a deformed kidney at birth, the other has severe anemia leading to frequent fainting spells. Rana has received some medical help from the Red Crescent, and Save the Children paid for her children to go to school, but only for one year. In Jordan government schools that are virtually free to Jordanians, but Iraqi children must pay about $100 each for registration, and about $60 for books. On top of that are transportation and food expenses. Rana has no idea how, next year, she will keep her children in school.

Given her financial woes, Rama’s in-laws say she can’t raise the children well, and have been demanding that she give the children to them. Rama refuses. “I have lost my husband, my home, my future. The only thing I have left in this world is my children and I am determined to keep them,” she claimed. “Somehow, God willing, I will find the means to provide for them.”

Dora, 40 years old, is so thin she looks sickly. She is one of the few women in the group not wearing a head scarf. Dora is a Christian, and grew up in the same neighborhood of Baghdad as our Sunni host. “Those were the days when we all got along, when we all lived as one—Sunni, Shia, Christians,” our host Nadia said. “Our children all played together, studied together, intermarried. That was before the US invaded and tore us apart.”

Dora is single, but just a month ago, she was asked for her hand in marriage. She refused because she has to take care of her mother. Dora and her mother fled to Jordan when Christians came under attack by the militias. Her mother is only 67, but she has cataracts that have gotten progressively worse. Now she is blind and Dora has to do everything for her. Doctors say she could regain her sight, but the operation costs $2,500. CARITAS can only cover $400, and no one will pay the rest. Her mother is so ashamed of her situation that she won’t let anyone see her. She lives like a prisoner in their little room. “It’s terrible,” said our host Nadia. “In Iraq under Saddam, medical care was free and she would have gotten the best operation. Today, after we have been ‘liberated,’ people go blind for lack of funds.” So much for liberation.

The stories go on and on. Majda’s brother was tortured in Abu Graib and has never recovered. Thikra’s husband disappeared five months after the U.S. invasion, leaving her alone with three children. She fled after a militia gang threatened to rape and kill her. Zainab’s husband was killed in a firefight between U.S. soldiers and insurgents. She fled with two of her children, but left the 10-year-old behind. She broke down sobbing as she recalled that today was her daughter’s birthday.

I am reeling from the enormity of the tragedy. There are about 2 million internally displaced Iraqis and over 2 million who have fled to Jordan and Syria. All of them have experienced violence and loss, all of them are struggling to survive.

Meanwhile, most Americans are barely aware that there is a war going on and Congress is poised to give another $170 billion to continue the occupation of one of the oldest civilizations on earth.

In the afternoon I will take one of the “shared cars” that go to Syria. For $14, you get a taxi (with 3 others) that takes you all the way from Amman to Damascus, a four-hour ride counting the time at the border. Syria has even more Iraqi refugees than Jordan, and because it is less expensive to live there, it is home to many of the poorest Iraqi refugees. I will steel myself to listen to their stories tomorrow.

Some of the women I met with: