Gold Star Families for Peace and Code Pink planned on simply lobbying their members of congress, but plans changed when Capitol Hill Police refused to allow anyone to bring in literature to hand to their representatives (it could be covered in anthrax, they said).

During the hour long debate about the literature, Cindy Sheehan decided that since the police were stopping her from legally lobbying, she was willing to risk arrest to get her message out and quietly asked if anyone would join her in disrupting a press conference that the democratic leadership was about to hold on ethics. Resistance Media found it ironic that the illegal disruption of a press conference was being planned while the police were arguing about people bringing in literature. And the police eventually let the literature in after a number of phone calls with lawyers and representatives.

The group of roughly 50 divided in two, with some going to lobby and some going to the press conference.

Dozens of democratic representatives were in a closed door meeting, while the press set up for the press conference, to occur just outside the room. Rahm Emanuel came out of the room and stepped up to the podium. Instead of speaking about the ethical duty of ending the death and  destruction in Iraq, he began speaking about issues that were sure not to offend anyone. About a minute in, dozens of voices began chanting: Investigate, De-Escalate, Troops Home Now!

For some reason nobody was arrested or even asked to leave. Anti-war police?

Rahm Emanuel's face went white and he simply turned around and walked back into the room his colleagues were waiting in. Leaving an empty podium. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Cindy Sheehan walked up to the now vacant podium and began taking questions. One wonders what the house leadership was discussing while hiding behind closed doors as the peace activists addressed the nation from what was supposed to be their press conference.

After the press conference, the routine lobbying continued. After the lobbying, people went to the White House And read the names of 3004 dead soldiers.

(Some of these photos may appear in this month's issue of the Washington Report on Middle Eastern Affairs.)


It all began with Cindy Sheehan's voice.


Others joined in.


Cindy took the podium and demanded an end to the funding of the war.


Despite representing the majority of Americans, the peace community is usually ignored by the press, but not today.


Rarely seen in the so called People's House: People outside of the political elite. (Notice the faces of the corporate media.)

Non-press Conference related photos from today:


Before lobbying.


Ever wondered what 3,004 names looks like? It's a pretty thick book.


Cindy lights a candle for her son.


The faces of once living family members of Gold Star Families for Peace.


So many names, so many faces.

 

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