OFFICIAL RELEASE: Arrested CODEPINK activists released, doing well
Posted by Jean -
Wed, Sep 3, 2008
Uncategorized
ST. PAUL — The four CODEPINK activists arrested on charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct Wednesday here were processed and released with a couple hours.
The women, Desiree Fairooz, 52, of Arlington, TX, Toby Blome, 53 of El Cerrito, Cali., Kit Siemen, 50, of Quilcene, WA and Nancy Mancias, 38, of San Francisco, said they were taken to a warehouse in the city designated for arrested demonstrators where they were processed with the misdemeanor charges and searched. They were released at about 7 p.m.
In protest of the war and Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s pro-war and pro-drilling positions, the CODEPINK women had been singing and dancing in crowns, sashes and pink clothing down Market St., when police surrounded them and began to push them up onto the sidewalk and against a metal fence set up in the plaza. The women complied but continued to be pushed to the side and were told clear out. In symbolic sign of civil disobedience, saying free speech cannot be caged and all of America is a free speech zone, the four women tried to crawl under the fence. Police pulled them through to the other side and arrested them.
“We are proud of the CODEPINK women who did civil disobedience to show their outrage at the Bush and McCain policies and the nomination of Sarah Palin,” said co-founder Medea Benjamin. “In the face of over 100 riot police they put their bodies on the line as a show of their determination to elect leaders in this country who stand for peace.”
Until the arrest, the group had been protesting and police had been responding peacefully. They gathered near the St. Paul Hotel with banners reading “Palin is not a woman’s choice” and “End the occupation now” and singing songs like “We are ready for a peaceful world” and marched, with dozens of police close by, down Market St. when they turned around and marched back to the intersection of Market and 5th.
Police officials told the activists they would receive in the mail a court date.
CONTACT
Medea Benjamin, 415-235-6517
Jodie Evans, 310-621-5635
Jean Stevens, 508-769-2138
Tags: PeaceRoom 2008, RNC, Rock the Parties!
September 6th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Usually, in most cities, a permit to parade, is required. This is an attempt to keep everybody (the city, the cops, the citizinary, and the paraders) all on the same page, i.e. confusion avoidance. And it works, look at China, during the “Oh-Limp”, protesters were keep 3 miles (or was it 3 blocks ?) from any venue. If five (5) or fewer are involved then, no permit is required.
Also, in this article, there was no mention of confiscated personal possesions. Or personal possesions left on the street to be “recycled” by the local homeless citizen population. I would appear that none of that happened. Thanks, Keep up the goood fight, Peace and Love Always, Shalom, J. Parsons, Volunteer War Correspondent, a “Lo Impact and Lo Yield” Dometic War on Poverty, U.S.A./NA (not “Union”), CA, right here on Earth, right now, today . .. i.e. all cultures and multiple generations . .. .
September 6th, 2008 at 10:42 am
I’ve watched all the street activities from my pc. Because of my disability I can not help except to say, I saw you, I believe in what you are doing, and I was proud of your work at Palin’s and McCain’s speech.
The image of blood red hands in the face of Cond. Rice still floats up and gives me pause. I hope she can’t forget it either.
This is a great new web site. Pink rules!
In solidarity, with Blessings,
Allyson