Inside the Belly of the Beltway Beast

Please join Declaration of Peace and the National Campaign of Nonviolent Resistance September 20, 2007 to demand no more war and endless occupation of Iraq. Sept. 20th: Speak Truth to Power Join us as we remember all the victims of the immoral and illegal Iraq War. Let us remind the decision makers of the folly and human cost of continuing to fund the war. Action on Capitol Hill, 12 Noon, 9/20 Legal/logistical briefing, nearby church, 6:30 PM, 9/19 Questions and/or want to join us? Write to septembertruth@yahoo.com In hope for peace with justice, Pete

Seven Peace Activists Acquitted by Jury Right to Dissent Inside Senate Office Building Upheld WASHINGTON – Seven peace activists were acquitted Thursday, July 12th, by a jury of their peers in a criminal case stemming from an anti-war protest inside a Senate office building. The group of activists from three different states and the District of Columbia were arrested on March 29, the same hour the U.S. Senate voted to spend $95 billion more on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. They were charged with unlawful conduct. "Today was a victory for justice and the people of this nation," said Gordon Clark one of the seven defendants pro se, and the coordinator of the National Campaign of Nonviolent Resistance. The jury deliberated for four and a half hours Thursday before returning a unanimous not guilty verdict. The defense successfully argued their group was not any more disruptive than a comparable sized group of tourists, school groups or others. The p...

“Now is the time for us to stand up and stand together” By Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. July 1, 2007 My Fellow Americans: The power of our voices against the U.S. occupation of Iraq is reaching the top echelons of the military and the administration. Our government is persecuting Americans who speak out against the U.S. military presence in Iraq. The U.S. military has launched politicized attacks on its own military members and moral leaders who oppose the war to discredit their voices of dissent. We have seen them target Cpl. Adam Kokesh to stop him from exercising his freedom of speech, after risking his life in Fallujah, Iraq. We have seen them threaten Sgt. Liam Madden for publicly stating the legal fact that the U.S. invasion is a war crime according to the Nuremberg principles. They have targeted Cpl. Cloy Richards, a soldier put in the media spotlight when his mother Tina Richards worked to get him the health care he needs after returning from Iraq eighty percent disabled. Th...

My dear friend Eve Tetaz was release from police custody Saturday at 3:00 p.m. The judge on duty arraigned her and made it clear that he did not want to hold her any longer. Monday she returns to D.C. Superior Court on a status hearing from an earlier case. Then the following Monday, the 9th, she appears again to begin a jury trial with six other co-defendants. That one stems from a protest in March in the Hart Senate Office Building atrium during the same hour the Senate voted for additional monies for war and occupation. Eve's co-defendants include: Ellen Barfield of Maryland, David Barrows of D.C., Gordon Clark of Maryland, Sam Crook of Maryland, Joy First of Wisconsin and Malachy Kilbride of Virginia. Sunday morning Eve was considering her next action against war and how to best mourn all those lost to violence. One idea is bringing the grief of all those of conscience to the Pentagon.

Senior Woman Protesting War Faces Jail Time For Immediate Release June 29, 2007 Contact: Pete Perry, 571-271-1313 WASHINGTON – Dressed in the ancient mourning symbols of sackcloth and ashes, a senior citizen protesting war was arrested twice Friday, and violated a stay away order. For the sixth and seventh times this year, Eve Tetaz, 75, a retired D.C. public schoolteacher was arrested for nonviolently protesting the illegal and immoral war and occupation of Iraq. She will be arraigned in D.C. Superior Court Saturday morning, but it is unknown whether she will be released or held. Tetaz, of 17th Street, N.W., was first arrested in front of the White House in a protest organizers described as a mourning for children killed in war. The arrest happened at 12:45 p.m. and was conducted by the U.S. Park Police. "All life is sacred," Tetaz said. "No one is collateral damage." Wearing a hand-made burlap dress and shawl and faced smudged wit...

Dear Friends I would like to share with you my decision to participate in a direct action which will most likely lead to my incarceration for some time. As a result of my last arrest at the Hart Senate Office Building, I spent the night in jail and at my arraignment the next day, was released into 3rd party custody, and ordered to report weekly to pre trial services. Additionally I must stay away from the entire Capitol area. I am unable to comply with these orders, and after careful and prayerful consideration, have decided to take the initiative by deciding the circumstances under which I will begin serving my sentence. I have decided on this course of action I hope that this action will receive media attention, but I can't be sure that my arrest would spark any interest on their part, since Paris Hilton seems to be the main focus of their interest. So be it. There are many who have chosen to speak truth to power in this fashion. I think of Rosa Parks, whose action was the ...

Among those arrested in front of the White House for nonviolent resistance was David Barrows, Father Louis Vitale, Father Jerry Zawada, Harold Nelson, Katie Murphy and myself. Vigil Raises 'Voices Against Terror' By Jenna Johnson Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, June 24, 2007; A06 The mock prison cell, the barking dog belonging to another protester, people asking names and ages. Sister Dianna Ortiz said yesterday that the sights and sounds during a 24-hour vigil and protest at Lafayette Square against torture took her "back to that place" and time -- Guatemala in 1989, when the American nun, then 29, taught Mayan children about human rights. It took her back to the day she was blindfolded and taken to a prison for reasons she still doesn't know. To an interrogation, cigarettes burned on her breasts, being forced to dance naked, raped repeatedly. Back to hell. Ortiz escaped within a day as her captors transported her to another prison. But each year on June 23,...

Anti-war Marine receives discharge below honorable Associated Press Published June 14, 2007 KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- An Iraq war veteran was kicked out of the Marines with a general discharge after he wore his uniform during an anti-war demonstration, the military announced Wednesday. Lt. Gen. John Bergman, commanding general of Marine Forces Reserve in New Orleans, agreed Monday to give Adam Kokesh a general discharge under honorable conditions, based on a military panel's recommendation. Kokesh's attorneys argued that their client, a corporal, was not subject to military rules because he is a non-drilling, non-paid member of the Individual Ready Reserve, which consists mainly of those who have left active duty but still have time remaining on their eight-year military obligations. His reservist service had been scheduled to end next Monday. Kokesh had received an honorable discharge from active duty in November. He got in trouble after a newspaper published a photograph of him in ...

Faces of conflict Marine Corps challenge anti-war vets By IAN SANDS Each summer, it seems, the Iraq War springs another issue for the peace movement to rally around, symbolized by a specific face with a story to tell. In 2005, it was Cindy Sheehan’s loss and her dogged insistence that Bush explain why we invaded Iraq, where she lost her 24-year-old son. In 2006, it was Lieutenant Ehren Watada’s refusal to deploy. This summer, the latest phase of the movement may be epitomized by two more faces: Marine Corporal Adam Kokesh and Marine Sergeant and Boston-chapter president of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) Liam Madden, both of whom were honorably discharged from the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), a group of unpaid reservists that can be, but rarely are, called up. The pair learned this past week that the Marine Corps was recommending they receive “other than honorable” discharges as a result of certain aspects of their anti-war activities. Kokesh’s troubles began after he received ...

Yesterday Adam Kokesh of Iraq Veterans Against the War and his attorney held a press conference at Union Station shortly before departing for a military hearing in Kansas. What awaits this brave member of IVAW and the individual ready reserves of the US Marines is a possible re-discharge to "other than honorable." This is unheard of, as the individual ready reserves have typically already been discharged. Why is this being done? Simple: Adam Kokesh has been vocal in his opposition to the war and continuing occupation in Iraq. At the press conference, Adam quoted Thomas Jefferson: "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." So, if the media needs a new "face" of the anti-war movement, let it be Adam. Yesterday he, Tina Richards from the Swarm on Congress and several other supporters boarded the Yellow Rose of Texas Peace bus bound for Kansas. They will fight this assault on veterans' First Amendment rights. Interestingly enough at the press conference,...

What a busy week for me, the Washington Peace Center and the peace movement in general. The week began with those of us regular readers of afterdowningstreet.org and the DailyKoz knowing a full 24-hours ahead of most folks that Cindy Sheehan was calling it quits on being everyone's official peace mom. I have met Cindy on a couple of occasions, and think she is smart, warm and funny. She's articulate, marches to her own drum and has a sharp sense of humor. It turns out she has been both worn down by the demands and competing egos within the movement, and also by the continuing personal slams and death threats against her. She needs time off, and so she originally wrote that she is quitting. She says she felt betrayed by the Democrats who recently took power, and she wanted to see more of us in the peace movement actually begin to make sacrifices in order to change the murderous path that the U.S. government has been on for the last few decades. I share much of Cindy's frustr...

On Thursday the Democrats failed the American people by writing Bush a blank check for more war and occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Here's the results of the Occupation Project where there were more than 300 arrests across the nation. Occupation Project Voting Records Where Arrests Occured YES this year 2005 2006 2007 Gordon Smith Y Y Y Richard Durbin Y Y Y John McCain Y Y Y Lisa Murkowski Y Y Y Ted Stevens Y Y Y Claire McCaskill Y Y Y Ken Salazar Y Y Y Virgil Goode Y Y Y Charles Grassley...

Last time, Eve was released at about midnight. This time she is being held overnight in Central Cell Block. She should be arraigned around 1 PM at c-10 at Indiana Avenue. However, we are unsure if she will be released as she violated a stay away order when she was arrested, and has three other pending cases! For Immediate Release May 24, 2007 Contact: Pete Perry, 571-271-1313 Tina Richards, 573-247-8059 WASHINGTON – A 75-year-old retired schoolteacher was arrested Thursday when a group of peace activists descended on Capitol Hill to demand an end to the war and occupation of Iraq. Eve Tetaz of 17th Street, NW was part of a peace tour, which started with a ride on the Yellow Rose of Texas Peace Bus. The pack of activists are part of the "Swarm on Congress" planned to last until Congress' summer break. The group had earlier joined a press conference with Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH). Tetaz was arrest...

This past week, The DC Anti-War Network (DAWN) finally decided to move past the staunchly anti-zionist, libertarian Carol Moore. Over the last three years that I've been involved with DAWN, Carol has been involved with several highly notable and public interpersonal conflicts with other DAWN participants. She has in fact been the primary cause for several people leaving DAWN permanently, and these were good folks who were thoughtful anti-war activists and decent organizers. Most recently she has decided to attack me, not only to myself and my friends, but to my employers. This is a form of stalking, and if it continues I will have to file for a stay away order with DC Superior Court. You can find more about Carol Moore on Wikipedia. Carol has also dug up a past joke of mine, which was politically incorrect and for which I have apologized in public at least four times. She has part of this incident on her Web page, and includes some incorrect analysis along with it. She is a trouble...

Senior D.C. Woman Arrested While Demanding End to Iraq War For Immediate Release May 14, 2007 Contact: Pete Perry, 571-271-1313 Linda Schade, 202-422-5780 WASHINGTON – A 75-year-old retired schoolteacher was arrested Monday along with Cindy Sheehan and 31 others while protesting the war and occupation of Iraq. Eve Tetaz of 17th Street, NW was part of yesterday’s march from Lafayette Park to Capitol Hill launching the “Swarm on Congress” planned to last until Congress’ summer break. The protestors were arrested in the middle of the intersection of Independence and New Jersey Avenues, SE when a group of the marchers stopped walking, raised an American flag to half-mast. The flag was upside down, a military sign of a ship in distress. “I cannot allow my government to continue funding these actions in my name,” Tetaz said. “No human being is ‘collateral damage’ – all life is sacred.” Although affiliated with the National Campaign of Nonviolent Resistance and Code Pink. Tetaz said ...

Swarm on Congress: This summer has the potential to be a significant moment in the history of the end of the Iraq War. We made lots of progress in the first part of the year putting pressure on the Democrats to use the power of the purse, but our power will increase as we get closer to elections -- if we use it. We need to let incumbents of both parties know they will lose votes if they vote for war funding. That is a message for Republicans and Democrats who continue to vote billions for the war. While we are working to get people to come to DC to participate, activists in the DC area are going to play a key role in the summer of anti-war activities. Peace activists in DC, Maryland and Virginia will need to play a core role for the summer's efforts to build on. Tina mentions the "SWARM on Congress." This will begin on May 14th with Cindy Sheehan's Mother of a March and extend through July 31. The “SWARM” will build on the successful efforts of activists in DC and aro...

Vets, military families protest against war funding, 14 arrested For Comment: Tina Richards, 573-247-8059 Pete Perry, 571-271-1313 WASHINGTON – Today the US Senate voted to approve its revised form of the military supplemental, and within the same hour 14 peace activists were arrested inside a Senate office building. The Senate voted 51-46 to pass the $124.2 billion spending bill at around 1 p.m. At the same time a coalition of military families, veterans and anti-war groups held a dramatic protest inside the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building. The protest featured the reading of letters from military families calling for a swift end to the occupation of Iraq, two 600 square foot banners and a funeral honoring the next fallen soldier. The arrests began to occur during the funeral portion of the protest alongside the giant Alexander Calder statue in the center of the atrium. Among those arrested were, Rev. Lennox Yearwood of the Hip-Hop Caucus and Adam Kokesh with Iraq Vet...

March through Washington to the White House chained to the the fence. I was very proud to be in this procession.

"My experiences in Iraq made my convictions stronger... In the end I felt that I had to listen to my conscience." — Agustin Aguayo Agustín Aguayo, a 35-year-old Army medic and conscientious objector, was convicted of desertion and missing movement on March 6 in a U.S. military court in Germany. Although he faced a maximum of seven years, Agustín was sentenced to eight months in the brig for resisting redeployment to Iraq (see Courage to Resist's report from Germany). Since he had been imprisoned pending trial since September, he was released from the brig on April 18. Agustín is still in the Army for the time being, and he is still in Germany. We are expecting his unit give him leave during his transition out of the Army so that he can come home, hopefully within a couple of weeks. However, Agustin's wife Helga notes, "For now the sad truth is it seems that the unit's inefficiency will keep him in Germany a while longer—an undetermined amount of time." I...

CHARGES DISMISSED FOR ANTI-TORTURE ACTIVISTS, BUT FOURTEEN OF THEM ARE LATER ARRESTED AT THE WHITE HOUSE On April 18, 2007 at 9:30 AM, around fifty anti-torture activists, including Baltimore's Max Obuszewski and Joy First from Madison, Wisconsin, went to U.S. District Court, 333 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. for trial to face a charge of disorderly conduct as a result of a January 11 arrest in the atrium of the same courthouse. Courthouse officials, though, seemed surprised that the defendants appeared in Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson's courtroom. After the Jan. 11 arrest, most of those in custody refused to provide any identification and simply gave the name of a Guantanamo Bay detainee. Presumably, the government did not expect any of the eighty-nine individuals arrested to appear for trial as they were released with John and Jane Doe citations. While the prosecutors, Judge Robinson and the marshals deliberated behind closed doors, the defendants began read...