Hillary doesn’t support Democracy. She is a Republican-Lite. Her drive for the White House is her ONLY agenda. She doesn’t speak for me. I use to support her but now I support an end to the war. Clinton doesn’t have the courage or will to fight for what is right.
There’s an Ani DiFranco lyric that says, “It’s nice that you listen, it’d be nicer if you joined in, as long as you play that game girl, you’re never gonna win!”
It was a dark, windy, rainy night in Portland, Oregon. I showed up with my pink scarves and a CodePink parasol. There were about 100 protestors from various groups. The No More War Drummers were there and were adored.
My new sisters: Katie and Cristy – CodePink
I was honored to meet up with CodePink ladies and Veterans For Peace (I even got to meet Bohica from DailyKos).
We continued to march around the hotel. They had one side of the street roped off. We were able to “inconvenience” people arriving to the hotel. I guess drums are something to complain about but women and children dying in Iraq is just something these toads can ignore?
I was offered a ticket to go inside several times from CodePink, I almost accepted at one time and it took everything in me NOT to go in, but I had to play by the script I had with my family. Next time, though, I’m infiltrating with the pink ladies. It’s in my blood, and… it’s much warmer inside than standing outside in the rain for 3 hours. I stood outside and waited and waited for my new friends to come out. Rumors spread that Hillary wasn’t even there. I doubted this as CodePInk was still inside. So I gave a member from VFP Katies cell phone so we could get text messages out of there and learn what was happening. Hillary was, again late – a whole hour late. People started to leave. I and a few others stayed on. VFP continued to hold their banner.
When the streets are lined with peaceful protestors, you aren’t bothered. But when it’s just a few – that is when the bellhops and hotel personnel start getting snotty. I stood firm though when told to move. It actually incited us to stay on.
A group of three came out in total shock. The woman had held up a big, blue banner with “Hillary is Pro-War and Pro-Wall” She had her banner shredded by the crowd and had been literally shoved out. The news showed her holding up the banner and then cuts to her holding up just a corner of it – they never mentioned the violence. Later, CodePink stood up and shouted down Hillary. That’s when things got ugly.
The crowd rose up and turned on CodePink and anyone else who was standing. Katie, is just breath and britches, a tiny being with a huge passion for ending this war. I’m sure her arms are bruised. She was clawed at and pushed. The look of shock on all their faces as they came out of the building was unnerving.
Still nothing from the print media. There is a write up about the San Francisco protest – members from CodePink were arrested there, choke holds, cutting the skin cuffed… this wasn’t told by the “free press”… YET!.
From now I’m going inside. I’m infiltrating. I’ll be heading out with phone numbers Sharpied on the skin of my arms. This was my first meeting with the Portland groups – next time… sadly there has to be a next time.
Stop the war NOW!