Eman Ahmed Khamas is a journalist and human rights activist from Iraq. She is part of the Iraqi Delagates from the Women Say No To War campaign. She had to leave her two daughters behind in order to be allowed to travel to our country and bravely share her pleas to stop the killing.
I had planned on marching and helping out whevever possible. I had no idea that I was about to AGAIN have my life’s path forever emboldened and empowered.
I told her one day my daughter and I will visit her and her daughters in Baghdad.
Our day started out with the Radical Cheerleaders. They aren’t very happy with Bush and Alito either
That dude in the cheerleading skirt is one sexy, liberal man!!!
I don’t know how it happens, but I ended up holding the front banner for most of the feeder march while banging a drum and letting the policemen know where we needed to cross and turn. CodePink marches TO the rallies and marches. Towards the end, two gentlemen who joined us from the sidewalks, asked if they could carry our banner and spell us for a while. Later, Katie and I walked into Waterfront Park with what started out with about 50 CodePink people – by the end turned into a 3 block line of supporters. I made nicey nice with the policemen who were “escorting” us so as we wouldn’t accidently get run over or jaywalk – and I think they actually started to like us.
Eman passionately speaking out to the crowd to have our country leave them alone. I was honored to be with her that afternoon. She had me hold her bag which contained her documents and passports… I was just floored by her bravery and her spirit.
I could see how this drains her.
So we started walking over to a quieter area where the sunshine was. She wants this photo and gave me her email.
Katie and Cristy, two tiredless, self-less wonders. Soaking it all in for a minute before more work to be done.
Cristy and Eman – back at the CodePink area. We ran out of t-shirts and pins. Everyone just wants to hug you. It’s amazing.
Later a few of us stayed to break the area down, pick up the trash and get the ‘stuff’ packed into Cristy’s truck across the way. Veteran’s for Peace came by to lift our spirits and talk about the day and upcoming ideas. I made another new friend walking back to the Blue Line train.
I wasn’t able to stop the war and the bloodshed yesterday, but I was honored to have been able to stand with Eman and CodePink … and lift some burdens and help some feel loved and needed.
And … help them smile – if only for a moment.
We must stop this killing. I don’t want Eman or her daughters to be killed. Why is it that we can’t stop this?
Bread and Puppets Theatre
It breaks my heart to know that more women and children will be arrested, tortured, murdered… for wanting to wave peace and end the killing. One can’t help but shiver in the presence of a woman, like Eman, who is so brave… and so true. Yet another moment in my life that I’ll never forget and will be better for experiencing.
Stop the war!
Stop
Stop
Stop the war!
Most excellent D.J.!
Getting you out of red CA was the best thing that could have happened! I miss you down here but damn you are going to lead us all to a better place!
And you look really good in pink! And I love the haircut now that it’s grown a little! We’ll talk a little more…when your sweetie isn’t trying to feed you and keep your energy up!
It’s so easy for us to kill what we are so willfully ignoring. The beautiful Iraqi women and children. We have made their lives WORSE. She said that some Americans thinking that Iraqi’s are better off dead because they had it so horrible before… is a terrorist way of thinking.
Meeting her was… incredible.
My hair?? LOL I have hat-head and scarf hair.. 🙂 It’s hurrrd wurrrk trying to wage peace… and carry a banner on a windy Portland day 🙂
Yeah Wayne made dinner, even though I was starving because I had taken the basic needs for a protest… water and two orage, white glazed biscotti 🙂 – I couldn’t really eat. I’m going out and grabbing a quick lunch now.
Seeing and meeting her… we’ve taken so much from them. She was a woman. Just like us. But braver. Stronger. I WILL visit Baghdad one day. I know this.
Wonderful pictures Janet and you’re looking particularly fetching in your pink T.
I appreciate so much your doing this, you have no idea how much I wish I could get out and be there with you, if only my body could be as strong as my thoughts.
One of the reasons I try to stop and take pictures is so..
1. My kids can look
and
2. So that I can share them with my friends at Booman so they could get an idea what is going on and how their words and support inspire some of us to whatever it is we’re doing.
Chocolate Ink, you are a MARCHER… you march with your mind, your spirit and with your words. 🙂
That last picture is absolutely chilling. I really think there is a terrible disconnect in the minds of the American people. It’s happening “over there” far away, the people look different, believe differently, they don’t want to see pictures of dead children or grieving mothers…it would be too real for them and then they’d have to think about what it is we’re really doing ‘over there.’
Damn Bush and his band of henchmen for pushing that ‘we’re fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them on our soil’…I think people actually believe that by bloodying their soil we are making ours safer. We all have blood on our hands when we look the other way.
So many incredible marchers yesterday. CNN even mentioned the Portland protest this morning.
They continue to say “better over there than here” and the worse…
better their children than ours…
Sickening! It’s only going to get bloodier till we women and men STOP and say say NO MORE WAR.
Sing it, say it, whisper it, shout it.
We WILL be heard
(this hermit even got his ass out yesterday — we went to a small rally over in Davis)
thanks for the pix!
Glad you got to get out and beat the street!!!
Outstanding, DJ. I congratulate each of you that managed to march this w/e. Bravery comes in many different manners. Hugs to each of you and thanks for the great pictures. One picture says a thousand words.
Thanks Brenda 🙂
I met one of the lady yesterday who is being arrested today. … Why are the women who answers are the ones being led away??…
You are off to a good start. I look forward to seeing big things from you.
Sadly it ends with some of those ladies being arrested just now. Senator Wyden is just like Bush. He first ignores and then arrests those he’s afraid of most. WOMEN. Been flooding his phones all day. They even LIE like Bush.
PLDN – arrests at the federal building now
author: PLDN (Portland Legal Defense Network)
We have just received a report that the 19 protesters who have occupied Wyden’s office are being arrested.
The protesters have been in there since noon and have requested the presence of Legal Observers. The authorities have not allowed the Legal Observers to enter the building despite negotiation attempts between the organizers of the action and the authorities. Many people have called Wyden’s office to demand that Legal Observers be allowed to witness the event. Wyden’s staff has been “snippy” with callers and in at least one instance have told callers that the protesters do not wish for Legal Observers to witness their action. THIS IS NOT TRUE. And now these protesters are being arrested with no witnesses or Legal Observers present. If you observe the arrestees being taken from the federal building, please call the Portland Legal Defense Network with information. 503-234-4518
That is terrible! I hope there’s something that can be done about it right away. Does Codepink have any lawyers on staff who can assist in the situation?
Is anybody covering this? Does KBOO have remote capability? I think there needs to be some rapid response teams out there to start documenting some of this stuff.
Someone in your group should also put Amy Goodman on their speed dial. 🙂
Martin Luther King would have thought this was great. Fill up the jails!
The protesters are following in a grand tradition. Too bad the rest of the country isn’t going to hear about it.
that’s the problem with having such a large country.
Although India was large. Gandhi went to jail multiple times I believe.
KBOO Is on it right now actually.
The PLDN is seeing to it they are covered. I know several go in with their lawyers names sharpied on their arms.
Katie isn’t in there as she is with Eman at her talk tonight.
I don’t see any coverage yet on the Oregonian’s front page, but get an eyeful of that picture just under Latest News & More. Doesn’t that look like a Babes for Bush rally? HEIL!
I’m sure I’m going to go to hell for maligning some poor drill team . . .
Right now there are 19 protestors at Senator Ron Wyden’s office at the federal building. Authorities are refusing to allow legal observers in the building to observe the action. Please call Wyden’s office to demand that legal observers are allowed to enter the building. Numbers to call are below:
Ron Wyden’s offices:
Portland, OR
(503) 326-7525
Washington, DC
(202) 224-5244
Salem, OR
(503) 589-4555
It’s after 5 (which is why they waited till now to arrest… but I say tomorrow we FLOOD their lines.
: (
that was a damn fine rally, though. i’ve heard estimates of 10k?
Hey there Cedwyne!! Well I was up there near the front and there was CodePink’s tent by one of the entry/exits 🙂
http://portland.indymedia.org/ has tones of photos – they are thinking from “graphing” that it was way more than 10K some are now saying 30 -45k
Hey…. if you ever are in Portland at Pioneer Square on friday’s at 5ish… the PPRC and War Drums are out there – I’m going to start going with my family. Maybe we’ll see each other there?
Thanks for the public lands link, emails have been sent.
talk about your slacktivism – hoping people read your sig!
LOL
Could this be true?, DJ ?Somebody please tell me that this never happened.
Iraqi Police Report Details Civilians’ Deaths at Hands of U.S. Troops
by Matthew Schofield
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi police have accused American troops of executing 11 people, including a 75-year-old woman and a 6-month-old infant, in the aftermath of a raid last Wednesday on a house about 60 miles north of Baghdad.
The villagers were killed after American troops herded them into a single room of the house, according to a police document obtained by Knight Ridder Newspapers. The soldiers also burned three vehicles, killed the villagers’ animals and blew up the house, the document said.
Yes. CNN, CBS MSNBC are even forced to cover that horrific story now.
Ghandi has a diary on it. children of Abraham:Death in the Desert.
Children shot in the head in their pajamas…
So so very heartbreaking. Beyond belief. What have we become?
Eman said yesterday that they are living in terror. Things are worse now then when Saddam was in power.
They just want our troops to quit killing them.
Maybe this attrocitie will be the one to finally wake up the rest of America(?)
Janet, you are one of the most truly inspiring human beings I’ve been blessed to encounter, and I feel privileged to have crossed your path.
Each time you share your experiences, I grow a little more – in my knowledge of the issues, and in witnessing cross cultural humanity (against all the odds).
Thank you for inspiring me once again. Bless you.
Thank you for your kind words but … truly I just went and made new friends, listened and shared – and picked up trash. 🙂
I, too, learn so much here. I can’t help but feel the wheels of change and revolution coming on.
Even now – as women in Oregon are arrested for wanting to meet with a politician about the war – even now another attrocitie can’t be buried.
The children in Iraq who were shot in the head… This is not war. This is mass murder for the sake of having no agenda. We have no reason to be there. We only have reasons to get out.
DJ, your diary & the comments that follow have basically left me speechless.
All I can offer in turn are my thanks.
PLDN – protesters at federal bldg released
author: PLDN (Portland Legal Defense Network)
The protesters who went to Wyden’s office to demand that he introduce legislation to end the war in Iraq have been released.
The protesters have been in the federal building since noon today. They were allowed to occupy the space until 5:30. They have just been cited and released.
Just had to tell you that the spouse has been following your posts here and at the hockey chat, and he’s noticed so much energy from you! (He hasn’t seen this diary yet…) Soooo glad you found your place, hon…we’ll definitely make it up to Portland one of these centuries… 😉
Dear Mr. Cali,
I’ve been spinning my wheels in N. Calif for years. Now I finally have some place to set my feet and take off. 🙂 You guys make it up to Portland and we’ll surely, don’t call me shirley, hook up and maybe I’ll even get you to a Pioneer Square romp 🙂
Looking good Janet!
Thanks Steven – Here’s looking at you kid 🙂 Next time we’re in DC… it’ll be to celebrate the ousting and trial of this regime.
Let’s hope they don’t diebold us again this year.
Thanks Janet! It is always inspiring to read your diaries!
Thanks Boran2, I thought of you while I was picking up the trash 🙂
Actually the trash wasn’t too bad. Most who are wanting to stop wars aren’t litterers. But it still amazes me when I see Peace signs discarded and not recycled, re-used or at least put in a garbage can.
I had to jaywalk to go pick up a Drop Bush Not Bombs sign. While waiting for my train. LOL That would have been ironic
Great diary – great pics – great smile ;^)
Thank you ((((RubDMC)))) again, you were there with me.
My lips were so CHAPPED! I’ve already place some lip balm in my marching bag. Right by the river… returned home with chapped lips as all I had with me was … LIPSTICK. HEY!! no laughing, lipstick is a necessary tool when waging peace 🙂 (well, at least when you’re running around in Pink slips and boas)
Great report from the “front” DJ! Sorry it took me a while to get around to reading it, cuz yesterday was a crazy day and I wasn’t around here much. Great pictures too… you must be totally pumped after the experience, and THANKS for marching for those of us who, for whatever reason, are not able to march!
[List of tours of Iraqi Delegates http://www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/speakers/149.html
But, but… I thought women liked the war? That’s what MSNBC’s Chris Matthews crowed back in May 2003:
I’d like to add some snarky comment, but truly, language fails me here.