This was all a part of a protest primarily organized by the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR). The following groups supported organization and showed up to protest at the White House at 10 am this morning: Atlantic Life Community, Witness Against Torture, Veterans for Peace, World Can't Wait, Activist Response Team, Peace Action, Code Pink, the War Resisters' League, Voters for Peace, The Washington Peace Center, and the Student Peace Action Network.Hundreds of people gathered this morning in McPherson Square for song, poetry and rousing speeches to kick off a day of action. Led by the "Mourn the dead, heal the wounded, end the wars" banner, those gathered then marched to the White House in a solemn procession, carrying large photographs of war victims, signs and banners.Some people, protesting the continued operation of the prison at Gitmo, "chained themselves to the fence." The release says:
All those who remained on the White House sidewalk were eventually arrested. In total, 82 people were taken into police custody as the readings of the names of the dead--a tragic litany of war--continued.
It's important to note that all present were asked by NCNR to follow the Nonviolence Guidelines listed on NCNR's website.
Furthermore, TPM reports on a question Press Secretary Robert Gibbs answered from the press:
I'm not entirely sure what Gibbs means but it looks like it's a shot directed at the anti-war movement who organize protests that few people in America rarely know have taken place.During his press briefing today, Press Secretary Robert Gates fielded a question about a "disruptive" protest outside the White House that caused people going to the Situation Room to walk around much of the White House in order to get inside.
"Until you said it, I was previously unaware," Gibbs said, adding that such protests are "a hallmark of our country."
Mr. Gibbs isn't thinking about how these protests are not "fake grassroots" campaigns organized by FreedomWorks. He isn't thinking about how the corporate media chooses to not cover these protests as news. And, he is also not thinking about how people who are for peace are regularly disdained and shut out of the democratic process.
Obama meets with his "war council." He meets with generals who will decide the future of the Afghanistan War. He does not meet with a "peace council."
Obama's generals will always tell him ways victory can be achieved because it's their job to wage war and if they do not do it, they might consider themselves to be a failure.
Unfortunately, the politicians in this country cater to the recommendations of the military on a regular basis forgetting that they are to control whether we wage war or not.
Unfortunately, too many Americans are comfortable letting the military relay reports from the battlefield. They are comfortable with hearing these reports and trusting that generals will eventually find a way to solving the problems faced in war.
But, as with most wars (and especially with today's wars), there is no military solution. There will be no military solution. And, I promise you that one year or two from now if this continues we will still be telling Obama that there is no military solution.
Why? Because there is no military solution.
So, go on Mr. Gibbs. Pretend you hadn't heard about a protest. It's not believable at all but say what you have to say to keep Americans in the dark.
A small amount of America understands that when you make "jokes" like this you are showing insensitivity toward humanity. A small group know you are cheerleading a war that will continue to kill innocent civilians.
The patience of America wears thin.
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