Rob Kall:
Beautiful. Yeah, Ray is another
Code Pink force of nature, like you. So
what do you advise people when they're preparing to do this? Do you give them any kind of advice or
instructions on how to do it, what to do, and how to think about it, what
mental mindset?
Medea Benjamin: Well the mental mindset we say is 1) to
breathe deep, and 2) think about why you're doing it, think about what is
motivating you. While I was sitting in
the audience for such a long time before the President spoke, even not knowing
whether I was going to speak out or not, I was preparing myself just in
case. Part of preparing myself was to
think about the innocent drone victims that I have met in Pakistan telling us
the stories about losing their sons, and daughters, and loved ones. And I thought about the men in Guantanamo,
and what it was like to be strapped to a chair with the tubing forced down your
nose and throat and into your stomach, and what it was like to be held for
eleven years when you had not committed a crime.
So you have to really think about the "Why?" Otherwise you shouldn't be in there. You have to be passionate about these issues,
and then you have to go with your gut; and if your gut tells you, "This isn't
right. Doesn't feel right," then just
don't do it. But on the other hand,
recognize that there's always two voices in your head. There's one voice saying, "Now is the time to
stand up, and you've got to say this because somebody needs to hear the truth";
and there's another little voice that says, "Don't be disrespectful. You shouldn't be interrupting someone. Is this what your mother taught you to
do?" (laughs) I mean, there is that
other voice. Or, another voice saying,
"You could get hurt. Don't risk
it."
So while you listen to your gut, you have to
listen to the voice that's speaking louder to you, and to remember that it's
not about you: you might get arrested, you might get put in jail, you might
face some risky consequences, but who are you representing that doesn't have a
voice? And: is their issue powerful
enough to compel you to take the risk?
Rob Kall: Let's talk
a little bit about the arrest factor here.
You've been arrested, right?
Medea Benjamin: Yes.
Rob Kall: Probably
not quite as many times as Dan Ellsberg, but I'm sure you've had your share of
arrests. What do you do in terms of preparing to be arrested ahead of time?
Medea Benjamin: I make sure that I have my license with me,
that I have some money, that I have a person who's going to be in solidarity
with me if I get arrested to find out where I am and what's happening. I oftentimes speak to a lawyer beforehand to
ask what they think the risk is, if it's something I've never done before, just
so you know what risk you're taking; but I understand that lawyers' job is to
tell you the worst-case scenario, so I try not to get scared off by what the
lawyer says - but it's a piece of knowledge to have.
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