Media Fails To Report Maliki Protester Was CodePink

Sweetness & Light ^ | July 26, 2006 | N/A

[Sam Hill]

You would never know it from our one party media, but the "disruptor" at Prime Minister al-Maliki's speech was not just a random protestor.

She was none other than the professional anti-America agitator (and Hugo Chavez paid agent) Medea Benjamin.

From a CodePink press release:

Medea Benjamin is arrested on July 26 for interrupting a speech by the Prime Minister of Iraq.

Medea Benjamin Arrested For Disrupting Iraqi Prime Minister’s Congressional Address

Fasting co-founder of CODEPINK and Global Exchange says Iraqis want war to end

CODEPINK and Global Exchange cofounder Medea Benjamin is arrested on July 26 for interrupting a speech by the Prime Minister of Iraq.

WASHINGTON - July 26 - This morning, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki addressed a joint session of Congress. During a segment of his speech in which al-Maliki said that Iraqi's ink-stained fingers evidenced their desire for democracy, Medea Benjamin, cofounder of CODEPINK: Women for Peace and Global Exchange, stood up from the gallery and shouted, "Iraqis want the troops to leave, bring them home now! Listen to the Iraqis!" Benjamin repeated the statement several times before she was forcefully lifted from her seat, handcuffed, and escorted out by Capitol police. Benjamin was wearing a pink shirt with the statement "Troops Home Now" written on it.

Benjamin, 54, of San Francisco, CA, is currently on her 23rd day of a long-term fast for peace called the Troops Home FAST (www.troopshomefast.org). She is charged with disrupting Congress. Whether Benjamin will receive a simple citation or will be booked at jail is still being determined by Capitol police. If she is not booked, Medea Benjamin will be available for comment and interviews. If you would like to speak with her, please call her cell phone 415 235 6517.

This disruption follows two days of requests for a meeting with Prime Minister al-Maliki. Since al-Maliki's arrival in Washington DC, women and men who are fasting for peace as part of CODEPINK's Troops Home FAST have been trying to arrange a meeting with the prime minister and the Iraqi Embassy. Fasters have been waiting for a response to a letter requesting a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss an Iraqi reconciliation plan that includes a timetable for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Iraq. Benjamin stood outside the Iraqi embassy for the past two days waiting for a response to this letter.

Yesterday evening, fasters were ordered by police to clear the sidewalk in front of the embassy in preparation for al-Maliki's arrival. Five fasters refused to leave, thus risking arrest. The Iraqi Ambassador spoke with Benjamin by cell phone and asked that she and the fasters move aside, in exchange for the possibility that she and peace mom Cindy Sheehan would get a personal audience with al-Maliki during the evening reception. Sheehan and Benjamin also agreed to break their fast if granted a meeting with the Prime Minister. He promised to call should any challenges arise and this not be possible. However, Benjamin was denied entry to the embassy that evening, and waited for an hour outside, where she watched the prime minister arrive and leave without acknowledgement of their agreement.

After witnessing Benjamin's disruption, Maxine Waters, member of Congress and chair of the Out of Iraq Caucus, stated, "We are going to witness more and more public outrage as the violence in Iraq escalates in this ongoing occupation."

Benjamin's public statement is in line with recent polls from Iraq saying that only 1% of Iraqis trust U.S. forces with their security. Despite these numbers, Prime Minister al-Maliki is in Washington to request additional U.S. troops in Baghdad. Also in opposition to public opinion in both Iraq and in the U.S., the Bush administration has rejected and gutted the peace plan proposed by the Iraqi government.

Iraqi blogger and analyst Raed Jarrar of Global Exchange and Foreign Policy in Focus, who is also participating in the Troops Home FAST, said, "Medea Benjamin is speaking on behalf of the overwhelming majority of the Iraqis and the Iraqi Parliament who want the troops out of Iraq." A recent World Public Poll shows that 87% of Iraqis want a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Medea Benjamin and Cindy Sheehan stalking outside of Maliki's residence on day 22 of their withering "fast."

Why the media refuses to admit that the anti-war leftwing protesters are the same handful of people, is beyond me.

It's almost as if they want to create the impression that there are more of them than there actually are.

But why would they want to do that?

(Thanks to the Age of Hooper for the Cindy photo.)

[tobyhill]

Congressman Major Owens.

[SAJ]

Certainly. If my wife has a child, my sisters will be nuance.

[NEMDF]

I left her a little message on her cell phone voicemail. She will probably want to hear from many FReepers....

[msnimje]

Thanks, I am off to send his office a nasty gram about lack of respect for Congress.

[msnimje]

She no likey men.

[Doctor Raoul]

Nah, that was Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, one of Charlie Manson's followers.

Look closer, she's wearing a button that says, "What Would Charlie Do?"

[Doctor Raoul]

Major Owens.

[Mr.Pinette]

"She no likey men."

That's hot.

[Darlin']

"Congressman Major Owens. I called his office and they confirmed it claiming they had no idea she would protest though."

Of course, he knew, its what Code Pink does.

As George W. Bush gave his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday night, Jodie Evans of CODEPINK: Women for Peace revealed a pink slip underneath her dress which read, “Fire Bush! Women Say Bring the Troops Home Now!” She was dragged out of the RNC..... snip..... This is the third night in a row that CODEPINK activists have brought anti-war messages inside the RNC during prime-time speeches

LINK

[ShandaLear]

I said told her she looked a little chubby around the waist and maybe her fast wasn't working like she thought it was. I figured that would upset her more than anything else I could say. LOL!

[Sam Hill]

"Guest of Congressman Major Owens. I called his office and they confirmed it."

Thanks for the info.

Sheesh, what a clown that guy is.

[Darlin']

FOFLOL. Looks as though Cindy Sheehan has put on a dozen or more pounds on her "fast".

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Haha!

[msnimje]

That's hot

Why, are you a little lacking in the man department and not wanting any competition?

[tobyhill]

I called his office and they confirmed it. I also called Medea and left a message to see if she will put out a press release confirming her invitation by Owens since she likes attention so much.

[jazusamo]

That's what I relayed to them.

That's what I relayed to them as well.

[NEMDF]

"I said told her she looked a little chubby around the waist and maybe her fast wasn't working like she thought it was. I figured that would upset her more than anything else I could say. LOL!"

I wish I had thought of that. I just made some comments about how despiable of her to disrupt Congress and make a scene with head of Iraq here and, by the way, she doesn't speak for me and I don't think they speak for Casey...

[tobyhill]

He's the "Rappin Congressman". Not kidding.

[Sam Hill]

Yeah, Medea was the first of the three to pull that stunt during the GOP Convention:

Democracy Now! | Medea Benjamin Dragged off RNC Floor for Unfurling "Pro-Life: Stop the Killing of Iraq" Banner
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/09/01/1424252

But she's so eager to be manhandled by the cops, she did the same thing at the Democrat Convention, too:

Democracy Now! | Medea Benjamin Dragged Off DNC Floor in Handcuffs For Unfurling "End the Occupation of Iraq" Banner
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/07/28/1327236

She just likes the attention. And of course, she hates this country with an insane passion.

[msnimje]

http://voteowens.com/

Major R. Owens Son is running for his father's seat.

Isn't that special????