Holy Ground: Forced to Vacate Her DC Spot, Longtime Protester Vows to Fight

The Capitol's most loyal tenant is being evicted. Rita Settembre Warren, who has been setting up shop on the Capitol's East Front steps for 23 years - longer than any other demonstrator - is being forced to move this month. But she's not going without a fight.

In January, the Capitol Police informed Warren that she would not be allowed to reapply for her demonstration permit, which was issued through the special events unit, due to construction of the Capitol Visitor Center.

"Ms. Warren has been given several other Capitol Hill locations where she can go, including the lower West Lawn terrace and the Upper Senate Park," Capitol Police spokesman Lt. Dan Nichols said, citing the CVC construction and security precautions as reasons she will not be permitted to remain in her current location.

But Warren has no intention of retreating, and she scoffs at the idea of being relegated to a park. The Capitol Police also denied her access to the West Front steps, which were closed after Sept. 11 for security reasons.

"The Capitol belongs to the whole world," Warren said. "We all have the right to climb these beautiful steps every day for the rest of our lives if we choose to."

The self-proclaimed "lobbyist of God" is on permanent display from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. five days a week from May through Labor Day - rain or shine.

She lays claim to her spot by filing dozens of applications for seven-day permits at a time. But once the Architect of the Capitol erects a fence around the steps in order to prepare for construction - expected late this month - the permit won't be granted and she will have to move.

Clinging to her First Amendment rights, the 74-year-old Italian immigrant is lobbying the approximately 200 Members who have cast votes against funding for the CVC at one time or another, including Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.). If that fails, Warren is ready to sue, citing an infraction against her constitutional rights. She vows to take her case all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Warren said seven of the nine justices, including fellow Italian-American Antonin Scalia, have stopped by to greet her on the East Front steps. She also said seven have autographed photos for her grandson, who practices law in London.

Claiming that "Congress will be sorry" if it forces her off her beloved steps, Warren claims that Members might have reason to worry, considering the success of her past legal endeavors. Warren has continually fought to protect her First Amendment rights, and the courts have sided with her each time.

In 1995 Fairfax County banned religious displays on county property by nonresidents, forcing Warren, who did not live in the county, to take her nativity scene elsewhere. Warren filed a lawsuit against the county, which she won in a federal court four years later. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 1999 that the county's restriction was unconstitutional. Since then, Warren has annually displayed both her Christmas and Easter pageant's on the lawn of the Fairfax County government building.

She also has persuaded legislators such as Virginia state Sen. Warren Berry (R) to side with her. Berry introduced the mandatory "minute of silence" state legislation for religious prayer, which became state law in January 2000.

Warren has also fought Hollywood. A prominent film company asked the activist to cancel her Easter pageant one year so that a Goldie Hawn movie could be filmed on the East Front steps. Warren refused, and her demonstration permit allowed her to stay put.

Warren came to America in 1947 from her hometown of Naples, Italy, as a war bride. She first arrived in Boston, where she remained for 30 years while raising three children. After divorcing her husband, Warren worked at Sylvania Electronics for 10 years, making as little as 75 cents an hour.

She found her current vocation after she contracted a nearly fatal gall bladder infection, and, she claims, was cured by Jesus. Since then she has dedicated her life to promoting her faith.

"I am not a religious fanatic," Warren said. "I live by my faith. And Iexercise the Constitution, too."

In her fight for the Capitol steps, Warren has enlisted the support of her friends in Italy. Just last month, Warren said she learned that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlosconi was behind her work.

"I have no intention of losing this battle," Warren said as she sat by the Jesus mannequin on the East Front. "There is a principle behind these steps - they represent our freedom of speech."

I wonder how many of our DC Freepers have run into this woman...

Ashland, Missouri

She is full of crap. Her 1st amendment rights are not being infringed. She still retains her full 1st amendment rights. The 1st amendment guarantees her right to speech, but does not grant her the right to exercise it in any location she chooses. By her logic, she has a right to protest within the Oval Office, or on the floor of the House.

It isnt so lady.

If that fails, Warren is ready to sue, citing an infraction against her constitutional rights. She vows to take her case all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.

You go, girl. Vowing to take your case "all the way to the Supreme Court" is as American as apple pie.

Let her take it to the Supreme Court of the Universe if she wants. She is gonna lose.

She will probably lose, yes, unless she can establish that the government's actions are all a subtrefuge to deny her her rights. That she has the guts to fight the powers-that-be to protect what she thinks her rights ought to be is what I like about her.

She will probably lose, yes, unless she can establish that the government's actions are all a subtrefuge to deny her her rights.

Well, it is clear to everyone that they are building the CVC for the sole purpose of removing her from the area. Don't even need a tin foil hat for that one.

She found her current vocation after she contracted a nearly fatal gall bladder infection, and, she claims, was cured by Jesus.

I missed this part the first time. I wouldnt call 'protesting' a "vocation."

But then again, if you are a paid protestor, like the lefts Rent-A-Mobs, then protesting is indeed a vocation. But I get the impression she is not a member of the rent-a-mob.

"The Capitol belongs to the whole world," Warren said.

Uh, no, just to the American people.

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