CODEPINK

Pelosi, Know CODEPINK's Power August 11, 2008 CODEPINK LA Los Angeles, CA

	Pelosi is on a tour for her book "Know Your Power". At the American Jewish University we had over 40 people outside with giant "Impeach" banners. The road to parking was lined with people and messages. Twelve of us had tickets to get in. We met at 6:30 PM to discuss the order we would stand up with our messages at the booksigning. Some were chosen to wait for their time at the book signing after Pelosi's talk to get their questions answered. Our cameras were taken away in the search before entering. As they were looking in my bag, they got distracted by someone else and I was waved by with, "You look harmless." Eight of us sat on the second row in the middle, including Tighe, Sara Nichols, Marcy Winograd, Linda Milazzo and others. We wrote messages with our sharpie, such as: "Use your Power, Torture?" "You Knew?" "Uphold the Constitution" etc. on the back inside covers of the books. After Pelosi had started talking, we raised the books showing the messages. It was a row of dissent! Pelosi was flustered, couldn't remember the questions asked and stammered. Then a security guard disrupted us and tried to get us to leave, gesturing and frowning; we didn't look at him or move but stayed seated for 20 minutes. Then Pelosi started to talk about how good all the members of Congress are and Peter Thottam lost it and stood up screaming at her. He resisted those who were trying to drag him out. As he was being dragged out we were supporting his message and yelling out our own. Then it quieted and Pelosi talked about how she was upholding the constitution and I leapt up and said, "No you aren't!" and offered her Kucinich's 35 articles of impeachment, Bugliosi's book and Susskind's book about how Bush has broken the law. I cited her comment on the TV program "The View" [about asking for reasons for impeachment] and told her I was delivering what she asked for. Security tried to shut me up but Pelosi said she, Pelosi "came from the streets" and I had a right to speak, until finally, she started yelling at me that she WAS upholding the constitution and that impeachment would fail. By then security had made it to the middle of the row and dragged me out. The police escorted me to where Peter was in handcuffs and I told them I did not resist and she had told me to speak. Security told the police that was true so I was escorted to my car and told if I was found on that property that night I would be arrested. As I left there were still 20 activists outside with the Impeachment banners, they had just ordered pizza and were staying until she drove past with her 2 daughters. After I left, in "popcorn" progression everyone else got up with their question and message, the host finally said it is over because these people have been too disruptive, and the pinkers went to get books signed. The event organizers cut off the signing before our team got to the table.