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SF CODEPINK Meets Nancy Pelosi: Ceasefire Now!
“The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality.” James Baldwin
Last Friday, October 20, local activist-artist David
Solnit organized an
amazing community street mural painting in
support of GAZA
in front of the SF Federal Building. It was a powerful
image left for all to see. As we were leaving the
area, I observed the above James Baldwin quote chalked
onto the sidewalk. I couldn't stop thinking of that
quote over the next 24 hours, and how deeply it applied
to the current humanitarian crisis and horrendous war
crimes committed by Israel on the Palestinian people in
GAZA. How could our top U.S. officials continue to
support these atrocities? We, as US citizens, have a
responsibility to hold our leaders accountable.
In the dark of the early morning on Sunday, a letter to
Congresswoman Pelosi was composed (attached), a banner
and other visuals were packed into the car and my
husband Fred Bialy and I headed to Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s
SF home. From experience we knew that Pelosi is often
home on weekends. When we arrived, 2 large black SUV’s
with dark windows were parked in front. BINGO! She’s
home! Across the street a SF police officer sat in his
parked car.
Fred and I vigiled for about 3 hours in the
intermittent drizzling rain, with banner, flowered
peace sign, pink peace flag, and copies of the letter
to Pelosi. Over time two more black SUVs and two more
SF police cars eventually arrived as well. Many of the
drivers in civilian cars that passed our banner flashed
peace signs and waves, and several pedestrians accepted
copies of the letter, as did one DC Capitol police
officer. Valuable conversations were had with Capitol
and SF police and pedestrians.
Graciously CODEPINK friend Susan Witka arrived to
replace my husband in the late morning. Within a
couple of hours "suspicious movement” of the SUVs and
the DC police occurred. Suddenly a black SUV backed
into the driveway. Susan stood on one side of the
vehicle and I on the other, hoping to express our
grievances to Pelosi. She has refused to hold town hall
meetings or have talks with the peace community for
over 16 years!
Minutes later the garage door opened. Pelosi rushed to
Susan's side of the vehicle. As she hurriedly and
annoyingly entered the vehicle with her suitcases (on
her way back to DC presumedly), Susan said to her: “I’m
a constituent and most U.S. Jews want a ceasefire now.
Thousands of children are dying, we need a ceasefire
now.” Pelosi could only offer this snarled reply,
“What about the hostages?” She showed no interest to
talk further.
By that time I joined Susan, able to see Pelosi through
the dark glassed window. I politely and urgently asked
the Congresswoman to please accept our letter. We were
ignored and Pelosi’s vehicle drove off. Susan and I
both agreed afterwards that the continued bombing of
GAZA puts both civilians and Israeli hostages in grave
danger, and that if Pelosi really was concerned about
the hostages she should take the time to ask family
members of the hostages what they want. Before leaving
we chalked this last message at the entrance path to
her home (see photo):
PELOSI, DROPPING BOMBS PUTS HOSTAGES AND
CIVILIANS IN DANGER. CEASEFIRE NOW.
During the morning we had noted that a new giant blue
SF heart sculpture had been installed on Pelosi's front
porch. (see photo) Hmmm, if only President Biden,
Nancy Pelosi and the vast majority of our US congress
could open up their own hearts and recognize that all
the children of the globe are our children, then indeed
we would have a more peaceful country, and would stop
giving unwavering support to Israel’s state sponsored
terror.
ACTION to DO:
CALL PELOSI and let her staff know that the
bombing endangers:
-The people of GAZA who have been held hostage for years under
Israeli Apartheid,
-The Israeli hostages currently being held by Hamas,
AND,
-All of us because it increases the risk for an
expanded Middle East conflict, WWIII and the potential
for all out nuclear war.
Please ask Pelosi to find her morality:
CEASEFIRE NOW!
SF Office: (415) 556-4862
DC Office: (202) 225-4965
If you’re a constituent, you can
EMAIL
Huge thanks to all who have been out on the streets
these past 3 weeks. NEVER GIVE UP!
Important resources on GAZA conflict:
Israeli forces shot their own
civilians, kibbutz survivor says
(Thank you
Lisa Savage
for sharing this link)
Israel's long war on Gaza w/Norman Finkelstein | The Chris Hedges Report
(Excellent overview of recent history of
Israeli Apartheid on GAZA)
Israel did not respond to the attack for many hours. How is this possible? (Important interview with veteran who served in Israel Intelligence Forces)
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