Powerful White House Action on September 26, 2005
“It was so moving hanging the names of the U.S. and Iraqi dead on the White House fence. Placing what an illegal and immoral war has wrought on the wrought iron posts felt so appropriate. I shall always remember and treasure that day. I always marvel at how the moments of resistance send through me such a profound sense of being alive, of being at one with the universe, and of being part of something so much larger than myself — something that stretches back so far through so many generations and that I am a link that will help carry it to the generations to come.”
- Sally Milbury-Steen, participant in 9.26 nonviolent action at the White House
It is very difficult to sum up as amazing an experience and action as the nonviolent civil resistance action at the White House last Monday, but Sally’s comments come close, and echo the resoundingly positive comments that have come form activists across the country who participated - the 374 who were arrested during the action, and the hundreds more who gave strong support.
The procession of close to 500 that started that morning at the Foundry United Methodist Church wound it’s way, with a significant police escort, to the Ellipse just south of the White House, then split in two as we encircled the White House on our way to Lafayette Park - where we were greeted by another 500 or so who were waiting there for us. After some inspirational words from members of the Clergy and Laity Concerned About Iraq and Military Families Speak Out, a delegation proceeded to the White House gate to request a meeting, only to be rebuffed and then move to the White House sidewalk to begin their protest. They were joined by hundreds more who, under the eyes of the U.S. Park Police and White House security, draped on or placed against the White House fence a colorful and dolorous display of mementos, pictures of loved one’s lost and placards
bearing the names of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians killed in this damnable, immoral war, then sang songs of resistance. The crowd of hundreds of supporters cheered their support, and the swarm of press cameras and reporters was nothing less than intense.
The Park Police eventually gave their warnings, and started the long process of arresting and taking away the 374 who refused to move in their witness against this war, many taking nonviolent direct action for the first time. Among the luminaries arrested were Dr. Cornel West, theologian and nonviolent author Walter Wink, former senior U.S. diplomat Ann Wright, and of course Cindy Sheehan - although we hasten to add that everyone who risks arrest in nonviolent resistance to injustice is a luminary.
The processing of those arrested took a long, long time – the final person being arrested was released from jail sometime after 5:30 am – but after some initial confusion the affinity groups gathered that night organized a great shuttle system, and every single person made it safely to where they had to go that night. There were also numerous reports of acts of kindness and support by the U.S. Park Police during this process, and it’s hard to ignore the fact that those charged with arresting us were, in many if not most cases, strongly supportive of our action. Perhaps the revolution is closer than we think.
There was widespread press coverage of the event, from all of the local network news stations to webcasters and independent bloggers to newspapers around the country and the world. It is particularly encouraging to note that the event was mentioned not only in the White House press conference that day (take that, Scott McClellan!), but also by a delegation of Turkish women who were confronting White House emissary Karen Hughes about the war during a meeting in their country. One can never know how far the impact of one’s actions may ripple.
It’s impossible to thank everyone involved, but we would be remiss if we did not specifically mention Rev. Osagyefo Sekou and the Clergy and Laity Concerned, Military Families Speak Out and the Gold Star Mothers for Peace, our crack team of nonviolence trainers organized by Nadine Bloch and Michael Beer of the DC Training Collective, the legal support of Mark Goldstone and the DC Legal Collective, the tried and true hands of the Iraq Pledge of Resistance and National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, the folks who were the primary organizers of the event, and United for Peace and Justice, which invited us to create this event as the culmination of the weekend mobilization in Washington. And thanks also to our brothers and sisters who performed a great nonviolent action at the Pentagon that same morning (41 arrests!), and for all those who engaged in autonomous acts of nonviolent resistance throughout the weekend. For those who we have forgotten to mention on paper, know that you are enshrined in our hearts!
Since the action we have heard from participants both excited to have been part of this action and wanting to know what’s next. Among the comments we have seen, these two tell the tale that we must maintain the momentum of nonviolent resistance:
Keep up the good work that you’re doing. I am a former member of the US Army and I am ashamed of our military and the United States as a whole for what is going on in Iraq and elsewhere. As you say, it is not about anything but a few rich men (including our draft-dodging President) profiteering in the name of fighting terrorism and tyranny.
The entire weekend was an incredible experience! My niece from Boulder, Colorado and I were there for the protest at the White House on Monday. We were in the support group behind the police barricade. We chanted with, hugged and cried with many others who are grieving the loss of our country to a president and his cronies who value nothing except their own interests. What do we do now? I hope that there is an organized plan to continue to build momentum with this cause. Please make sure you inform us all, “What’s next?”
What’s next is building a broad-based, nationwide nonviolent resistance movement to end this war and create a vigilant people who can prevent such tragedies in the future. We will be working on that, but as with this action it will take all of you working on it, too, building the resistance movement locally. We are looking forward to that work together, and will be in touch with you all soon about next steps.
Yours in peace and resistance,
Gordon Clark, Coordinator
Iraq Pledge of Resistance
Steve Cleghorn
>Military Families Speak Out
