Several days ago, June 23, 2015, I spoke at a White House rally sponsored by our friends at Concerned Women for America (CWA) to protest the #BadIranDeal and call attention to the four Americans imprisoned in Iran. CWA President, Penny Nance, had an impressive, knowledgeable line-up, including U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Sarah Stern of Endowment for Middle East Truth, Tiffany Barrans of the American Center for Law and Justice, David Parsons of the International Christian Embassy – Jerusalem, Gary Bauer of Christians United for Israel-Action Fund, Jenny Beth Martin of Tea Party Patriots, and Deydra Cavazos of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
Another speaker was Senator — and Presidential hopeful — Ted Cruz. Cruz drew a large crowd. And infiltrating that crowd were the desperately-seeking-media troops of the anti-American leftists known as Code Pink. You may remember that one of their harpies once assaulted then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a Senate hearing.
Code Pink’s aging hippies and deluded youths attempted to harass and obstruct at every turn, co-opting CWA’s #BadIranDeal rally for their own purposes instead of doing the decent thing and acquiring their own permit for a demonstration. They held their “Peace with Iran” signs high above the rally signs depicting the four Americans left behind Iran by the deal. In self-righteous, sepulchral tones they began to warble “Peace, Salaam, Shalom” until the indignant crowd drowned them out with “America the Beautiful.” Finally, they turned Senator Cruz’ speech into a debate, which he tolerated with far more grace than would I if in his shoes.
This was not the first time I had been at the White House with Senator Cruz. In June 2014 Senator Cruz spoke at the IRD-organized White House rally for Sudanese Christian Meriam Ibrahim. Ibrahim was imprisoned with her toddler son and just-born daughter, under a possible death sentence for apostasy in Sudan and we were delighted when both Senator Cruz and U.S. Representative Trent Franks (R-AZ) offered to join us to confront the White House’s lack of effort to help Meriam, the wife of a South-Sudanese born American citizen, Daniel Wani.
At the rally for Meriam there was no Code Pink in sight, but the policewoman from the U.S. Park Police hovered close and warned participants that “they had no permit for that area” whenever anyone took a step in the wrong direction. She prodded us to “keep moving” when we were on the White House sidewalk, saying that our permit did not allow us to stand in one place there. We have had similar encounters with the Park Police every time we have had a demonstration at the White House to protest the genocide in Sudan as well, even though we have always had the proper permit.
At the #BadIranDeal rally, the Park Police did nothing to stop the Code Pinkists from crowding closer and closer to the speakers and crowd. When challenged by CWA , Code Pink’s foundress, Susie “Medea” Benjamin declared that it was their “Constitutional right to freedom of speech.” Coming from those that are attempting to deconstruct the Constitution, that seemed particularly amusing. But pondering what reception from the Code Pink-accommodating Park Service we would have had — if we appeared permitless — at any demonstration we held was not so amusing.
Comment by MarcoPolo on July 28, 2015 at 8:15 am
Quite interesting how one could possibly think that the CODEPINK members were thought to be “Anti-American”…(?) REALLY?
As a male participant myself of CODEPINK, and being married to a CODEPINK regional coordinator, I find it amusing that the author considers the rightful expression of a staunch Pro-Peace group to be threatening. Hmm?!
If one didn’t already know that CODEPINK’s name evolved from the color coded threat scale Bush used after the 9-11 attacks (ie: Code-Red, etc..), one might think they were just another voice in the wilderness. But in fact, they were almost the ONLY voice of protest heard during the long period of assault upon the sovereign country of Iraq. And now, apparently one group thinks that voice of dissent is unwarranted. Amazing!
Expect resistance! How our great Country allowed Bush & Cheney to create such a mess, both in the Middle-East AND in our Economic system without ANY resistance is beyond comprehension. And then to allow another Oligarch like Ted Cruz to perpetuate such dire policies is unforgivable.
Comment by Alumna on July 29, 2015 at 11:50 pm
I am totally confused. I thought CodePink was about the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. Obama has “put an end” to those. So is CodePink now just looking for causes? Have the branched out to other causes than the now ended wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Seriously, other than just trying to find new reasons to protest, I don’t understand what they stand for.
I am not being facetious – I really am perplexed by this “protest group.”
Comment by MarcoPolo on July 30, 2015 at 5:29 pm
You are correct. CODEPINK was launched initially in 2003 to protest the illegal invasion of Iraq, as well as the military occupation of other foreign countries.
Their purpose has more than enough to deal with, if only to keep our Leaders from making further military blunders. They’re equally invested in raising awareness about other significant socio-political issues. Hence, their presence during such under-represented events that occur without contesting opinions.
Granted, their presence is colorful and often boisterous, but their hearts and minds are in the right place!
Comment by Norman Lane on July 28, 2015 at 11:01 am
So glad that groups like CWA exist. These are women of character. The striden feminists who dominate on most college campuses do not (thankfully) represent all women in America.
Comment by Earl H. Foote on July 28, 2015 at 1:11 pm
Good for you, Faith, and good for Sen. Cruz. Shame on Code Pink.