The Hill: Code Pink Rice Protester Could Face 10 Years; Surprised At Lack Of Security

[Hissyspit]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/jailed-rice-protester-surprised-by-dearth-of-security-at-hearing-2007-10-31.html

Jailed Rice protester surprised by dearth of security at hearing
By Karissa Marcum
October 31, 2007

An Iraq war protester who got within inches of Condoleezza Rice at a hearing last week said she was shocked that tighter security did not prevent her from coming so close to the secretary of state.

If there had been more security at the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, protester Desiree Anita Ali-Fairooz said, she probably wouldn’t have approached Rice. “I anticipated that she would have been surrounded by SS (Secret Service) or by private security,” she said.

- snip -

Ali-Fairooz, a member of Code Pink who has been arrested four times in the last seven months, was charged with disorderly conduct, defacing of government property and assault on a federal officer. She was one of five protesters arrested at the Oct. 24 hearing.

Ali-Fairooz, 51, said she didn’t go to the hearing with the intention of getting so close to the secretary of state. She planned to hold up a picture of Rice and soak her hands in fake blood, but when she saw an opening she decided to take it.

Ali-Fairooz said she spent 30 hours in jail following her arrest. Her court date is set for Dec. 5; she could face up to 10 years in prison. She also faces a “stay away” order that bars her from entering the Capitol grounds.

Despite the incident, Foreign Affairs Committee leadership from both sides of the aisle aren’t calling for tighter security. “Code Pink and other groups have come to our hearings for a long time and if once in a while someone crosses the line then that’s viewed as an isolated incident,” said Lynne Weil, a spokeswoman for Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), the committee’s chairman. Weil said the incident should not lead to tightened security.

- snip -

Ali-Fairooz said no one had anything to fear from her, and that security should not be increased in hearings because she never intended to harm Rice. “I didn’t do anything; it just looks scary. Even though I dislike Condoleezza Rice, I didn’t intend to hurt her. I don’t even like to kill roaches. I’m a grandmother,” she said.

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[billyoc]

1. A good lawyer could get her 1 year.

She never actually touched rice-a-phony.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. The assault charge is for resisting arrest

[billyoc]

12. Oh, that's great news! I wonder why they said she might get 10 years.

I thought she was being charged with assaulting Rice.

[cboy4]

2. Well she's already spent 30 more hours behind bars

than disgraced Scooter Libby did for being convicted of one count of obstruction of justice; two counts of perjury; and one count of making false statements to federal investigators.

Seems fair to me. :eyes:

[DCKit]

3. Great, now *Co has given us a new definition of assault too.

Will it never end?

[flordehinojos]

4. may she get a judge who truuuuuuuuly loves america.

may his soul be afire with the spark of a revolutionary capable of saying anita ali-fairooz stood up for democracy and a true america where freedom of speech is valued, and expressed opposition to the bush regime is a civil right granted to fairooz by the American constitution; may he also say that as a citizen making use of her rights, she ought to be lauded, not punished. and may he make it a case that those who want to speak against the bush regime are welcome in these americas.

[jimshoes]

5. And the redress of grievances

and freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble goes right out the window.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. All that went out the window the day these war criminals took office

[Deja Q]

24. Now that I've seen the clip, I couldn't call it a peaceful assembly and still sleep at night.

It started Condi and I'm amazed she remained composure.

It shocked me when I finally saw the clip.

Okay, maybe Condi is guilty of something. Maybe not. I'll be honest: I don't have proof or even conjecture that suggests she's guilty of anything from conniving a war to getting jiggy with the President.

Regardless of Condi's actions (real, purported, or otherwise), there was no call whatsoeverfor such an incident to have been considered allowable. Maybe that goofy lady was there just for benign shock jock(ette) tactics or maybe she was intent on doing more. In the time frame presented, not many would take the time to ask her.

And it doesn't matter if it was Condi or Michael Moore.

What that lady did could be rightfully perceived as assault and certainly didn't give even a hint of a peaceful assembly. When somebody runs up to you, out of nowhere, really fast, with dripping red hands, are you going to say "Peace, sister. What's on your mind? Let's sit down over tea and crumpets." No, you're going to go into "fight or flight" mode. Simple human nature, the sort even I of all people can understand.

I'm sorry to be in the minority around here, but it's lunacy to defend her actions as being peaceful. They weren't. It's as simple as that.

And I'll repeat -- what if it was Michael Moore (or some other big name, controversial, Democratic figure) being threatened as a form of protest, just like how Condi was? It would not be tolerated. So why is anybody tolerating the nut with the red paint?

What am I not understanding?

[Breeze54]

6. Only Ten Years??

:sarcasm: I can only hope then that *CO will get LIFE!!! :grr:

Maybe she should get the for such a "high" crime? :evilfrown:

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. When they arrested her they told her to put her hands on the wall

and they were covered in red paint. So they charged her with defacing government property. Nice, eh?

[Breeze54]

11. I read that...

Doesn't CODEPINK have a legal defense fund set up or a lawyer on call?

I haven't looked at their website to find out yet.

. .

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Yes and they take donations too

:)

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

20. Recommended. nt

[Deja Q]

25. I agree, that 'defacing government property' will not fly.

She hadn't (to my knowledge) touched anything else with her red painted hands -- but then was told to put her hands on the wall. That is not the same thing as wilfull defacing and that particular charge just doesn't hold water, nor should she be charged with it if that is the sole reason why.

[deacon]

10. Lot more than Libby gets. .. n/t

[babylonsister]

13. The wrong person is being charged. This should be all about Condi. nt

[bdamomma]

14. there are a number to be arrested and they are sitting in the WH

not this woman who had the guts to confront condisleaza, and say the truth to her face. shameful, what they are doing to citizens of the US.

[Radman8]

15. 10 years ?!

10 years for protesting? That'll sure as hell throw ice water on protest, but that's what this facist regime wants to do.

[Lars39]

16. Welcome to DU,Radman8.

:toast:

[EFerrari]

17. BushCo is making a mistake. They think they're sending a signal

but instead they're creating limitless opportunities for the "war criminal" accusation to be repeated in the press and on the net. They'll regret this.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

18. Incredible!!! Non-violent political dissidents threatened with 10 years in prison.

I can't believe it's reached this point!
:wow:

[mike_c]

21. ten years in prison for criticizing a gov't official....

WTF is wrong with people in this country? This is utterly insane. Ali-Fairooz covered her hands with fake blood and showed them to Rice, and that justifies PRISON?

[earth mom]

22. Meanwhile...the REAL WAR CRIMINALS in Washington DC go free.

:puke:

[superkia]

23. Ah, I cant wait until the day that Blackwater roames the streets...

providing us with security and a better way of life. :sarcasm: I hope I have already passed before our country goes to complete shit, I don't want to see anymore than I am seeing now.