Protesters interrupt Pelosi speech

MichaelMoore.com : Protesters interrupt Pelosi speech

August 25th, 2008 9:13 pm
Protesters interrupt Pelosi speech

By Colleen O Connor / Denver Post

A major CodePINK for Peace action disrupted the Unconventional Women symposium Monday morning, delaying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's talk with former U.S. Ambassador Swanee Hunt at the Buell Theater.

When Pelosi sat down on stage, CodePINK protestors who had infiltrated the sold-out auditorium unfurled anti-war banners reading "IMPEACH!" and "STOP THE WAR" and shouted at Pelosi.

"Nancy, you lied to my face," one yelled. "Do your job!" said another.

Some peace activists say Pelosi, one of the most powerful women in American politics, sold out on the issue of the war in Iraq.

Many of the women, most wearing the trademark hot-pink hats of the peace group, were escorted from the auditorium.

Those left in the audience continued their verbal assault. Toby Blome, who traveled from San Francisco for convention protests, screamed "stop the torture," as security escorted her from the theater, her arm bent behind her back.

The initiative lasted about 5 minutes and may have backfired. Many women in the audience "shushed" the protestors; a group of Girl Scouts in the front row looked to be on the verge of tears.

But the outburst did allow Pelosi to divert from the scheduled discussion about health care and how women might balance their family, political and professional ambitions.

After one women shouted "Stop our sons from dying," Pelosi responded: "If you want to stop the war, elect Barack Obama."