WASHINGTON, D.C.-- With whistles, banners, and megaphones, in kayaks and canoes, CODEPINK Women for Peace activists formed a symbolic peace blockade around Rep. Gary's Ackerman's houseboat at 7 a.m. today inside the Capital Yacht Club marina. They demanded an end to Ackerman's recently introduced resolution that would create more sanctions on the Iranian people and a potential blockade of Iranian ports.
Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I), who was sleeping inside the boat, emerged around 8 a.m. to the dock. With a glance down at the activists in their boats on the water, called the action "the most creative protest I've ever seen" and engaged the group in a lively discussion for 30 minutes.
Ackerman promised he would do whatever he could to prevent war with Iran and advocated direct talks Iranian officials, without preconditions.
"Let the talks begin," Ackerman said, on his way to a 10 a.m. Congressional hearing on Iran. He refused, however, to withdraw his H.Con. Resolution 362.
The unusual, vibrant action seemed particularly crucial this morning, when the Iranian government announced it had tested several missiles.
"Iran's missile tests give all the more reason to start direct talks right away," said Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK co-founder. "We are now on a dangerous path towards war. We must stop the next war now."
The activists called on Congressman Ackerman to drop his resolution, which calls for stricter sanctions and aggressive inspections of all ships. They worry the sanctions, as in the case of Iraq, will harm civilians rather than officials.
They also worry the resolution, in blocking the travel of Iranian officials, will cut off much-needed dialogue.
Code Pink called on Cong. Ackerman to commit to diplomacy. Americans agree: a May 19 Gallup Poll found 6 in 10 Americans (59%) consider it "a good idea" for the United States president to meet with the president of Iran for peace talks.
"Our peace blockade showed the Congressman how it feels to be blockaded in your own home," said Gael Murphy of Code Pink. "When we shouted 'talks, not sanctions or war' from our boats, he was definitely given a wake-up call."
The action received nearly 5 minutes of coverage on Fox News yesterday evening. It was one of their top videos online today. You can see the footage here.
While the spot on Fox provided great publicity for CODEPINK, it was very misleading about the issue itself. As usual, sanctions were framed as an alternative to war, rather than as another step down the path toward war. Asserting control over another country's borders is an aggressive move that will only increase tension in a region that is already very hostile to the United States.
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