By Leslie Harris
It was pretty impromptu. We held an event at the local library in Bush's neighborhood: "Truth & Accountability Teach-In: Q & A With Ray McGovern." As we were leaving in the morning, Ray suggested we throw the orange jumpsuits, etc., in the car, "just in case." Ray spoke inspirationally and then challenged everyone to take the message of accountability to the belly of the beast. We only had about 10 takers, but a couple of people who had never carried a sign, let alone risked arrest, grabbed a sign or banner and went with us. We walked quietly and peacefully down W's street. No "birds" or jeers, but several neighbors came out of their homes and took pictures of us. We stopped right in front of Dubya's house. The Secret Service came out and cordially said that they'd called the police. We demonstrated silently with our signs and "prisoners" and Ray read emotionally from the Constitution. It was a dramatic moment!
It was over 100 degrees, I think, and no shade. So we started our slow progression out of the cul-de-sac.
The police arrived just as we were leaving the cul-de-sac and started quizzing us. They asked, as usual, what group we were with, and we said we were "Concerned Citizens of America." Which we are. They "escorted" us back to our cars, which were parked right by a freeway overpass. Since we were already armed with some bold-lettered banners, we couldn't pass up the chance to do a little freeway blogging. We got more honks than birds! Ray was still raring to go, so we went to the nearest busy "shopping mecca" intersection (same place we demonstrated with Cindy Sheehan last month). We got one guy yelling, "Don't you idiots remember 9/11?!" and a couple of birds...but many more honks & peace signs. And this is in Dubya's own neighborhood!
Some of us feel a responsibility for keeping the "accountability torch" burning since we're here in Dallas, and we've got a little "series" of accountability actions going, centered around our truth-to-power-speaking friends who come to Dallas for book-signings and speaking engagements. Guess who's coming in September? Hint: His book is called, "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union."
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/44444