Antiwar, Peace Messages Censored at Democratic National Convention; CodePink's Medea Benjamin Ejected for Banner

Interview with Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Global Exchange and Code Pink Women for Peace, conducted by Scott Harris

The Democrats who gathered in Boston for their presidential convention were subjected to one of the most highly-scripted and controlled events in the recent history of U.S. politics. Every speech given and every sign held by delegates was subject to approval by candidate John Kerry's staff. Outside the FleetCenter convention site, Boston police attempted to corral protesters into a cage-like area compared by many to an internment camp.

But despite all their efforts to control the image of the Democratic party, as seen by Americans in very limited broadcast television coverage, presidential candidate John Kerry received little or no post-convention bounce in his public standing, according to some early opinion polls. And while many of the thousands of Democratic delegates went home from Boston energized and optimistic about the chances for victory in November, others have lingering doubts about John Kerry's vague strategy for ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

Medea Benjamin, the co-founding director of Global Exchange and an activist with the group Code Pink Women For Peace, was in Boston for the Democratic convention. As Teresa Heinz Kerry spoke at the podium in support of women's rights and free speech on the second night of the convention, Benjamin -- who ran as the Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate from California in 2000, unfurled a banner which read, "End the Occupation of Iraq." Immediately, she was set upon by security guards and forcibly removed from the convention center. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Medea Benjamin her experience in Boston and her views about strategic voting in the upcoming presidential election.

Contact Global Exchange by calling 1-800 497-1994 or visit their website at www.globalexchange.org. Visit Code Pink's website at www.codepinkalert.org

Related links:


" Medea Benjamin Dragged Off DNC Floor in Handcuffs For Unfurling "End the Occupation of Iraq" Banner," by Democracy Now!, July 28, 2004

" An Open Letter to Progressives: Vote Kerry and Cobb," by Medea Benjamin/Peter Coyote/John Eder/Daniel Ellsberg et al, J CommonDreams.org, July 23, 2004

"Why No Bounce?" by Matthew Rothschild, by The Progressive, Aug. 3, 2004

"At a Big Party, Missing the Big Picture," by Antonia Zerbisias, the Toronto Star, Aug. 3, 2004

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