Karl Rove slapped away a woman who tried to place him under citizen's arrest during an event in San Francisco, CA. The following is a press release from CODEPINK, who organized the bold act of civil obedience.
When Karl Rove took the stage at the Mortgage Bankers Association annual convention at the Moscone Center in San Francisco today, CODEPINK women in the audience staged a citizen's arrest of the former Bush Administration chief of staff, under California Code 837. This action follows on the heels of yesterday's appearance on stage of Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK, who disrupted the convention to ask for a moratorium on foreclosures.
Janine Boneparth, 58, of Ross, CA, walked on the stage with handcuffs and placed a cuff on Rove's wrist before he yanked it away, while stating, "I have to make a citizens arrest. You are under arrest for treason."
At the same moment, Nancy Mancias, 38, of San Francisco, CA, held a banner in front of the stage that read, "Rove (hearts) torture, treason and fraud!" "Ladies and gentlemen, Karl Rove is not fit to address you today," Mancias said. "Karl Rove was involved in lying to the American people about the Iraq war."
The moderator responded by asking Sen. Mitchell and Rove, with a chuckle, who will win the World Series. After Rove talked about who in Congress is responsible for the economic crisis and who people should believe, Rae Abileah, 25, of Half Moon Bay, stood up. "Karl Rove, how can we believe you when you lied to get us into the war in Iraq?" Abileah said. "You are under arrest for contempt of Congress." Abileah held up a banner that read: "ARREST ROVE/ Lying about War/ Outing C.I.A. Agent/ Contempt of Congress/ Supporting Torture." Three security men tackled her and clasped their hands over her face. She broke free and repeated, "Rove is under arrest for treason."
A few minutes later, when Rove was talking about the war, Keiko Schnelle, 21, of Albany, and Blaine Clarke, 28, of San Francisco, stood up with a banner that said "Rove = War Criminal." "Karl Rove is the one misleading the American people," Clarke shouted. "Karl Rove is a war criminal. Arrest Karl Rove!"
Security then pushed Clarke to the ground and dragged her out along with Schnelle. All five CODEPINK women were escorted out of the building by police without charges. They asked police to assist with the future citizens arrest of Karl Rove.
