WASHINGTON POST PROTESTED FOR FAILED WAR COVERAGE

by Fenny Drayton

30 Jun 2005

Modified: 01:09:41 PM

June 29 protest of The Washington Post addresses lack of coverage...

2 protestors emerged with the telephone number for the general office line for Dana Milbank. After several calls by other activists with cell phones, Milbank returned a phone call saying, "Everyone knows they lied..." .

JUNE 29 The Washington Post was protested this evening by area activists for the newspaper's failure to properly cover the leaked documents commonly known as The Downing Street Memos. More than 30 activists gathered in front of the offices of The Washington Post in a protest called and endorsed by Northern Virginians For Peace and Justice, the DC Anti-War Network/DAWN, and DC area ad hoc groups concerned about the failure of the mainstream press to cover what they believe is the "smoking gun" in the Bush Administration's plan for war with Iraq.

"Dana Milbank of The Post did a messed up hatchet job on this memo thing." said Arthur Sales of Silver Spring. The Post has a lot to answer for in my opinion" he said. "This protest is just one example of what is happening across the country right now on this issue. People are organizing and holding the press and their congressional representatives accountable because of what is in The Downing Street Memo's.

It's about the lies that led to war and occupation" said Malachy Kilbride of the DC Anti-War Network. "I am thoroughly disgusted that The Washington Post failed failed failed to cover this story!" said Margaret Lemming of Fairfax, Virginia. The protesters marched in front of the offices of the newspaper as employees left for the day.

Some Washington Post employees who refused to be identified expressed support for the protest.

"We were pleased that The Post wrote an A1 story yesterday about the memos. However, the mass media has not done an adequate job of investigating the implications of the eight memos," said Pete Perry of the DC Anti-War Network. Peter Rush of Northern Virginia and one of the organizers said he believes the memos should lead to Presiden Bush's impeachment.

"Why did they take so long to report this?" asked David Barrows of DAWN. "They investigated Watergate and now it's time for them to step up to the plate on this." said Barrows.

Both Perry and Barrows will appear in Federal Court on June 30 with DAWN activist, Midge Potts, for sentencing on their US Supreme Court protest arrests in February of this year.

Moya Atkinson a Northern Virginians for Peace and Justice activist and SOA Watch protester had spirited exchanges with pedestrians across from The Post building. "I really didn't know what this was all about until I got this flyer." said Oliver LeMasters, a K Street lawyer, "I'm going to this web site tonight when I get home..." he said as he read the flyer handed to him by Atkinson.

Cindy Sheehan and Bill Mitchell both of California attended the demonstration. Both had sons killed in Iraq ironically on the same day of April 4, 2004. During the demonstration Sheehan, Mitchell, Debby Churchman and Sarah Eggleston of Northern Virginians for Peace and Justice, Kilbride of DAWN, and several other activists stormed The Washington Post building demanding to speak with Dana Milbank who wrote yesterday's article or an editor about the memos.

Security guards approached and blocked their entry past the front desk of The Post building and refused them access to Milbank or any editor. "We have two people who lost sons in Iraq and they want to speak to Dana Milbank or his boss!" demanded Kilbride. Mitchell demanded to see Milbank or an editor holding pictures of his son and a flagged drapped coffin of his dead son.

All the activists except Sheehan and Mitchell were escorted out of the building. Sheehan and Mitchell later emerged with the telephone number for the general office line for Milbank. After several calls by Mitchell and Sheehan and the other activists with cell phones Milbank returned Sheehan's and Mitchell's phone call. "He said everyone knows they lied..." said Mitchell referring to what Milbank told him on the phone.

Sheehan and Mitchell were not completely satisfied with their conversation with Milbank. Activists from the various groups claimed victory however. "We had over 30 people on a Wednesday evening, we demanded to speak with Milbank and we did, we freaked out the folks at The Post, and we had several people on the street express interest in getting involved." said Kilbride of DAWN. "Hey, they even closed the electronic security gate on us. Their workers had to leave through a side entrance." said Alicia Munoz of Bethesda. "This was a great success!" she said.