Breasts Not Bombs

Mother's Day Weekend Vigil w/Code Pink at the White House May 9th and 10th 2009

2009-05-07T00:30:00.000-07:00

With the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States we were optimistic that there would be a obvious departure from the policies of the Bush Administration. While our new leader is a glorious orator and truly dedicated to presenting a new face for the United States we find our deepest, most sacred covenants sadly neglected. The most pressing of course, at the heart of Breasts Not Bombs, is the safety and well being of women and children in this world. If you closely examine the trickle down effect of; home foreclosures, job loss, continuing wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Gaza and many countries in Africa you will see that Women and children bare the brunt, the devastation, and terror of ongoing violence.
Just tonight we witnessed President Obama speaking with the president of both Afghanistan and Pakistan and his rhetoric was eerily reminiscent of the Bush Administration in relation to "rooting out terrorism" and defeating "Al Queda" I don't know about you, but I am severely tired of hearing the same repetitive jargon and proven failure in foreign policy as we've had over the last umpteen years. It is time for the leader of this nation to stand up and say. WE MUST PROTECT THE FAMILIES! We will redirect all our resources into true security. This has nothing to do with the Pentagon, Boeing, XE (formerly Blackwater) Halliburton, or Guantanamo. It has everything to do with Hospitals, medicine, education, housing, and food. It is apparent to so many of us in the peace movement that we are falling deeper into the abyss of endless war.
The members of Breasts Not Bombs cannot spend this Mother's Day sleeping late and enjoying breakfast in bed provided by our well-meaning and beautiful children. We cannot ooh and aah over a box of chocolates or a new shirt. We are in constant empathy, sympathy and agony of what is happening to the mothers of the world. We cannot abide more of our children being sacrificed to this insatiable war machine. As Julia Ward Howe said, the first Proclamation for Mother's Day,
"Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience."
"Disarm, Disarm!!!!"
We will not sleep late. We will stay up all through the night until somebody in the White House gets the message. Can't you see the first Lady coming out on lawn to find out why on earth we would go to such extreme to be heard?

We believe that in baring our breasts we reveal the truth of our privileged existence, that we mothers are the source and sustenance of life. We must shift our attention, respect and motivation to that order, if we are to survive. It is the mother's milk that will save us. Let us feed, nurture,adore and elevate the women of the world to their natural sovereignty. See what paradise awaits.

In the meantime we are subject to gross indecencies I say. Whether it be permanent states of war, looting of our Global Treasuries, Bailing out Multi-National corporations, turning a blind eye to hatred and persecution of Gay,Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered people of the world. We will bare witness to these atrocities.

We ask you to join us and Code Pink either at the White House on Mother's Day Weekend or in actions around the country to stand up for Women and Children and the most vulnerable communities while there is still time.

Please, do what you can. Take the Mothers Day pledge! Go to these sites for more information
and thank you for doing the breast that you can.

Mother's Day for Peace Website: http://www.mothersdayforpeace.com

Mother's Day for Peace Blogs: http://codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=4865

Breasts Not Bombs milks the CHP for false arrest and violation of Freedom of Speech

2009-02-18T14:47:00.000-08:00

PEACE ACTIVIST'S BARE BREAST ARREST TURNS INTO FREEDOM OF SPEECH VICTORY IN SUPERIOR COURT

A Sacramento County Superior Court Judge ruled on Thursday, August 28, 2008, that Breasts Not Bombs anti-war activists, Sheba Love and Sherry Glaser, were unlawfully arrested by the California Highway Patrol when they protested topless at a 2005 peace demonstration on the Capitol steps in Sacramento. The court found that the protest was protected speech under the California Constitution and that the women were engaging in symbolic speech and not acting in a lewd or lascivious manner.

The anti-war protesters, men and women, had gathered on November 8, 2005, on the eve of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's special election. Breasts Not Bombs co-founders, Love and Glaser, in a definitive political act, removed their shirts and were completely topless at the protest. Officers of the California Highway Patrol immediately arrested the women for indecent exposure and committing a lewd act in a public place. If convicted, the women faced registering as sex offenders. Many of the protesters, including Love and Glaser, carried banners and signs expressing the difference between the natural decency of a woman's naked breasts, representing peace and the survival of the human race on one hand, and war, on the other. Their act and its attendant life-giving message was designed to sharply contrast with the obscenity of war, torture, invasion of privacy and other issues that protesters found were “indecent” on the pending ballot.

Breasts Not Bombs activists had previously staged bare-breasted peace demonstrations in other cities including San Francisco and Washington D.C. In front of the White House and had never been arrested. In fact, male members of the group were allowed to remove their shirts with no consequences as were other women who were told that if they had their aureoles covered they would not risk arrest. The CHP unsuccessfully argued that if female activists removed their tops it would disrupt business, offend children having lunch nearby as well as stimulate sex offenders recently released from custody who apparently frequent the Capitol grounds.

Judge Loren McMaster's decision was primer on free speech rights and repudiated the actions of the CHP and defendant Lt. Stallman who played a key role in setting up the arrest. Addressing the CHP's issuance of the permit to the group that had included restrictions on protesting topless, he noted that “The authority to grant permits does not include the authority to bar protected symbolic speech. California Constitution, Art. I, sec. 2” The court added, that “Here, the permit restriction's intent was to prevent plaintiff's from conveying their particular message. It was not narrowly tailored to serve a significant government interest.” This was clear from the “Defendants rejection of a proposal by plaintiff's counsel that the demonstration occur in a tent.”

Glaser and Love were booked and detained at Sacramento County jail overnight and release the next day. The charges were then dismissed by the County district attorney. Yesterday, February 17th, Glaser, Love and their attorney received payment for damages.
A copy of the decision can be obtained from the Law Offices of Matthew Kumin

870 Market Street. Suite 1128 San Francisco, CA 94102
info@mattkuminlaw.com

The Breast Is Yet To Come

2007-10-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

Our trip to D.C. was mighty satisfying. Although our action at the White House was delayed until Friday we had a very good experience. We were joined by some very courageous Code Pink Women who had been extremely busy the past week reminding the Senate and the House of their responsibilities to uphold the Constitution, hold High Placed officials responsible for the carnage and destruction of Iraq and provide for the vulnerable people in the United States. It's not an easy job for Code Pink, but somebody's got to do it. Friday, about 2pm 5 Code Pink sisters and Sheba and I showed up in Lafayette Park and got a good place in the shade (It was about 80 degrees and very muggy) We got out our banners and signs and I got on the soapbox and began speaking about the Warmongers run amok. We took off our shirts. At first the Code Pink Women were shy to disrobe, but something came over them and soon they were bare breasted as well. We stood in protest and handed out our literature which includes an explanation of our action and a copy of The Bill of Rights. There were a good number of tourists and for a while they had their backs to the White House and Cameras on us. The Capitol Police stopped by and asked me to get off the Soapbox for a minute. I assume it was because the officer was eye level with my nipple and that just was too much. I proceeded to have a conversation with him, still bare breasted, as he confirmed my LEGAL RIGHT, to demonstrate in this manner. He was concerned about the contents of our Soapbox, so he did a quick sweep of the contents and then left us to protest.
Many passersby were supportive and actually tickled by our presence. There were a lot of smiles and thumbs up and of course there were those who were offended, but didn't stop long enough to have a conversation and find common ground. I notice that those who agree with us stay and talk, those who don't run off, cursing or yelling as they go. I also have noticed that those who flash a peace sign at any of our demonstrations are usually smiling, but the one's who give us the finger are mostly miserable. I wonder if there is a correlation.
After about an hour. We were ready to close up shop, when the major media appeared.
Funny, we hadn't sent out a press release, but Fox, CNN, AP and Reuters all were present. Gosh, I wonder what brought them out???
We spoke for a while with reporters. All the women from Code Pink were eloquent in there representation.
The next day was the Troops out Now March around the Capitol. Again Sheba and I exercised our right to Bare Breasts and walked with about 2,000 people to bring attention to the OUTRAGEOUS INDECENCIES OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. We have created a much stronger network of women willing to go to this NON-Violent extreme to make our voices heard. So we will be back in Washington real soon.

Tomorrow...October 3rd we will be speaking with Gary Lewis from the Ebony and Ivory Show broadcast out of New York City to discuss our tactics and reasons for making this highly controversial stand. Tune in between 2 and 5PM East Coast Time
www.ebonyandivoryradio.com

Here are the photo links from the media.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THIS PROTEST:

Uncensored Photo:

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/77091425.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193E7907F767875D1972174AB93382BBCCCA55A1E4F32AD3138

Censored Photos:

http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,2406,00.html#5_0

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/iraq/082701iraqplane/im:/070928/480/4868f6e26592427797f274b1953bf1b4

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/iraq/082701iraqplane/im:/070928/ids_photos_ts/r3577404910.jpg;_ylt=Ahx7Ru3AarIUeRPM9TlHJphsaMYA

Article:

http://www.koin.com/Global/story.asp?S=7145574

Breasts Not Bombs returns to confront the Boobs in the White House

2007-09-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

Photo by Diedre Lamb

After a year of contemplation and just a few demonstrations of B's not B's,(March on the Pentagon last Spring, at 32 degrees we only lasted five minutes)
My wife and I are about to embark on yet another journey East to Washington DC to bring special attention to the maddening political crisis that we find ourselves in. From a criminal Executive Branch (including Cheney) to a shifty judicial branch to impotent Democrats to erectile dysfunction of Republicans to permanent war, to Global Warming, Our response is Breasts Not Bombs. We will be demonstrating for two days in front of the White House starting Thursday the 27th. We will stand bare breasted to bare witness to the unbearable sorrow of the world, much of it brought to you by the Bush Regime and their Sponsors. From Bechtel, to Halliburton, to At&T to General Electric, to the FDA, Exxon, Chevron, Coca Cola, Eli Lilly, Merck, Archer Midland Daniels, Blackwater, Custor Battles, etc, etc, etc, etc. We will reveal our most vulnerable, flesh, our humblest selves. We choose to be in solidarity with the billions of women and children who are in peril from the ongoing violence, that in some places never stops. The oppression of women is a worldwide epidemic, from war, to poverty, disease, to rape, to sex trade; women and children are in danger. We stand for women who cannot speak out, perhaps shackled by oppressive religion, or shame. We will exercise our freedom to the fullest extent in the name of their freedom and safety, We call for their liberation into a world that holds them in the highest esteem. As they, being Women, are the creators of life.
Though some critics may say that we are acting inappropriately, indecently, immorally, we say that it is our right, guaranteed by the constitution to express free speech, using our bodies as signs and symbols as long as we pose no danger. We believe that breasts symbolize the most non-violent representation of the world at peace. Our breasts never hurt anyone and never will. The juvenile response of the police, media and socially retarded audiences are other reasons to restore respect and protection to women. In our effort to create a safe haven we bare our breasts, this is a simple way to bluntly explain our vulnerability. This action is simple and lends itself to easy participation., It does not exclude any woman because of age, size, color, economics. Every woman has breasts. Even if they have been removed because of cancer, that scar points another finger toward the environmental violence, toxicity and cosmetic attacks on our bodies. Our world is completely out of balance, the masculine has dominated our global consciousness since the beginning, at least the beginning according to the Bible.
But before that, maybe three thousand years before that, the culture of the mother was supreme and life revered and Her breasts were her glory and her temple. It is not merely our request for the Troops to Come Home Now!, or the Impeachment of Bush and Cheney for war crimes, it is the demand for a shift in the paradigm. We want to bring safety to every woman and child. because our entire existence is at stake and a shift to insure or at least prioritize the safety of women and children will tip the balance,and will bring the earth back to balance as well, it will be a natural outcome. We invite women to join us. and the men who mean well may take off their shirts. Please don't ask us about full nudity. We are not interested in exposing genitalia, that is a whole other ball game. We intend only to use our breasts to symbolize what peace is. Baring our breasts is a peace demonstration. . This is not indecent exposure. This is life.

As an added bonus to our trip to D.C. I will be performing my One Woman Show - The BrEaST of Sherry Glaser on Thursday night as a benefit for the Washington Peace Center. Here's the info.

WHAT: THE BrEaST of SHERRY GLASER
WHEN: Thursday, September 27, 2007 10:30pm (note late show)
WHERE: Warehouse Theater 1021 7th St., NW (Mt. Vernon Sq./Convention Center METRO-Green/Yellow)
WHY: A Peace Thru Comedy! Benefit for the Washington Peace Center
CAVEAT: ** for mature audiences only **
COST: $10 in advance (more at the door) [call to inquire for special rates--no one turned away for lack of $]
MORE INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS: 202/234-2000 www.washingtonpeacecenter.net

Beauty and the Breast

2006-11-20T13:50:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago Breasts Not Bombs staged a demonstration outside the Military recruitment center in Ukiah, California because we feel that office is the first introduction to our young men and women as to what it means to be a soldier. We need to find the root cause and address the aberrant and excessive violence that has led our military to commit war crimes like rape and murder. Though there were ten of us on the street that day, we opted not to take our shirts off. We blamed it on the weather and well, it was a major street and we had concern about traffic. But, the truth is I was afraid. Afraid to bare my breasts to again be subject to judgement and ridicule for my outrageous behavior and my bountiful bosom. Although it was a spirited and well supported action, it felt disappointing. We even took the opportunity to go into the recruitment office and converse with the Sergeant in charge. Sgt. Hemphill could not take responsibility for the troops run amok or even point me in the direction of those who might be responsible, besides a "few bad apples." it felt like we built a bridge. He could see our humanity and we could see his. We were civil, kind and very calm. But, inside I'm bursting with terrible rage and sorrow. It's so strong that I feel compelled to tear off my shirt, pull out my hair and weep. Yes, it's dramatic, but it feels like this really is an emergency. I ask you, why is so unacceptable to bare my breasts? Why does the public at large have such a defintive and immediate reaction to women's flesh, but the death of 2,900 American Soldiers and upwards of 200,000 Iraqi's elecits little response? Every day that our government debates and hem and haws there are REAL PEOPLE being violently killed.
What keeps me under wraps is also the simple size of my breasts, how they look. They are enormous, yes. It feels like I am carrying the sorrow of the world right under my nose. I wonder if so much of the breast cancer we are seeing is the unexpressed grief of this world. I dream of weeping, bare breasted with a million other women on the White House Lawn. I long for a world wide weep. Why are women kept under such restraint? What is so scary about our breasts? Last week a young mother named Emily Gillette, flew on Delta Airlines out of Burlington Vermont. She began to nurse her child before take off. The flight attendant was so deeply offended she brought the woman a blanket to cover her breasts, which would then include the baby's head. The woman refused and she was ordered, with her family, off the plane. Was she a threat somehow to the other passengers? Is she a terrorist? As a response 30 or so new mothers came to the Airport and had a nurse in. There was a beautiful photo in the paper with the happy babes tucked sweetly into their mother's laps enjoying the elixer of life. What could be more comforting? What is more representative of peace?
Then, I see on the front page yesterday that the FDA had lifted the ban on silicone implants. This seems like a subtle form of terrorism to me. Yes, ladies though we are offended by the nature of your mammaries, if you want to enhance them with our handy dandy little picker upper, then step right up. The FDA seems to ignore that Dow Corning Corporation paid out 3.2 billion dollars in a class action for women who suffered awful diseases as a result of leaky silicone. They've endured cancer, autoimmune diseases, pain and discomfort of all kinds. Still they reapprove this mysogynist product that serves the idea that without perfect breasts women are worthless, ugly, unlovable, nothing. We are still being brainwashed to believe that everyone's tits look like Brittany spears. We are all never been nursed upon 36 B's. This lie is dangerous. It puts our lives in jeopardy. If a woman loses her breasts to cancer, can we not see the beauty in the scars? Can we spend the money that we will spend on "enhancement" to get to the source of this epidemic? Can we empower women to love their bodies as they are or are we all sentenced to anorexia, diet pills, and silicone?
We are different. My mother says that the body is the physical expression of the soul. When it comes to illness the soul is communicating that something is wrong and it needs our attention We could pay attention to the messages of our bodies and avoid alot of expensive pain and suffering.
Imagine women of all sizes, shapes and configurations safe to be bare breasted, without judgement, no grand prize just to be. I've been in circles like that at women's gathering's and the comfort is indescribable. It's the truth, we are flesh and we all have stories to tell and they are written on our bodies. I believe it is in our breast that life sustains. And the threat to our bodies, particulary our breasts, is real and constant, The simple act of eating seafood involves the risk of infecting our breast's milk. This is serious folks. Its the root of destruction. We must revive and recover the mother. With a simple shift in focus to the mother and child all other things would fall into place. The naked truth that we are human and dependant on the mother, (earth) is really what matters. I would love to capture the imagination and courage of women. But there is a shame that keeps us in our place it dominates. So I will muster my courage, bare my breasts and bring this dialogue to the table so we can at least have the conversation. It's a matter of life.

To all our Bosom Buddies

2006-11-15T13:49:00.000-08:00

We are excited to announce

BREASTS NOT BOMBS FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST CHP
Attorneys for the Plaintiffs Sherry Glaser and Sheba Love filed
a lawsuit ON NOVEMBER 9, 2006 in SACRAMENTO COUNTY Superior Court against THE California Highway Patrol, its COMMISSIONER MIKE BROWN and other CHP officers for false arrest and violations of the Plaintiffs civil rights.

It is the first year anniversary of the Breasts Not Bombs demonstration on the Steps of the State Capitol of California on election eve, 2005.
Breasts Not Bombs members Sherry Glaser and Sheba Love were arrested and detained for 8 and 12 hours, respectively, for baring their breasts in a political protest.
The activists were charged with indecent exposure. Conviction could have required them to register as sex offenders.
The California DA who reviewed the arrest never filed charges and instead concluded that the political act could not be misconstrued as lewd and lascivious because of the nature of the Protest.

Lead Council and Civil Rights attorney, Matthew Kumin filed the lawsuit with the plaintiff’s criminal defense attorney Michael Chastaine.

LAW OFFICES OF MATTHEW KUMIN
MATTHEW KUMIN, CSB # 177561
870 Market Street, Suite 1262
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel: (415) 434-8454
Fax: (415) 434-8453

ROTHSCHILD WISHEK & SANDS
MICHAEL CHASTAINE, CSB 121209

Fax: (916) 444-2768

ASSAULT AND BATTERY; FALSE ARREST & IMPRISONMENT; INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

INTRODUCTION

PARTIES

3. Defendant CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL (CHP) is an arm of the State of California.
5. Defendant OFFICER TROY is and was, at the time of the incident, a CHP officer, acting under the color of law and in the course and scope of his employment for the Defendant CHP.
7. At all times mentioned here, DOES 1-30 were employees and agents for the Defendant CHP. These unidentified employees and agents are sued individually and in their capacities as police officers for the CHP. By engaging in the conduct described herein, the Defendant DOES acted under color of law and in the course and scope of their employment for Defendant CHP. By engaging in the conduct described herein, Defendant unidentified employees and agents exceeded the authority vested in them as employees of the CHP.
9.10.At all times mentioned, each named and DOE Defendant was the agent or employee of co-defendant CHP and BROWN and in doing the things alleged were acting within the course and scope of such agency or employment and with the actual and implied permission, consent, authorization, and approval of CHP and/or BROWN.
STATEMENT OF FACTS COMMON TO ALL CAUSES OF ACTION

11. Defendant, CHP Officer TROY issued the group a permit which stated, “protest of this special election (ANY PERSON WHO EXPOSES PRIVATE PARTS IS SUBJECT TO ARREST FOR CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE SECTIONS 314 AND 647(a). This permit is immediately cancelled and also future requests for permits on state property.”
13. On November 7, 2005 BNB members, men and women, including plaintiffs, participated in political protest at the permitted time and location. During the protest, Plaintiffs SHERRY GLASER and SHEBA LOVE took off their clothing tops exposing their bare breasts.
15. Following the wrongful arrest, SHERRY GLASER and SHEBA LOVE were falsely imprisoned by DOE Officers and detained for twelve hours before being released.
17. As a proximate result of Defendants’ conduct, Plaintiffs suffered severe emotional and mental distress.
19. Plaintiffs were wrongfully arrested, depriving them of their liberty in violation of the law. The charges against them were eventually dropped. However, they paid thousands of dollars in attorneys’ fees to fight the charges.
21. Plaintiffs found it necessary to engage the services of private counsel to vindicate their rights under law. Plaintiffs are therefore entitled to an award of all attorneys’ fees incurred in relation to this action for violation of his state civil right to be free from harassment due to the violation of the civil rights and due to the violations of their civil rights based on their gender.

FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION

(False Arrest and Imprisonment)
(AGAINST CHP, BROWN, TROY, STALLMAN AND DOES 1-100)

23. The Defendant officers named herein, without probable cause, detained Plaintiffs for violations which they did not commit. Defendants could not have reasonably believed that Plaintiffs committed such violations, particularly in light of the fact that the Sacramento County District County clearly deemed that the Plaintiffs actions were not in violation of California Penal Code Section 314 or 647(a).
26.As a proximate result of Defendants wrongful conduct, Plaintiffs suffered damages as set forth.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs pray for relief as set forth herein.
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
(Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress)
(AGAINST CHP, BROWN, TROY, STALLMAN AND DOES 1-100)

The conduct of the defendant officers, as set forth herein, was extreme and outrageous and beyond the scope of conduct which should be tolerated by citizens in a democratic and civilized society. The Defendants, acting under color of law, falsely arrested and imprisoned Plaintiffs for 12 hours. The Defendants’ actions humiliated Plaintiffs and created enormous frustration for them. Defendants’ decision to arrest peaceful political protesters despite their permit resulted from an unfounded animosity. Defendants deliberately arrested the Plaintiffs and did the aforementioned unnecessary detainment with the intent to inflict severe mental and emotional distress upon the Plaintiffs.

Breasts Not Bombs bares witness at the White House

2006-09-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

If you are like me and you are informed by alternative news sources you may have moments of despair and hopelessness that may lead to depression, futility and general feelings of it doesn't matter what we do, we're doomed. The obscene and arrogant destruction of each other and the planet will go unchecked because no one has the power or energy to dismantle the corrupted systems of oppression. Even if we impeach Bush, then what? Even if we Indict Dick Cheney, then what? Our problems run through the blood streams and bones of this world. We need enormous global healing. That is what enticed me and four of my co-conspirators to run off to Camp Democracy this week. Yes, we are the ones who believe that love is stronger that fear. We are the ones who think music connects us all. We are the ones who see through the illusion into the possibilities that in some dimension we are already living the life we dream of. We are the ones we've been waiting for.

Camp Democracy was on the ellipse, tucked in the shadow of the Washington monument. It's canvas tents acted as a sanctuary for the memories of the dead and dying, and as a revelation of the corruption and the lying. Big bobble heads of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice sat on a table as though they had already been tried for war crimes and the executioner had had his day. Folks spent three weeks at Camp Democracy participating in non-violence workshops, listened to words of non-violent resistence from Ahrun Gandhi, Howard Zinn and Antonia Juhaz. Many went up to Capitol Hill to lobby for civil rights and Peace.

There were five women in our affinity group. A Pentagram. We came with the intention to entertain the folks who had been working for weeks to do something good for a change. I did some comedy and Diane Patterson debuted her new song, Camp Democracy for the weary workers. They were charmed, moved, happy that we had come. We were blessed to meet Peace Activists, Col. Ann Wright, Helga Aguayo, Iraqi War Vet Ellie Paintedcrow and many others. It was at Camp Democracy that we prepared for action. By the grace of the Goddess and a young man with a computer we were able to secure a large laminated STOP sign from Kinko's and fifty mini stop signs. We were going to do a "Stop Action" at the White House where we would hold up our signs and sing "Stop in the name of love before you break our hearts. Stop in the Name of Love before you break our hearts. Think it over." We did this action in solidarity with United for Peace and Justice and Code Pink.

On Thursday September 21st, which we now know as The International Day of Peace, we witnessed in Washington D.C. the signing of a declaration of Peace by religious leaders and anti-war activists that was to be delivered to George Bush. After all had signed the treaty they walked to the gates of the White House. Protesters were denied entrance, So,They sat down in an act of civil disobedience. It was then that I was given the honor of reading the names of the Iraqi dead while Lisa, a marine wife from Military Families Speak Out, read the names of the dead soldiers. After each name was spoken we would all say, "We remember". The names of the Iraqi's felt familiar in my mouth. The Arabic is close to Hebrew, the language I grew up hearing. I had about 25 pages in my hand and besides some of the names were the ages. Children; 2 years old, 5 years old, 10 years old, 6 months old,12 members of the Haseem Family, a man his wife and three children. It felt like Kadish, the Jewish Prayer for the dead. The recognition of genocide, punctured my heart. I could not read through my tears. I had to stop, take some rescue remedy, and breathe.

By this time the police were moving in to arrest the one's sitting down.
Those who chose not to be arrested were sent down the block to stand behind yellow police tape to simply witness and sing out about freedom and justice. When the bus left with our shackled comrades we peeled off our shirts and proceeded with our Breasts Not Bombs action. There is an amazing sense of Power to stand bare breasted in front of the white house. The Front door flew open and men stood with binoculars on the porch and the roof to gawk at us. There was no doubt they could also read the signs we held. War is indecent, Torture is indecent, War Profiteering is indecent.
A police officer came over to us and said, although it was our legal right to be topless, he wanted to remind us that there were children, families in the park. I said, hopefully all the children in the park had been breast fed, so they knew that breasts were about love, nourishment, and comfort and they would have nothing to be afraid of. But, as far as the snipers on top of the White House, well, maybe he should tell them to lay down their guns, because they were scaring the kids. At this point Medea Benjamin of Code Pink suggested he and I stand a bit closer together so she could get a better photo. The officer and his sidekick quickly dispersed. The crowd was amazed that the people who sat in silent dissent at the gate of the WH were arrested, while we stood half naked and were respected and enjoyed the right to protest. That was powerful.

From there we went to the capitol hill and visited Boxer and Feinstein's offices with suggestions on how to represent the good, kind, compassionate constituents of California. We demanded that Article Three of the Geneva Conventions remain International Law to be followed by the U.S. We demanded an immediate withdrawal of Troops from Iraq, We asked for a continued moratorium on oil drilling off California Coasts and we suggested that Both senators lead by example and drive alternative vehicles around the hill to show the country that they are aware of global warming and are taking bold steps to change our national consumption of fossil fuels.

Our final action took place on Friday morning, the beginning of Autumn equinox and a solar eclipse at 7:40 AM. As you may remember, the U.S. invaded Iraq on March 19th, the dawn of Spring. Those of us who live by the wheel of life, the turning of the seasons, see that as a high holy day and we chose to honor the equinox by using that potent time to call for the Fall, The fall of empire. Ten of us gathered at Lafayatte park at 7AM brooms in hand. We cast a circle, calling on the presence of Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Above, below and in the center. We burned the sage to purify our hearts, minds and intentions and then set about the action of ritual. We honored our fear and gave it breath and turned it into energy. We spoke our righteous anger moved it through every organ in our bodies to cleanse the fire from our systems and reclaim our passion. We shared our sorrow for the terrible, inconceivable loss and grief that we are witnessing on so many levels. After each emotion we took our brooms and swept the ground around us to clear the circle and turn the wheel in revolution

Finally, in our heightened states of clarity, we got on our broomsticks and flew all around the lawns in front of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. weaving our webs of wisdom, hope, joy and peace around that symbol of power, the White House. Seeing each other riding around on broomsticks caused us to cackle deliriously and delighted the hundreds of tourists just getting off the busses. It was a story they would be sure to tell. Witches at the White House.

Each person who participated in this ancient rite and prayer felt deeply renewed to continue the grueling work that brings about a better world. For it is in the realms of miracles and magic that we dwell, using powers that ,while may not be obvious, have been used since time has been recorded. Ritual, sacred space, prayer, intention and the belief that peace will come at any moment and it doesn't matter from which direction, It only matters that in our invocation we are the change we want to see.

Truth or Falsies

2006-09-08T00:08:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention that there is a mad man who has started a website with the name BreastsNotbombs.org and he's even gone so far as to "TM" the name Breasts not Bombs. ( You cannot copyright a name or title.) I find this hilarious and somewhat disconcerting. It is offensive to the Original women of Breasts Not Bombs who have the courage to bare our breasts in places like Washington D.C. Sacramento, San Francisco, and points beyond in the name of decency and with the intention to create a culutre of nurturing instead of violence. What this creepy guy is doing in the name of B's not B's is using women for exploitation. Not only does he ask for donations through paypal, but he suggests women upload photos of their breasts for a virtual million breast march. This kind of perversion is sad to see, yet ever so prevelant on the internet. If you have the chance to go to his website, please comment as to his sick behavior and ask him to cease and desist so we can get on with the business of reclaiming power and respect for our bodies. This man even has the audacity to use my image, words and philosophies to advance his bizarre agenda. What a shame.

Now, on to Bigger and more important business. Breasts Not Bombs will be at Camp Democracy in Washington D.C. from September 18th thru the 22nd. I will be performing comedy, (with my shirt on), at the Main Tent on Tuesday the19th at noon.
We will call for dramatic street theater from there. We will be sure to remind George Bush that we are extremely passionate and dedicated to changing the course of history to Herstory before it is too late. As Mr. Bush Continues to redefine torture and treason to suit his propaganda, we will be therpe to defend the definition of decency and remind Americans what is at stake in these fragile days ahead. We join hundreds of anti-war, pro democracy groups that will be camped on the mall for three weeks. We appreciate the work of Gold Star Families for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Vets For Peace, Code Pink, United for Peace and Justice, and others who continue the vigil and demand a better brighter future for all.

We hope to organize a beautiful demonstration the morning of the 21st, (solar eclipse and Fall equinox) as we call for Women
weeping, wailing and weaving a web of wisdom around the White House. Won't you join us?

Free your mind and The Breast Will Follow

2006-06-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

Breasts Not Bombs

We're back. After a rigorous journey east this winter to New York City to fullfill professional responsiblities doing my show Family Secrets, Breasts Not Bombs was back on the street this past Friday at the Military Recruitment Center in Oakland California at Broadway and 21st St. We were moved to go there because of the heart rendering story of a soldier named SUZANNE SWIFT who refused to return to Iraq not only because of the insanity and illegality of this war, but also because SHE WAS SEXUALLY HARASSED BY SOLDIERS AND COMMANDERS IN HER OWN UNIT. We at Breasts Not Bombs are stunned, yet not surprised by this account and the continuous reports of massacres of women and children by the hands of our own military.
We met at high noon with a group of dedicated peace activists and the core members of Breasts Not Bombs. We were also greeted by three Oakland police squad cars and plenty of Cops to go with them. I had contacted the Police department as is my usual operating procedure. This way I know they are forewarned and can do their homework with regards to our right to bare our breasts in a political demonstration.
I must say that all officers present were not only entirely respectful, but they made a special effort to see that we felt safe. When I spoke to the squad leader, he was most humble, even though I was bare breasted, he completely addressed our right to be there. He wanted to know if we felt allright. I thanked him for his concern and wondered if he could offer the same kind of protection to women on a daily basis. I also wondered if he might like to remind those in the recruitment center and those being recruited that it is the job of the miitary and the police to protect women and children, not kill them, bomb them, rape them, threaten them, massacre them or hurt them in any way. He kind of chuckled, but I think he saw the logic in my request.
Once again Breasts Not Bombs spoke to the outrageous indecencies from the force feedings and Suicides at Guantanamo Bay to the Massacres at Ishaqi and Haditha. The indecencies go on and on.
The Oakland Tribune showed and took hundreds of Photos, There was no mention of the demonstration the next day.
The Berkely Daily Planet was there. We'll see if they print it.

We are planning to be at the SF corporate offices of Bechtel This coming Friday at noon, We intend to target the profiteers. I mean, I ask you,
If we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars on this war, who's geting rich? I must say...The profits are indecent.

Breast in Peace

2005-12-15T13:43:00.000-08:00

I have been recently appraised that the photo of a member of Breasts Not Bombs on the www.truthout.org website is causing quite a bit of controversy and has found itself the subject of a Blog by Ms. Mariah Wind. I invite Ms. Wind to first consider what the breasts symbolize. It is life itself. It is the source of sustanance for every baby born. It is even true for every mammal born on this earth. It is the essence of the connection between mother and child. Who is not better off because she nursed at her mother's breast? Have you ever seen an infant gazing up to her mothers eyes as she suckles? Inifinite joy, relief, beauty. How can baring one's breast be wrong? Why is the sight of it so depressing, so scandalous, so insignificant in the call for peace?. What better, more common ground can one offer? Everyone has breasts. Have breasts ever hurt anyone? No. Breasts however are in great danger. They are an endangered species.
Now here's the danger. Every woman and child is at risk at this moment. Have you read the latest statistics on Breast milk and the toxins therein? Normally chock full of Vitamins, growth hormones, proteins, enzymes and antibodies our most basic nutrition is now fortified with Benzene, mercury, fungicides, flame retardants, DDT and PCB's. Then there's the outrageous epidemic of breast cancers. In fact, I just got an e-mail on a new kind that starts as what looks like a dry skin patch on the nipple, within a few months this cancer had metastisized and then killed this woman. So this action of baring our breasts is geometric in it's scope. This action is not just because of the war in Iraq. It is an action regarding the War against the World and the families living in it. It really is a world war. Look at the condition of our soil, our water, our air, our bodies. How much more man made, profit based death will we tolerate? Global warming anyone? We are facing an enormous crisis of our very existence and we at Breasts not Bombs, want to amplify the urgency. We are willing to disrobe to bring this to everyone's attention. If you all cannot see the depth of our message, then you have been blinded by the puritanical and industrialized society that seems to have us all bound in some fabricated definitions of what is good, in other words, what is decent and what is not.
The concern that somehow our breasts will obstruct some possibly tilting centrists from joining the peace movement is absurd. "Well gosh, if they're gonna go and show their breasts then I'm sticking with permanent war, torture and unchecked corruption". I mean seriously. In the simple act of baring our breasts we have caused a dialogue of great importance. Feminists who think we are foolish, silly, even embarrassing, are forgeting the power of Lysistrata, of Lady Godiva, of the Grandmothers in Nigeria. We offer that we are truly feminists. We do not consider the act of disrobing diminishing to our cause in any way. We are using a physical nature, our natural power to bring change, to bring revolution. For us it is a great act of courage. It is so because we are subject to all your judgements and criticisms.We get it from the far right, the police, and now we're getting it from the "Left" or the so called "Peace movement"So I must ask you dear members, what is peace?
Peace is the freedom to stand bare breasted in the world and feel safe. Peace is the safety of our children when they sleep in their beds, when they rise in the morning, and all day long. Peace is abundance. Peace is understanding and open mindedness. Peace is taking care of each other. Peace is kindness and humility. Peace is laughter and joy. We believe that our breasts offer and symbolize all that.
Some of the statements and accusations on this blog feel like acts of war against us. We live in a culture that was nurtured on war in lieu of the breast. We have very little language that even allows us to disagree without destroying each other's credibility. We appreciate the inspiring story of Lady Godiva and the responses that echo values of cooperation, appreciation, gratitude, support, wonder, cooperation, common values. Things like "Wow, a creative, non-violent response to the world crisis. Good Luck." or "Perhaps you are on to something." or "We pray for your safety." Those are words of peace. Those ideals are what the peace movement needs. You speak of something to unite us all. What better than flesh and bone? What else do we have in common really? Well, our emotions stand out, like the fact that we are all grieving the unessesary loss of life. Perhaps we have in common our rage against the lies and corruption we are spoon fed daily. Perhaps we are all afraid of the gathering threat of facism. What symbol could we use to represent our common vulnerability? I ask you this? Our answer; Breasts Not Bombs.

The Decent thing to do...

2005-12-07T23:30:00.000-08:00

Well folks...We've had a day in court and here's the decision of the D.A.

Lt. Allen settlement
California Highway Patrol
1801 - 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

suspect Sherry Glaser
suspect Renee Love

Dear Lt. Stallman:

This concerns the above cases, submitted to our office for prosecution. In the course of a political demonstration on the grounds of the State Capitol, both suspects completely exposed their breasts. They were arrested for violating Penal Code section 314 (indecent exposure), 647(a) (lewd act in a public place), and Government Code section 14685 (violation of CHP regulation on state property).

Both section 314 and section 647(a) require a sexual intent. Nudity without sexual intent does not violate these statutes. See Robins v. County of Los Angeles (1966) 248 Cal.App.2d 1, at 10-11; Barrows v. Municipal Court of Los Angeles (1970) 1 Cal.3d 821; Boreta Enterprises v. Department of Alcholic Beverage Control (1970) 2 Cal.3d 85, at 99; In re Smith (1972) 7 Cal.3d 362, at 366; Pryor v. Municipal Court of Los Angeles (1979) 25 Cal.3d 238, at 255-57; In re Dallas W. (2000) 85 Cal.App.4th 937. The conduct here clearly had a political, not a sexual, intent.

As to Government Code section 14685, no CHP regulation for the use of state property prohibits mere nudity. The permit for the demonstration was sought and granted in the name of the organization "Breasts Not Bombs." The officer who granted the permit discussed breast exposure with the permit applicant, and the permit itself refers to "any person who exposes private parts," but both the pre-permit discussion and the written permit expressly referred to violations of sections 314 and 647(a). Since the conduct here did not violate those statutes, we do not believe a jury would conclude the applicant either mislead the officer who issued the permit, or violated the terms of the permit.

Under the circumstances, we will file no criminal charges in this matter.

Sincerely yours,

JAN SCULLY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY

It's fascinating to be called a suspect. There are thousands of cyber photos and full newsreels that show that we are certainly the ones that disrobed that fateful Monday on the Capitol steps. However, "suspects" does connote that we are criminals. We are not. This decision is as plain as the aureole on my breast. I must say Ms. Love and I are relieved of our defendant status in Criminal court. We much prefer being plaintiffs. I find the decision of the D.A. inspiring. In the last parargraph the FACT "no CHP regulation for the use of state property prohibits mere nudity" I suppose that means that we should return to the scene of the "alleged crime" and finish what we were saying. We'll keep you abreast of that plan.

Meanwhile, and more importantly, we are still being subjected to the obscene, lewd, and illegal actions of this deranged administration. The nebulous meanderings of George Bush in his latest diatribes are sickening. Condi Rice basically admitting that we do have secret detention centers all through Europe, not only admitting but defending the need for it is INDECENT! The continued horrors that go on in Louisiana, indecent! Extraordinary renditions, Obscene! Dick Cheney going to a fund raiser for Tom Delay!! Indecent! Another state sponsored execution in California (Doesn't the 8th amendment protect against cruel and unusual punishment?) Obscene!
How many dead U.S. soldiers are there now? When we went to the Capitol it was around 2000, now it's over 2100, Obscene! Now, families are fleeing from Ramadi and another American offensive is launched, Indecent! The U.S. rejects the Montreal agreement to curb global warming! Obscene. God!! If feels like the Bush administration is trying to kill us all. Can we sue them for reckless endangering? For attempted murder? When will the American Public rise up and freak out???? Is everyone just too damn busy Christmas shopping????

The sorrow is unbearable, the perpetual warmongering and violence will soon be the death of us all. Among the amazing support that Breasts Not Bombs is receiving there are still those who criticize our "hairy armpits, saggy breasts and big bellys" Perhaps when we get over the beauty contest mentality we'll realize that we are all at risk. We will realize that we are all in the same boat and it is sinking oh, so quickly. We believe if women rose up and stood together against war with our bodies and souls, and spirits there may be a chance for survival. Any body got a better idea? For God's sake, do something, let us know...Make a noise! Make a joyful, disobedient noise and let the world know that we are Decent here in America and we are being held hostage by madness, apathy, and corruption beyond anyone's imagination. I beg you.

I pray these Holy days find you all safe and grateful for the blessings we so often take for granted.
Peace on Earth
See you in the streets!

Still Doing Our Very Breast

2005-11-22T20:05:00.000-08:00

There is a national dialogue going on right now regarding Breasts Not Bombs act of Civil Disobedience which took place on Election Eve, November 7th at the California state Capitol to protest Arnold Schwarzenegger's special election. (As the world has seen, his offensive initiatives were summarily rejected.) We came to Sacramento to exercise our First Amendment Rights in a political demonstration. That we did.
Article 1
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the people to peacefully assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Many are caught up in the fact that we bared our breasts and whether that was illegal, indecent and obscene, or an ingenious, intelligent, magnificent, courageous action. We find this conversation inspiring and important at this time. We have chosen this dramatic, urgent expression because these are matters of life and death. We are outraged and appalled at the amount of indecencies and obscenities being perpetrated by the U.S. government and agents thereof. We think this vigorous dialogue in a democracy is essential at this time.
Breasts Not Bombs is an affinity group. An affinity group is made up of people who choose the same type of direct action to bring about political and social change. It is decentralized and non hierarchical but the strategy is agreed upon and members come to decisions based on consensus. In other words, any woman or man who believes that breasts are decent, wholesome and natural can bare them in a political demonstration in an effort to shed light on the glaring indecencies that we are subjected to in the name of American Imperialism and aggression.
We find that going to Corporate headquarters, Government buildings or Military installations and holding up very clear signs of what truly is indecent while we bare our breasts brings about extraordinary results. We have taken our message to Union Square in San Francisco, The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa and even the Gates of the White House and have never been arrested. During our demonstrations we distribute the Bill of Rights and a handout on Ten things you can do to stop war everyday.
There are many different ways to demonstrate against repressive regimes, war, environmental devastation and disappearing civil rights. Some people choose to march in protest, some write letters, make phone calls, sign petitions, some blockade buildings, streets. We have done all these things in an effort to wake the sleeping people and arouse their sense of outrage. When all of those efforts fail some resort to extremes to get their message across. Some even cross over into violence including destruction of property or even bombs. We took the other extreme, total non-violence with big emotional impact.
We also believe that our actions serve to protect definitions which are slowly being altered by sophisticated right wing think tanks along with media complicity. For example, when Bush uses the term "liberation" describing the status of people in Iraq, we would like to remind people that liberation connotes freedom and relief. What the American Military in Iraq are doing is called "occupation" which means having jurisdiction over, power over. In Breasts Not Bombs we are challenging the court on the word "decency". In the act of doing so we safeguard it's definition for generations to come. Decency is kindness, grace, truth, humility, purity and humanity. We believe breasts fall under that definition.
As mothers, grandmothers, and young women we are finding that we are more threatened than ever as far as sustaining life on this planet. We are using this simple act of nature to remind folks that we all come from the mother. We are doing our best to make the world a bit safer, better. We believe that the image and presence of breasts in the world is a healthy image, a loving image, a normal image. We believe that if women were safe to walk the streets bare breasted we would all benefit from that safety. We found it comforting that many of the beautiful state buildings were adorned with bare-breasted statues. Some towered above us. Some stood as guardians at the doorways. I suppose that as long as women are made of stone having bare breasts at the Capitol is acceptable.
It is our responsibility as decent, peaceful Americans to make extraordinary and creative statements against the reckless behavior of our government and the multinational corporations who profit from our collective losses. In the act of baring our breasts we hope to bring attention to the dire situation that mothers and children find themselves in here and abroad, when all of our attention and finances go to bombs instead of breasts. If we subsidized women's health and safety what a world it would be. If the police at the Capitol saw it as their responsibility to protect us in that arena instead of arrest us that would indicate a devotion and respect for the mother, a society that knows the value of life. We can choose to support the mother so that she may raise her children in an environment of sanity and abundance. This is fundamental to our survival. If you create a secure home for the mother she will inevitably raise her children to mirror her values which naturally sustain life. If we used the entire war budget (or even half of it) for the benefit of women and children instead of the military industrial complex imagine the kind of world that would be. We could focus on healthy food, universal healthcare, education, clean water. Women and children first.
We must certify true acts of obscenity like a president who relies on fixed intelligence to drag the whole world into war, Indecent we shout! Over 2000 American soldiers dead and tens of thousands of Iraqi's: tragically indecent. A government that has secret detention centers throughout the world to be able to conduct torture without the meddling of the International Red Cross; Indecent! A senate who nullifies the Writ of Habeas Corpus. Obscene! A secretary of State that is shoe shopping in New York City while people are drowning in the wake of Katrina. Indecent! Tampering with elections in Florida and Ohio, Obscene! Gutting the clean air act, clean water act and adding genetically modified ingredients to our food supply; Indecent! Priests in Catholic Churches molesting innocent children; Obscene! Weapons manufacturers and private security firms making enormous profits off of war; Indecent! Energy companies that shape energy policy in secret meetings with the Vice President Cheney; indecent! Operation "Steal Curtain” resulting in at least fifty civilians dead on the Syrian Border? White Phosphorus! Horror! Who profits from this? What pigs are eating at this sickening trough? Obscene we say! Arrest them.
We were arrested on indecency and obscenity charges. Our action did no harm to anyone. No, all we did was show our nipples in public and we were arrested in ten seconds. Wow, wouldn't it be a miracle if that had happened to any of the folks who perpetrated the aforementioned crimes? Think of all the precious lives that could have been saved. Who gets arrested? Does it have to do with Class? Race? Power? Money? We must ask ourselves as a nation, when are we going to demand that those responsible for truly obscene, indecent and murderous behavior be arrested and go to prison?
As mothers we are answering the call of a spirit that moves us. We defend our rights to act in a non-violent civil disobedience in a time when so much is at stake. Baring our breasts is a non-violent radical remedy to our imminent demise. Honor the mother in all her forms and we can reverse the course of history perhaps awakening a culture that nurtures and protects its most vulnerable. It is up to the women to claim their power in all its forms. As one blogger wrote, "Aristophanes would be proud". That is a reference to Lysistrata, the tale of Greek women, so tired of war refused to have sex with their husbands until war was done.
In the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. we say: If we are indecent then nature is indecent. If we are indecent birth is indecent. If we are indecent, babies are indecent. If we are indecent, life is indecent. If we are indecent, then God is indecent. We beg to differ.

Breasts Under Arrest on the Capitol Steps

2005-11-09T22:06:00.000-08:00

It really did come down to the (under) wire whether or not we were to Bare our Breasts on the Capitol steps.

As most of you know our family suffered a tragic death on Sunday morning. Our best friend and brother Procoppio died in his sleep.
Wracked with grief, Renee and I had to decide if we were going to forfeit this tremendous moment in Herstory and stay home to grieve and prepare for the arrival of his family from the midwest. We searched and searched our souls. We were definitely influenced by the fact that Procoppio was going to come with us to Sacramento. He had been a few of our demonstrations before, dazzling the crowd with his dark scicilian skin and curly black hair and pierced nipples over which he wrote in black ink "nipples not napalm". It seemed that it would best serve his spirit to carry our grief with us to the steps of the capitol. Today we scattered his ashes into the Pacific Ocean. I say here in the name of Procoppio...BRest in Peace.

First, I'd like to thank my children. Imagine what it must be to have a mother like me (especially if you are a teenager). Their love, patience, understanding and even their frustration and disapproval at times are essential to my life and work. I have the ultimate respect and admiration for them. It is for them and all the children of the world that we do this work. We are committed to protect their future and their rights to live in this world in safety, peace, abundance, and sustainability. We believe that if women were safe to be bare breasted in the world that children would benefit greatly.

Now, I'd like to thank all of the beautiful people who participated in Monday's demonstration on the west steps of the State Capitol. There were the core four who drove from Mendocino County. Renee, Margaret, Motherbear and myself.
Margaret and Motherbear were eloquent press liasons in our absence speaking to major news networks like ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, etc. They also saw to the safety of our belongings and waited all night for us to be released from Sac County Jail. Our gratitude to them can't really be measured. I hope everyone has that kind of love and support in their lives during times of crisis.

I want to thank the media. I think they were quite respectful and considerate in their point of view. I appreciate them showing up for whatever reasons they came. Whether it was to get to see our breasts or to protect our right to do it, or just report on the fact that we were doing it at all, we thank them.

Deep gratitude to Matt Kumin our Civil Rights attorney who was articulate and passionate in his arguments in Federal Court. On very short notice and his own personal challenges he went above and beyond the call of duty. His love and support propelled us into epic proportions. We look forward to a long and productive relationship.

I want to thank Alan Moore and Laramie Crockertt and his family and Diane Patterson and Kelly. Diane was singing a most sacred song she wrote called "Ceremony" when we were being "Busted". Check out her amazing work on her CD...Hip The Hip.

I want to thank our friend Grace who does inspiring work to bring out the truth about nuclear weapons being manufactured out in Livermore, who drove a long way to stand with us. I want to thank one of our new members "tantra" Her photo on the LA Times site is Brilliant!!! I want to thank the beautiful Marine wife who had the courage to hold our banner. Her story, her husband's recent return from Iraq as a destroyed human being suffering from terrible anguish broke our hearts. There were others who joined us that I met briefly and some not at all. I thank them all for their courage and solidarity.

There were others that joined us from the crowd to hold signs and those who stood among the audience in visible support. The man with the fuzzy boobs and the beautiful woman with the mesh shirt that carried a sign that said "war is indecent". The beautiful Papa with the Baby on his belly.

Of course we owe a great deal of Gratitude to Senator Gloria Romero D-LA the Majority Leader in the California Senate. Senator Romero delivered a passionate, intelligent, and stunning speech in the name of equal protection under the Law. She is preparing legislation to protect these specific rights in California. If you have a chance to look her up and maybe get a copy of the speech, you should. It rocked our world! Especially the "tape measure". She has our eternal support and gratitude. The last words of her speech were directed to the CHP, "Do not arrest these women." I say Bless her and keep her well. A special shout out to her assistant Margaret who was extremely understanding and helpful.

Here, I must say a special thanks to Renee. In her unique physical nature she enacts an extraordinary courage. Baring her breasts was a revolutionary act. She would not allow me to be arrested by myself. I had never been arrested before (well I was arrested in 2003 the day before we invaded Iraq for blockading an Exxon station, but they just wrote me a ticket and released me) so I'd never been through the procedure. Her love and devotion to me is stunning. The risk she took is impressive and her commitment to radical change inspires me to even consider doing this work. As I said at the Demo one of the most offensive acts of Herr Schwarzenegger was to Veto the Rights Of Gay and Lesbians to Marry. So, he'll have to deal with us again for sure because love is decent and he has no right to deny our right to love and be married.

I want to thank the Goddess. It's gorgeous irony that all of the state buildings had stone replicas of Ancient Goddesses like Athena, Demeter and Ceres joyfully and flamboyantly bare breasted. We truly felt protected and nurtured in their presence. We opened the day with a sacred ceremony because we considered this a spiritual act and we were blessed with our Ministers Presence in Motherbear.

I want to thank myself, and my breasts.

I must confess as I did before I dis-robed this act was terribly frightening. Not just because there were police ready to arrest me and media surrounding me not to mention registered sex offenders, but because my breasts are huge, I know. I don't have to tell you that. I do not fit into the acceptable, popular culturally desirable body type. I'm more like every woman. Every woman who has doubts about her body. Every woman who is afraid to undress with the light on for fear that her flaws will overwhelm her beauty. Everywoman who blossoms at middle age into her full power and voluptuous sexuality. Every woman who is afraid some man will judge her as ugly or fat. Every woman who is afraid that she's just not right. So it took a mountain of courage for me to do this act.

Standing before the world in that extremely vulnerable state was an ecstatic act of non-violent revolution. I use the word revolution to mean, the turning of the wheel. To make change in a good direction. We revolt against tyranny, lies, corruption and oppresion and turn toward understanding, compassion, forgiveness, beauty and hope. That was my intention. It is an awesome power I hold in my body. We all do. What more do we really have? Without it we're dead, but sometimes we act like it's the least important thing we have and trash it completely. I am grateful for mine. That Creator blessed me with this beautiful, soft, expressive vessel. One through which I have borne two sacred daughters. I am grateful for it's size and strength and the pleasure it gives me.

Well, It seems the whole world has seen my breasts. And....well...really. What's the big deal? My mother's proud. She just thinks I'm the most courageous person she's ever seen. So, it my mother approves then it must be allright. I mean we're all naked, we just pretend we're not. It's true, just look at yourself in the shower sometime...naked. Born that way...die that way.

Women's breasts are constantly used and abused for so many reasons. They use them to sell us stuff, from sex to cigarettes. (Our theory is that people smoke because they didn't get enough breast feeding). So take away the tit and sell them a pack of cigarettes. Our breasts are used for profit.

I used my breasts as a power tool. They are mighty. You better stand back you might put an eye out.

In reading the comments on this blog and some of my e-mails the biggest argument against our movement is that we're not pretty enough, young enough, and I should shave my armpits. Not one critique has a merit of intelligence. It is merely fear and hatred.

I was awed by the positive and brilliant analysis of our work. Thank you for those passionate and wise commentaries.

I loved the Renee's tactic of sticking the Peace Flag into my skirt like she did when they Busted us. The CHP was so flustered during the arrest, they didn't know how to cover me. The simple act of grabbing my hands to cuff them, pulling them behind my back, just served to accentuate my breasts. They just weren't expecting that. They didn't realize that with my hands bound they couldn't get a shirt on me.
Ha! That was funny. They did end up using the Peace flag to wrap me in. You can see fabulous photos of that on the LA Times site. (I should put a link here, but I haven't really figured out that part of the cyber blog world. I trust you'll figure it out for yourself). Anyway, I was escorted to one of the chambers in the capitol by a very respectful female Officer, who I must say I'm very grateful to for being gentle with me. I was allowed to dress and then recuffed. I was alone. I assumed that Renee had decided against the action for her own sake, or whatever her reasons were, it was okay. But moments later the door opened and she was ushered in wearing a floorlength yellow plastic bib. Ridiculously funny and such a relief. She guided me through the very terrifying experience of losing my freedom with great compassion, dignity, humor and tenderness.

The next twelve hours were spent in custody of the state. I will tell you more about what I feel are gross violations of our rights, some other time.

What I will say is that. We were within our rights to demonstrate as we did on Monday November 7th. We also showed great respect for the process when we filed suit in Federal Court for an injunction to get our restraining order. The judge who took the Broad Strokes of the First amendment and narrowed it down to the size of a nipple and then asked "What the Breast Expressed?" Well
I guess the obvious answer is...milk. Mother's milk, the milk of human kind. The source that connects us all. The original expression of love and survival on this planet. We believe that is Universal Law. That is Natural Law not the narrow minded position of a Republican Judge who winced at the having to even say the word breast in his court room. His narrow definitions speaks volumes to his small minded and unconstitutional behavior. He was busy diminishing and defining "speech" when he should have been protecting our freedom.

We had our day in court and were denied. We felt the restrictions were wrong and so exercised civil disobedience in order to demonstrate our grievances. They said "Oh, No." We said, "Oh Yes!" The simple ordinary act of baring our breasts had power over the state and their panic in trying to cover me, made them look foolish.

We have been charged with two misdemeanors as you know. We are in counsel with our amazing and benevolent Attorney Michael Chastain. Stay tuned for our strategy.

I find the First Amendment so encouraging here. The most important word in this amendment is: Freedom. It's so nice, they say it twice.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

And as for Arnold...well...it appears the people of California have have exercised their Right to Vote and said NO! to every indecent initiative

Power to the Teachers, Nurses, Firefighters and Unions!!!

Hey, I've got an idea. How 'bout a recall election

A million thanks to all who voted on November 8th and still believe in Democracy and the power of the people, for the people and by the people.

Oh yeah...see you in court.

To Bare or Not to Bare? That is the question.

2005-11-06T02:51:00.000-08:00

Breasts Not Bombs will be demonstrating in On the steps of the Capitol on Monday because we find that spending $8 milliion dollars on this special election is indecent, and harmful to the people of California.

We were asked in Federal Court yesterday by Judge Garland Burrell, what Exposing our breasts have to do with free speech.

We choose this manner because exposing our breasts speaks louder than signs and banners and marching. We feel that Our breasts express the most powerful, non violent, simple statement to the threats, lies and corruption that dominate the political scene. We say that our bodies are decent and nurturing and wholesome and that interfering with a woman's right to choose is indecent, that blaming teachers for the mess our public schools are in is indecent, we say that gerrymandering political districts for politcal gain is indecent.

Our attempt to get a restraining order against the CHP was denied.

The Women from Breasts Not Bombs are being threatened with arrest for obscene and offensive behavior when we are looking at government official that lie to grand juries, leak top secret information that compromises the security of the United States, Launder money, fix intelligence to justify invading a sovereing nation, maintain secret detention centers, exercise torture which violates which violates the geneva convention. I ask you what is obscene? What is indecent?

So he $64,000.00 question is, will we bare our breasts on Monday?

Well, that's for us to know and you to find out. See you there.

Breasts Not Bombs takes on the Governator

2005-10-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

Breasts Not Bombs is taking this opportunity to call for a Demonstration on Monday November 7th, the day before California's Election Day, in Sacramento on the West Steps of the State Capitol at High noon.

Many of us feel that the policies of our Hollywood Governor are offensive to good and decent working
class people. It is clear that the millions of dollars spent on this "Special Election" could have been better spent on education, health care, housing, food banks, etc, etc... Mr. Schwarzenegger has profoundly offended thousands of service providers in our state from nurses, to firefighters, to union members, to teachers. This ballot is one big insult to privacy and integrity in our social fabric. Muster your courage and join us to show Arnold that we have an extraordinary power and presence and our voices will be heard.

Ashland Ashland, We All Stand Up

2005-10-10T21:16:00.000-07:00

This last weekend Breasts Not Bombs made their debut in Southern Oregon in the beautiful town square in Ashland. Media was present and so were many tourists wondering through the extremely quaint, friendly shops and bistros. We were joined by two beautiful local women and three others that drove all the way from Williams. We continue our educational work in handing out the Bill of Rights and taking back the definition of the word DECENCY. I must say it was a gorgeous action. Many were definitely entertained by our clever display and I even saw some women crying in the crowd when I myself was brought to tears in expressing our deep compassion and solidarity with people who are suffering through the indecencies of the Bush administration and the Multinational corporations who continue to rape and pillage the whole world.
The local newspaper covered us in the Sunday edition of the Mail Tribune. They did us great justice with a Front page flag photo, a local section flag photo and a big article in the local section with a picture. The article had great quotes and what appeared to be an objective reporter. I must also say the feeling of stanind there in our power is extraordinary and so ordinary at the same time. The feeling of power when the local police had to stand eye level with my breast and ask me ever so politely to stop using the bullhorn because I did not have a permit for sound was sublime. So strange, so simple. He showed great respect as I showed him as well.
Blessed be the mothers.
Stay tuned for the next Breasts Not Bombs coming to a town square near you.

We are in good international company

2005-10-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

It seems as though the need to bare one's breasts to GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION is quite useful to many of us around the world. It has come to a point, my friends, that women feel extremely motivated to stand up with tremendous courage to claim our rights in this world. I am honored to be in such powerful company. The Beat goes on.

Check out this article from South Africa

Protesters bare breasts for jobs

By Botho Molosankwe

Johannesburg motorists and pedestrians were treated to a mini-strip show
while on their way to work.

A group of women, some bare-breasted while others wore brassieres, protested
outside the offices of the Gauteng department of health in the city centre
on Tuesday morning.

Singing, jumping and raising placards, the women tried as much as they could
to attract attention on a busy Sauer Street.

Machinga kept telling the protesters to take off their clothes
While some passers-by looked horrified at what they saw, others, mostly men,
observed the women for some time with smiles on their faces.

The women were part of the group who had protested naked at the Union
Buildings on Women's Day in August.

They were aggrieved that they were being treated unfairly by the department
of health. The group claimed they had been promised jobs after volunteering
for three years at Masakhane, a company that specialises in hospital food
and linen in Rosslyn, Tshwane.

Waiver Machinga, the spokesperson for the group - who had his clothes on -
said that a few months ago, 25 of them were offered jobs, with the
department promising the rest of them they would be offered jobs if they
became available.

However, that never materialised, said Machinga.

'People cannot bully themselves into jobs'
On Monday, they spent the night outside the department's offices with the
hope of securing an appointment with Gauteng MEC for Health Gwen Ramokgopa.

Machinga, who kept telling the protesters to take off their clothes, said
they had staged the protest with the hope that Ramokgopa would put in
writing that, as soon the jobs became available, the volunteers would be
given preference.

Machinga said the reason for the nudity was because "if we do not draw
attention to ourselves, we will be ignored".

Ramokgopa's spokesperson Simon Zwane was surprised to learn there were
protesters outside the building requesting a meeting with the MEC. Zwane
pointed out that the volunteers were in no way attached to his department
and that no one had promised them jobs.

"As much as we sympathise with the protesters because of the high levels of
unemployment, people cannot bully themselves into jobs by protesting.

"There are procedures that have to be followed; we cannot just appoint
people because they are protesting," Zwane said.

Machinga said that two months ago, while at work, police had ordered them to
leave the Masakhane premises, with no reason given. He said he was hurt by
the action, especially after having worked for so long for nothing.

"After all those years, the thanks they gave us was to order us to leave,"
he said.

Zwane said the reason why volunteers were asked to stop was because the
department did not require permanent volunteers.

No one from the department of health addressed the group.

Keep Me Abreast

2005-10-03T23:03:00.000-07:00

It's thrilling to see the amount of enthusiasm and same mindedness when it comes to baring one's flesh in order to bring attention to life threatening issues. Daily Accounts flesh baring demonstrations are popping up on the internet and National newspapers. There's the story of PETA (People For Ethical Treatment of Animals) baring it all to protest the abuse of sheep in Austrailia and I just read today about another sister in Bozeman, Montana baring are skin and soul to accentuate cruelty to elephants in the circus. More power to the Peaceful.
Reactions to these kinds of demonstrations seem to hover in the incredulity department. Critics wonder why, but don't ask us directly. Their summation is "whatever".
Fortunately there are critics. People pay attention when a woman bares her breasts. And they even dare to ask the question "what do naked people have to do with sheep or with stopping the war in Iraq?". I find that inspiring. People asking questions is a healthy exercise for the mind. The mind that is filled with constant propaganda about consumption and power. The mind that accepts concepts and definitions that make no sense, like bombing Iraq to make peace in the Middle East!! So these brave activist are willing to take off their clothes to get you to think and talk about what is unjust and dangerous in the world, we do so especially in the name of those who have no voice at all.

Here is the essay that I first wrote when Janet Jackson inspired me to consider using the sacred feminine in public demonstrations.

Keep me Abreast

At the outset of Superbowl, 38,Patriots, not the football team, but the American Fans who love their country, were filled with a sense of pride and glory to see the astronauts of the future and relish in the memory of the one’s lost last year when the space craft Columbia disintegrated in space. That was a stellar moment. But when these same viewers witnessed the shocking wardrobe malfunction of Janet Jackson’s costume at halftime they recoiled in shame and turned off the television to seek some kind of comfort.

The surprising appearance of Janet Jackson’s Breast has caused a mighty furor on and about the airwaves. The “Crass and deplorable stunt” that occurred during the half-time show of the Superbowl over took National Headlines. The fact that George Bush Lied to the World and the American People about Saddam Hussein having weapons of mass destruction didn’t even make the paper that day. I guess Janet’s Breasts bounced it right off the front page. Am I also to believe that her breast exposure is more horrifying than the death of another six US soldiers and who knows how many Iraqi children and women. Or more indecent than the fact that people are being detained and tortured without any constitutional rights in Guantanamo Bay.

I understand that The FCC is going to order a probe into the Breast situation. They are going to probe the breast exposure. Is that correct? Is that the plan? Probably spend over a million, no probably 5 million dollars to find out how and why Ms. Jackson’s breast got loose. Isn’t it more in the best interest of American’s for there to be an investigation into Dick Cheney’s ties to Halliburton and his secret meetings with the energy taskforce.? Are you telling me that Janet Jackson’s nipple is somehow more dangerous than Blackwater Security and Bechtel profiting off the death of thousands?

What I have to surmise from this obsession with Janet Jackson’s breast is that the Breast is mightier than the sword. It seems as though we women have a secret weapon we knew nothing about. The power of the breast. Like any super hero underneath our everyday clothing lay our true identities . With the slip of some leather and the revelation of a little bit of flesh we command the front page. What shall we do with this power that lies beneath?

What would they do if women started exposing their breasts everywhere? What if we truly exposed our most vulnerable selves in the face of their unabashed destruction and war and oppression? What if we could highlight the fact that we as a nation are decimating the soft tissue of human beings of breasts and babies and children? That fact must find a way to rise from the ashes of the Corporate Media‘s complicity with the rise of what looks a lot like Global fascism. If we started taking off our shirts honey, those cameras would follow us everywhere. And our cause would be so obvious ; The issue is soft tissue.

They were terrified at Janet Jackson’s a½ cup, Just imagine us Double D girls on the move, backed up by wild and passionate drummers….Photo op anyone? I suggest we boldly go forth and take our power be the super sheros that we are underneath all these clothes.

The media blithely exploits our bodies to sell everything from car wax to cigarettes but if one breast is shown accidentally in it’s innocence or while nursing a baby or making love we are appalled. We are appalled. What madness leads us to this bizarre reaction to our very own bodies. The mammary is the place of our first nourishment, or sacred nutrition. There is no greater nurturing or beauty than that of the mother, but WE outlaw it.. We are told it is indecent and dirty and shameful. I say it is our power. I say it is our salvation . It’s front Page News.

Breasts Not Bombs/ The White House/S26

2005-09-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

Check out our Music Video
The Right to Bare Breasts
www.planetearthproductions.tv

S26 White House Breasts Not Bombs
When demonstrating for peace, the time has come to turn to the radical, the simple and essential. Though some who have witnessed the appearance of BREASTS NOT BOMBS in San Francisco, Berkeley, and now D.C. seem to think it is a beauty contest. Others who are courageous enough to participate feel it is an act of pure liberation, in fact a true example of what peace is, a true example of what freedom is. We discovered this in Wasington D.C. this past weekend at the Moibilzation for peace.

During the march on Saturday we spontaneously gathered our courage and dove headlong into actionin two locations. We were applauded, laughed at, encouraged and widely photographed. At one point it looked as thought the cops were coming through the park to get us, but they retreated quickly. We were standing in great power and it was perfectly legal.We were joined by women and young men who stood half naked with us to proclaim their solidarity. One beautiful young brother handed me a bullhorn (ours was on the fritz) We called out our chant. "Breasts Not Bombs, Titties Not Tanks, Nipples not Napalm, Mammaries not missles. The issue is SOFT TISSUE! Baring our Breasts in front of the White House and defining decency was the most radical, non-violent, effective action we could create for ourselves that day. And while many were arrested for sitting on the sidewalk and refusing to move. We were never threatened with arrest. Wow!

I have a feeling George Bush was peeking out from behind one of those curtains, how could he not?

This action gives women, of all sizes and shapes, which most of us are, an opportunity to ignore the ignorant and speak to the dangers that threaten us all. We are not concerned with your judgement of our breasts or underarm hair. We have got your attention and we will speak about the indecencies of the Bush Regime.

Illegal war against Iraq is indecent.
War on the Poor is indecent.
Fixing intelligence to go to war is indecent.
No bid contracts for Halliburton and Bechtel are indecent.
War profiteering is indecent.
Using depleted Uranium and chemical weapons in Iraq is indecent
Torturing prisoners of war is indecent.
Lying to the American Public about going to war is indecent.
Using 911 to justify every act of war and agression is indecent.
Karl Rove outing an undercover CIA operative is indecent.
Letting the People of the Gulf Coast Suffer for days after Katrina is indecent.
Ignoring a grieving mother sitting on your doorstep is Indecent.
and the list goes on and on.

Here are some of the comments from women who spontaneously joined our demonstration in D.C

"I wanted to extend my gratitude towards you both for giving myself and all the others such a beautiful oppurtunity for expression and demonstrating peace. A truly unique experiance - and beautiful at that. It is women like you who empower so many people. It was a true blessing to meet you both - and to come together through true sacredness."

"namaste sacred feminine!!!
thank you sooo much for such a liberating opportunity! thank you for being out there in the world and spreading such a sacred message!! i think it is soo important to remind people of those sacred truths!! that the body, especially the feminine body, is pure and *definetly* decent!!! the chants were great too! how clever and meaningful!! on so many levels!
It was a beautiful experience overall. you both have great eye connection too, very deep-felt.
it was wonderful to talk to you and share love and support!!!"

So it is at this time that we choose to make herstory (not his-story). We are birthing our a movement. A movement to recognize our breasts as the source of life, as the holy grail, survival itself not a titilating photo for your web page.

There were some fine photographs taken at the White House. I'll post more as they come in. Check out the links below.

Click here:

http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/FrameSet.aspx?s=ImagesSearchState%7c0%7c-1%7c28%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c1%7c%7c%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c7%7cwar%7c-8193%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0&p=&tag=7

and here:

http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/FrameSet.aspx?s=ImagesSearchState%7c0%7c-1%7c28%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c1%7c%7c%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c7%7ccrago%7c-8193%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0&p=7&tag=1

http://www.metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20050927-073419-8529r

Why Breasts not Bombs?
Why are we baring our breasts in public?

What do breasts have to do with the Iraq war?
We say this war as indecent.
We reject that exposing our breasts in public is indecent.
We say torture and cluster bombs are indecent.
We say using depleted uranium in our military hardware and spreading radiation throughout Iraq and in the bodies of own soldiers is indecent.
We say that there is something terribly wrong in a culture that easily allows the media to show thousands of violent images daily to our children but says women’s breasts are offensive.

We are here to bring attention to the fact that our young men and women have been sent to Iraq under flase pretenses and are needlessly killing people there and being killed as well - over 1,900 of them to date and over 15,000 more are terribly injured. We are here to bring attention to the fact that well over 28,000 Iraqi women and children and men have died since the beginning of the war.We are here as women who are the bearers of life and responsible for nursing into maturity, stand opposed to our children being killed around the world.
We are here to symbolize that we can live in a culture of nurturance (symbolized by the breast) not a culture of war. We are offering an alternative to war.

We will use our feminine nature to wake people up, to cause a stir, to arouse people from their (apathy, complacency)slumbers.We stand in a long line of women who have used their bodies, their femaleness to bring attention to a dire situation, among them:The brave women of Nigeria who won concessions in 1984 and 2002 from international oil companies who were destroying their towns and their communities. Several thousand women disrobed in 1984 and hundreds threatened to disrobe in 2002 at the oil facilities. The companies met their demands.We are not exhibitionists here to entertain perverted pleasures. We do not do this action easily or blithely. We know women’s bodies are used, abused and humiliated in this country and around the world. We know we are subject to this energy. But we cannot sit silent while this war continues. We will use our bodies to bring attention to the immoral injustices of war, its torturous prisons and obscene profits.

We know this is controversial and that we will be criticized.To our critics we say, if this action is not for you, please find one that is. Do not waste your energy in judgement of us; use it to further the cause of peace in our world. The world needs us now to take a stand. We believe that if women were safe to walk through the world with their breasts exposed we would all be safe. We are sick and tired of war. We are heartbroken over the senseless and ongoing loss of life.

This is our stand. What is yours?

There are even more reasons to expose our breasts.
Here are the threats to the breasts.
Bombs, cluster bombs, mercury, cancer, rape, molestation, silicon poisoning, pcbs in breast milk, Nestle's baby formula, arrest for indecent exposure, fines, and so on. If we look at it from the point of view of the one carrying the breasts, the mother, we see War, poverty, oppression, religious fundamentalism, slavery, prostitution, Child pornography, etc... etc.

The size and the use of my breasts is a subject of national debate because of a story in the San Francisco Chronicle that reported our breasts sizes.

SAN FRANCISCO
Baring their anti-war feelings
Fighting in Iraq is indecent, not their nakedness, they say
Meredith May, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, July 1, 2005

During an interview I did on the radio with Talk Show Radio's Michael Medved wanted to spend most of the first hour we talked on the size of my breasts. Luckily I had read George Lakoff's brilliant tutorial on reframing the debate. "Don't think of an Elephant" Check it out.

Personally I muust say that the size of my breasts is a factor that I consider when doing these actions. I realize that they are enormous, they seem to have a life of their own. It takes tremendous courage for me to reveal them because unlike some of the courageous small chested women, who you can still squeeze into immature teenage fantasies, mine are large and pendulous. I believe they are actually getting bigger. I feel them sweeling each day. Why? Because I believe they are full of sorrow, full of grief for the ungrieved suffering and death. Believe me, I try to deny this work, ignore this calling. I cannot.

Since we have taken our bodies into the streets I've been the focus of much conversation and speculation. Some of it rings with such hostility. I receive e-mails that are downright stunning as to what my body looks like to them. "Beastly" HUGE TITS" "Disgusting" "hideous" "Things like that. People calling me a moron, suggesting I should go to a mental hospital.

What to do in the face of such harsh criticism. So I tried it on. I'm wrong and I'm ugly and I'm crazy. And somehow it was allright. It was a relief, in fact, to stop fighting it. To surrender. A women wrote to me with extremely harsh words regarding my body and she went on and on about Hitler and Pol Pot and "Let Freedom ring" All I said to her was. "You're right. I hope that makes you happy." She told me her daughter was stationed in Iraq. I told her that I hoped her daughter comes home safe and sound." She wrote back "If I'm right, then you're wrong". Then she went on to say hse was sorry that she was so upset and she just wanted everyone safe. And I agreed. We found common ground. It wasn't until I gave up the need to be right that everything changed. Then when I gave up the need to be beautiful it was even more thrilling. To be liberated from this person's opinion of what is beautiful and what is not. Knowing my own beauty. And knowing that even if I am wrong and even if I am ugly and have "saggy sorry jugs" that they are the happiest jugs in the whole U.S.A.

My favorite interaction came from a retired Army Sargeant who served in Viet Nam. His e-mail began
"Do you have any "members with a DECENT HUMAN set of tits? All I have seen are OINKERS. Now I know the meaning of pornography. Put your shirts on Mothers" Our correspondence began that way and went on for a couple of weeks with a total of about five messages to each other. We came to realize that we were both angry and it wasn't really about each other. It was about the system that feeds the war. In the end we had built a bridge where we understood that neither meant the other any harm.
I said, you and I having a conversation and resolving in this way is an act of peace. It's an awesome ting to realize. Making peace with your "enemy". What a relief

Here's some accounts of Earlier actions. I'll post more when I have a chance.

Memorial Day Breasts Not Bombs - Press Democrat Santa Rosa, CA

I just wanted let you know about the the Breasts Not Bombs demonstration that happened outside the Press Democrat, In Santa Rosa California on Memorial Day.

We were blessed by a beautiful day and a busy street in Downtown Santa Rosa. Representatives from Grassrootswest.org, folks from ever active Mendocino County and The Butterfly Network, gathered at 427 Mendocino Ave at noon. It appeared that no one was in the building, however, shortly after we removed out shirts an employee of the PD came out and apologized for the lack of people at work. He was extremely respectful and supportive toward our action. He did eventually find a photographer who came out in the street and took a series of photos, from behind. Many people drove by and honked so much appreciation for our presence. After about an hour a police officer on motorcycle drove by and then parked on the corner where we stood. He said nothing. A patrol car came by and the two conferred. As they did, we spoke to a woman bicyclist who was wondering how it was that we were not being arrested. She happened to be in the traffic lane, so the motorcycle cop came up from behind and told her to move along out of the traffic. He said nothing to us. We remained on the street with signs saying, Media lies, people die. War Is Indecent
Honk for Peace, Breasts are beautiful, war is indecent. Cheney and Halliburton want you to Donate your children to their Cause. Butterflies not Bombs. Many passersby took photos. Folks from the Chinese restaurant across the street were extremely supportive and that really was a surprise to us.

It's an extraordinary experience to stand out in public exposed in this manner. At first it is a feeling of fear, but that is quickly replaced by liberation and power. A couple of us felt a presence, a strong presence of decency. A feeling that somehow that street at that moment was some how safe. It became ordinary for us to be standing with our breasts out in the world and claiming the streets like that. We hope for a day when all women in every country will be safe to walk freely through her life safe, proud and strong in her body.

After about an hour and a half a police officer returned and asked that we put our shirts on because he was concerned that there might be a traffic accident. He seemed genuinely concerned, but we assured him that we had been there a while and with the traffic light right there, we felt it was a truly good location and all was well. The funny thing is, we were standing there half naked having this very cool conversation with the cop. Like I said, extraordinarily ordinary. By that time we were tired, hot and hungry and agreed to get dressed. Folks were very pleased, empowered and inspired by the whole thing. I know those who witnessed it will definitely tell the story.

We plan on doing more actions in the near future and hope to give folks more advanced notice.

By the way, according to the County, being bare breasted in Sonoma County is an infraction of the law. But according to Alan Moore of the Butterfly network, Federal law protects nudity in the act of demonstration under the 1st amendment. I will look into that and pass it on to you all.

There was no mention or picture in the Press Democrat yesterday or today, so I've written a letter to the editor. We'll see.

May those who died in war, rest in Peace