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Was Concepcion Picciotto Attacked With Nerve Gas?
by Cora Wandel
Title
Was Concepcion Picciotto Attacked With Nerve Gas?
Artist
Cora Wandel
Medium
Photograph
Description
I had not seen Concepcion, or Connie, in her seat across the street from the White House for a few weeks, so I inquired about her and was told she was very sick. "She's much older than she admits," said one of her compatriots. "She's about 85 years old, and diabetes has taken its toll. The bottom of her legs are all messed up. That's all I know. They won't let me see her." Connie had been in a local hospital, then taken to a place unknown for further care, and no one knew where she was after leaving the hospital. "But she'll be back," the man said. So last weekend as I walked on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House, there was Connie, back at her post outside her famous plastic tent, full of anti-this-and-that signs and pamphlets, and as usual, there was a sign resting on her lap, and another held up in her hand. I told Connie that it was good to see her, that I had heard of her health problems, and that I hoped she was feeling better. She looked down at her red, blistered legs, where skin had peeled off and there was a big bandage, and said "My legs! Look, my legs!" and because her English is not very good, she pointed to a sign to her left -- Connie is her most articulate through signs and pamphlets -- and the sign read "USA Zionist government attacked Concepcion with gas subjected painful nerve block." I said, "You were attacked with nerve gas?" and she said "Yes! See, my legs!". "By the United States Zionist government?" I further asked. "Yes! Yes!" she replied emphatically. I have an opinion as to the accuracy of her story, but the bottom line for me is, she's back, back at her post where she has been since 1981, and God bless her. I do not know of anyone who has been so persistent in exercising their First Amendment right to free speech as Concepcion Picciotto. In fact, she holds the record for conducting the longest continuous act of political protest in the United States by a single individual, and throughout it all, for 34 years, she has looked directly across the street at the White House, beginning with the presidency of Ronald Reagan, and up to Barack Obama.
Note: Connie Picciotto died on January 25, 2016 in Washington, DC. Rest in peace, Connie.
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November 21st, 2015
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