Pete Perry
Encyclopedia
Peter Perry was born in Washington, DC on October 31, 1969. He is a peace and social justice activist who has been affiliated with the DC Anti-War Network (DAWN) and the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
(NCNR).
Perry helped organize one of the protests on the second inauguration of President George W. Bush on January 20, 2005 in Washington DC.
On February 9, 2005 Perry and activists David Barrows and Midge Potts
protested US torture and the nomination and confirmation hearings of Alberto Gonzalez for United States Attorney General. The demonstration occurred on the steps of The United States Supreme Court. The three were subsequently convicted in DC Superior Court June 30, 2005 for violating Title 40 sec. 6135 of US Code. However, they appealed to DC Superior Court and on January 23, 2007 in that appeal, the Czech Ambassador to The United Nations, Martin Palous
, appeared on their behalf.
Perry, Barrows, with Mike Ferner
, a member of Veterans for Peace, and Malachy Kilbride
interrupted the US House Appropriations Committee in March 2006 that was in the process of voting on $67,000,000,000 in military funding for the US war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Perry continued protesting the Iraq War, and as a resident of Maryland he joined other peace activists in early 2007 "occupying" the Capitol Hill office of Senator Barbara Mikulski
.
By 2008 Perry had expanded his activism with the Washington Peace Center
to include addressing the apparent rise in anti-gay violence in Washington DC. Due to several violent anti-gay attacks Perry organized with other communities in Washington DC.
Perry was a lead organizer of one of the first anti-war protests at the White House during President Barack Obama
's administration in October 2009. This action resulted in more than 60 peaceful protesters arrested on the White House sidewalk.
On May 21, 2009 Perry, Steve Mihalis, Eve Tetaz
, and Ellen Barfield protested the funding of the spreading war and the occupation of Afghanistan. They interrupted Admiral Michael Mullen
, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as he spoke to US Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair, US Senator John Kerry
. The committee was discussing President Barack Obama
's counter-terrorism strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Perry stood up and quoted Senator Kerry's own words from Kerry's antiwar protests in which he said "“How do you ask someone to be the last American soldier to die for a mistake?”
As a result of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee protest, Perry and Barfield were sentenced by Judge Lynn Liebovitz in December 2009 after being convicted by a jury. Barfield was sentenced to 25 days in jail, and Perry received a four-day sentence. They were also given lengthy stay-away orders from Capitol Hill. Tetaz was also sentenced to 25 days in jail on January 25, 2010.
in 2007.
In 2011 Perry is an organizer with the Bradley Manning Support Network.
National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
Founded in 2002, the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance is a nationwide network of individuals and organizations committed to ending the war in Iraq, utilizing the nonviolent practices and disciplines of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr...
(NCNR).
Perry helped organize one of the protests on the second inauguration of President George W. Bush on January 20, 2005 in Washington DC.
On February 9, 2005 Perry and activists David Barrows and Midge Potts
Midge Potts
Midgelle Regina Potts - known as Midge Potts - is a transgender peace activist and Navy veteran who ran as a Progressive Party candidate in the 2010 Missouri Senate election...
protested US torture and the nomination and confirmation hearings of Alberto Gonzalez for United States Attorney General. The demonstration occurred on the steps of The United States Supreme Court. The three were subsequently convicted in DC Superior Court June 30, 2005 for violating Title 40 sec. 6135 of US Code. However, they appealed to DC Superior Court and on January 23, 2007 in that appeal, the Czech Ambassador to The United Nations, Martin Palous
Martin Palouš
Martin Palouš is the Permanent Representative to the United Nations for the Czech Republic. He presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 11 September 2006...
, appeared on their behalf.
Perry, Barrows, with Mike Ferner
Mike Ferner
Mike Ferner is a former Toledo, Ohio city council member, Vietnam era veteran, author, and peace activist. He is a member of the POCLAD collective. Toledo had the most active campaign in the country for municipal public power in the late 1980s and early '90s...
, a member of Veterans for Peace, and Malachy Kilbride
Malachy Kilbride
Malachy Kilbride is an Irish-American Social Justice and Peace Activist who primarily works with Washington Peace Center in Washington DC where he also serves as a member of the board. He was born in New York City and spent part of his childhood in Dublin, Ireland...
interrupted the US House Appropriations Committee in March 2006 that was in the process of voting on $67,000,000,000 in military funding for the US war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Perry continued protesting the Iraq War, and as a resident of Maryland he joined other peace activists in early 2007 "occupying" the Capitol Hill office of Senator Barbara Mikulski
Barbara Mikulski
Barbara Ann Mikulski is the senior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Mikulski, a former U.S. Representative, is the longest-serving female senator in U.S...
.
By 2008 Perry had expanded his activism with the Washington Peace Center
Washington Peace Center
The Washington Peace Center grew from The Vigil to Stop Biological Weapons at Fort Detrick, which was maintained in Frederick, Maryland from 1959 through 1961. In 1961 vigil coordinator Larry Scott and other vigilers moved to the nation’s capital to start the Washington Peace Action Center...
to include addressing the apparent rise in anti-gay violence in Washington DC. Due to several violent anti-gay attacks Perry organized with other communities in Washington DC.
Perry was a lead organizer of one of the first anti-war protests at the White House during President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's administration in October 2009. This action resulted in more than 60 peaceful protesters arrested on the White House sidewalk.
On May 21, 2009 Perry, Steve Mihalis, Eve Tetaz
Eve Tetaz
Eve Tetaz, 78, is a retired Washington, D.C. public-school teacher and a peace and justice activist. Tetaz was arrested 11 times in 2007 for nonviolent civil resistance during protests against the war and occupation of Iraq...
, and Ellen Barfield protested the funding of the spreading war and the occupation of Afghanistan. They interrupted Admiral Michael Mullen
Michael Mullen
Michael Glenn "Mike" Mullen is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral, who served as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2011. Mullen previously served as the Navy's 28th Chief of Naval Operations from July 22, 2005 to September 29, 2007...
, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as he spoke to US Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair, US Senator John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
. The committee was discussing President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's counter-terrorism strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Perry stood up and quoted Senator Kerry's own words from Kerry's antiwar protests in which he said "“How do you ask someone to be the last American soldier to die for a mistake?”
As a result of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee protest, Perry and Barfield were sentenced by Judge Lynn Liebovitz in December 2009 after being convicted by a jury. Barfield was sentenced to 25 days in jail, and Perry received a four-day sentence. They were also given lengthy stay-away orders from Capitol Hill. Tetaz was also sentenced to 25 days in jail on January 25, 2010.
Other activities
Perry was the coordinator of the Washington Peace CenterWashington Peace Center
The Washington Peace Center grew from The Vigil to Stop Biological Weapons at Fort Detrick, which was maintained in Frederick, Maryland from 1959 through 1961. In 1961 vigil coordinator Larry Scott and other vigilers moved to the nation’s capital to start the Washington Peace Action Center...
in 2007.
In 2011 Perry is an organizer with the Bradley Manning Support Network.