Concepcion Picciotto
Encyclopedia
Concepcion Picciotto also known as Conchita or Connie, has lived in Lafayette Square on the 1600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue
in Washington, D.C.
, in a peace camp
across from the White House
, since August 1, 1981, in protest of nuclear arms. She has carried on the longest continuous act of political protest in the United States.
Born Concepción Martín in Vigo
, Spain, she immigrated to the United States at the age of 18. She worked in New York at the Spanish consulate. She fell in love with an Italian businessman and married him at 21. However, a bitter separation and custody battle cost her her home, her daughter and her job.
Picciotto was inspired by fellow activists William Thomas (who originally began the protest and died in 2009) and Norman Mayer
(who was shot by capitol police in 1982). She currently trades off occupation of the camp with a friend, Jay McGinley, who goes by the name Start Loving.
Picciotto was featured in Michael Moore
's 2004 film Fahrenheit 9/11
.
Pennsylvania Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue is a street in Washington, D.C. that joins the White House and the United States Capitol. Called "America's Main Street", it is the location of official parades and processions, as well as protest marches...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in a peace camp
Peace camp
Peace camps are a form of physical protest camp that is focused on anti-war activity. They are set up outside military bases by members of the peace movement who oppose either the existence of the military bases themselves, the armaments held there, or the politics of those who control the bases...
across from the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, since August 1, 1981, in protest of nuclear arms. She has carried on the longest continuous act of political protest in the United States.
Born Concepción Martín in Vigo
Vigo
Vigo is a city and municipality in north-west Spain, in Galicia, situated on the ria of the same name on the Atlantic Ocean.-Population:...
, Spain, she immigrated to the United States at the age of 18. She worked in New York at the Spanish consulate. She fell in love with an Italian businessman and married him at 21. However, a bitter separation and custody battle cost her her home, her daughter and her job.
Picciotto was inspired by fellow activists William Thomas (who originally began the protest and died in 2009) and Norman Mayer
Norman Mayer
Norman David Mayer was an American anti-nuclear weapons activist who was shot and killed by the United States Park Police after threatening to blow up the Washington Monument.-Early life:...
(who was shot by capitol police in 1982). She currently trades off occupation of the camp with a friend, Jay McGinley, who goes by the name Start Loving.
Picciotto was featured in Michael Moore
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
's 2004 film Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11 is a 2004 documentary film by American filmmaker and political commentator Michael Moore. The film takes a critical look at the presidency of George W. Bush, the War on Terror, and its coverage in the news media...
.
See also
- Brian HawBrian HawBrian William Haw was an English protester and peace campaigner who lived for almost ten years in a camp in London's Parliament Square from 2001, in a protest against UK and US foreign policy...
, an English protester who lived in a similar peace camp in Parliament SquareParliament SquareParliament Square is a square outside the northwest end of the Palace of Westminster in London. It features a large open green area in the middle, with a group of trees to its west. It contains statues of famous statesmen and is the scene of rallies and protests, as well as being a tourist...
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, from 2001 until his death in 2011
External links
- Official site
- Video interview with Concepcion Picciotto by CQ Politics
- Interview with Concepcion Picciotto by DCist