WASHINGTON – (dpa) – U.S. presidents come and go but Concepcion Picciotto prevails. For 20 years now “Connie”, as she’s known to friends, has been holding an anti-nuclear vigil outside the White House and she knows no sign of relenting.
On a typically cold winter’s day Picciotto feels the freezing temperatures keenly. Her tattered anorak is no good at keeping out the biting wind and only a piece of plastic sheeting between the colourful protest placards offers some protection.It was in June 1981 that Spanish-born Picciotto decided to spend her life on the streets. Since then, she and a gallery of offbeat characters have kept up a 24-hour vigil regardless of snow, frost or sweltering heat.“They won’t get rid of me,” says Picciotto stubbornly before using a handkerchief to wipe the dew off her collection of poster-sized photographs. These depict the horrific burns of Hiroshima atomic bomb victims and other images from her earlier anti-nuclear campaigning days.Back then Connie and other activists posted themselves in front of the fence around the White House but in Ronald Reagan’s inaugural year police were sent in to bustle her into Lafayette Park across the street from the mansion.“I shall die here to if they don’t get rid of the nuclear weapons,” said the tiny woman. Her black wig makes it look as if she is wearing a bicycle helmet.The wind and extremes of climate have left her face with deep lines. The frost has left its mark on her cheeks and the hands she uses daily to feed the squirrels and pigeons are grey and gnarled. “I hardly get any sleep,” said Picciotto. “At night the police go up and down, lift up the plastic sheeting and ask me if I’m still awake.”Camping is not allowed in the park and the rules are being tightened all the time. “I’m not allowed to leave so I have to sleep sitting upright.” Chairs are not allowed either.Picciotto is also frightened to let go of her dirty blankets, shoeboxes full of newspaper clippings and protest placards in case police confiscate them. Picciotto has been to prison and beaten up several times by patriotic passers-by, angry at her vigil.“The USA is a bunch of terrorists,” croaks the old lady. “They supply the world with arms and force them to do their bidding.”Picciotto believes sees the nuclear threat everywhere, including in the Balkans where NATO depleted uranium ammunition recently hit the headlines. The activist, who has both a Spanish and a U.S. passport, is well-informed. She saves newspaper articles every day and files them away in her “archive”.At the homes of friends and supporters she regularly surfs the Internet, updates her website and answers e-mails from all over the world. That’s when students, out-of-work acquaintances and other supporters step in for a few hours.It’s the same when she needs to go to the toilet. She usually nips off to the nearest McDonald’s restaurant since the public toilets in the park are closed.During Bill Clinton’s tenure in the White House Picciotto had a quieter time. First Lady Hillary allegedly once ordered a plate of sandwiches to be sent to the inveterate protestor although no one from the White House has ever spoken a word to her.She often talks to tourists though and some of them give her a dollar. “I never beg though,” she said firmly.Picciotto earns a little money with her painting, daubed stones with pictures of white birds that she calls “peace doves” or ones with the Chinese Yin-Yang symbol. She used to enjoy a good salary when she worked at the Spanish consulate and she was once employed by the United Nations as a translator.At the age of 23 though Picciotto experienced a trauma. “It’s a very complicated story,” she sighed. The confusing tale, page after page of it, has been posted on the Internet for all to read.It seems that after breaking up with her husband, an Italian businessman, the then-young, attractive woman spent years fighting in vain for custody of their adopted daughter. That was what made her take to the streets in the first place.She was seeking justice – for herself. Now she wants it for the whole world.
