Protesters Disrupt Nancy Pelosi’s Book Talk in San Diego, Calling for End to U.S. Military Aid

CODEPINK News

Peace activists disrupted former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi during her book talk Tuesday evening at San Diego’s Balboa Theatre. The pro-Palestinian activists rallied outside to inform attendees and passersby of the career politician’s complicity in violence toward women, children, and civilians in Gaza, Lebanon, and many other places. 

While promoting her recent memoir The Art of Power, Pelosi was interrupted by members of several activist organizations, including CODEPINK San Diego, San Diego Faith Leaders for Palestine, Raging Grannies, Activist San Diego, and San Diego BDS.

The protesters called out Pelosi’s support of U.S. military actions abroad, particularly in Palestine, Lebanon, and Ukraine, and demanded that she take action to halt the flow of U.S. weapons to conflict zones. 

"Nancy Pelosi is one of the most powerful people on the planet," one activist said. "We demand she do more to stop U.S.-led violence in Palestine, Lebanon, and elsewhere, and that she stop funding the violence."

The protestors' message focused on Pelosi's long tenure in Congress, where she has enabled U.S. military policies that contribute to violence abroad. Shouts from the crowd included calls to "stop sending weapons to kill kids in Palestine" and to promote diplomacy rather than "endless fueling of atrocities." Two people shouted, “Nancy Pelosi, use your voice for good! Children are dying in Gaza and Lebanon! No boots on the ground, no bombs in the air, US out of everywhere!” while being forced to leave by security.

Pelosi continued with her scheduled talk amid a steady stream of disruptions. Security quickly intervened each time, but not before the demonstration drew attention to activists' demands. At one point she mocked protestors’ focus on killing children, saying that sometimes you have to “throw a punch” and after a pause for emphasis, added “for the children,” eliciting forceful applause from most of the audience. During each disruption, Pelosi repeated the usual Democrat talking points like “humanitarian assistance…two state solution…Roe v. Wade.” 

Outside the venue, activists described their demands to hundreds of attendees who slowly moved in lines, waiting to pass through metal detectors. One speaker noted, “We want these Democrats to stop sending money to Israel to bomb innocent people,” followed by chants of “Democrats, have you no shame? Stop the bombing in our name.” and “Funding another Holocaust, forcing us to pay the cost.” 

Another speaker stated, “124 nations voted in the UN to pass a resolution, making it illegal under international law to continue to support the terrorist state of Israel. In addition, the US has Leahy Laws to prohibit and forbid our own government from funding terrorism. …Every penny Joe that Biden writes a check to israel is a violation of U.S. and international law. As chants began of “Nancy Pelosi, face the facts. Time to comply with the Leahy Act,” a few passersby joined the chants, and two security guards smiled and danced briefly to the chant rhythms.

One woman joined the protesters afterward for an organizing debrief, reporting that she had originally come as a participant of the event. She had bought two signed copies of Pelosi's book, and was prepared to sit in the audience to hear Nancy Pelosi speak. After hearing from the first disruptor on the inside, she said to herself, "I'm on the wrong side here - I belong outside, with those protestors," and immediately left to join the outside rally. 

No arrests were reported.