To: SF DA Brooke Jenkins
Re.: SF Superior Ct. Case CRI-24005068

Drop The Charges Against Peace Activist Cynthia Papermaster!

On February 11, 2024 a non-violent, peaceful, non-arrestable, and dramatic action to pressure Nancy Pelosi to demand a cease-fire and to stop funding the Israeli genocide was held at Pelosi’s San Francisco home, organized by Cynthia Papermaster of CODEPINK and attended by dozens of pro-peace activists. The action included a skit, writing valentines with anti-genocide messages to Pelosi, an altar of children's shoes memorializing the children killed in Gaza, singing, and -- to mark the end of Papermaster's 20-day fast for Gaza-- homemade "scones not drones". The action was held at Pelosi's house because constituents in anguish over the genocide in Gaza have no way to communicate with their Member of Congress; her San Francisco office has been closed for years; emails and phone calls are ignored. U.S. laws say there is a duty to prevent a genocide and it is a crime to aid or abet one. On February 11, Cynthia and many other anti-genocide activists took that duty seriously, and in a symbolic expression of grief and outrage over the slaughter of innocent civilians in Gaza, used diluted nonpermanent washable red paint, including placing symbolic red handprints at various places outside of Nancy Pelosi’s home. The red paint was meant to suggest the immense bloodshed, starvation and destruction in Gaza that Pelosi, a powerful member of Congress, has a responsibility to stop. It was assumed that the diluted nonpermanent washable paint would cause no damage. The activists relied on the paint manufacturer’s guarantee of washability, otherwise the paint would not have been used.
This should not be a felony!
We are asking DA Jenkins to drop the charges.