2011 has certainly been a splashy pink year in exposing the truth about policy makers, decision makers and elected officials who have publicly failed, sometimes miserably, in the struggle for equality, civil liberties, accountability, peace and social justice. Below are some highlights from a memorable year. Almost everything was caught on camera!

Activists across the country, including CODEPINK spent the year confronting Bush, John Yoo, Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, John Bolton, Henry Kissinger and others for war crimes. Meanwhile up north in Canada, a Senate Page, Brigette DePape, silently stood up on the floor of the Senate chamber with a “Stop Harper” sign. Stephen Harper is the current Prime Minister of Canada and the leader of the Conservative Party. Harper has been leading Canada with a conservative agenda since 2006. Activists oppose Harper’s administration because of its “alienation of university students, expanding prisons, cutting art funds and then redirecting it to military spending.”

As President Obama spoke at the Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, California, CODEPINK activists created a Facebook campaign telling the president to ‘Update Your War Status’ referring to the U.S. military intervention in Libya and the continued military spending in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Barack Obama, during his campaign, promised to close Guantanamo and end torture. American voters have recognized the costs of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Libya–lives lost, international cooperation thwarted, and tax dollars squandered. The Obama administration has authorized unmanned drone attacks in Pakistan, in direct contravention of international law, and an attack in Afghanistan that resulted in the deaths of many civilians. Watch the CODEPINK intervention team engage President Obama outside the White House.

Former Minnesota Governor and GOP Presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty visited San Francisco where he was “glittered” by CODEPINK activists. If elected, the former presidential candidate said he would reinstate Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (the ban on openly-gay service). As Governor of Minnesota he vetoed a bill that would have allowed surviving partners of same-sex couples the right to decide what to do with their loved one’s deceased body, because he believes in “traditional marriage”.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney’s book “In My Time” hit the shelves at local bookstores earlier this year. At the kick off of Cheney’s media book tour, CODEPINK cofounder Medea Benjamin inspired activists to take action in moving Cheney’s book to the Crime section in bookstores in her 10 reasons to move Cheney’s book.

 CODEPINK Co-Founder Jodie Evans Disrupts War Criminal Dick Cheney

Using social media to its full advantage to protest Cheney’s new book, activists had created a Twitter handle (@fakecheney) and hashtag #InMyTime, joined a Facebook group, taken pictures of moving books for a Flicker slideshow, filmed a YouTube video and downloaded, printed and inserted “Doin Time” bookmarks. Even actor Alec Baldwin got in on the action and tweeted how he felt about Cheney’s new book. If anything, Cheney’s resurrection has inspired creative action and opened old wounds.

Dick Cheney managed to stay in the news for most of the year defending torture and insisting the intelligence to invade Iraq was correct. His visit to left-leaning San Francisco didn’t go unnoticed. Activists with CODEPINK, World Can’t Wait, National Accountability Network, PDA and OccupySF held a protest inside and outside the Palace Hotel where Cheney was addressing a luncheon full of investors. Read more about Cynthia Papermaster confronting Dick Cheney inside the investor’s conference.

There’s been a wave of political disruptions taking the 1% by storm! Well-known figures such as Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice and former Goldman Sachs CEO Henry Paulson had to take refuge and others like Karl Rove simply “lost his mind”. The 99% has moved its persistency against social and economic inequality and greed from outside the urban camps to inside convention rooms and university auditoriums, flexing their new voices for real change and using the people’s microphone: “Mic Check!”.

After years of CODEPINK disruptions, it’s refreshing to see the Occupy Wall Street Movement take the reins of a tactic that requires nerves of steel to address those who should not be feted in a country with high unemployment, high foreclosures, expensive health insurance, bloated military budget, expensive tuition and skyrocketing homeless communities. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2012!

There’s a wave of political disruptions taking the 1% by storm causing known figures such as Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice and former Goldman Sachs CEO Henry Paulson to take refuge and causing others like Karl Rove to simply “lose his mind”. The 99% has moved its persistency against social and economic inequality and greed from outside the urban camps to inside convention rooms and university auditoriums, flexing their new voices for real change.

Former and current politicians along with CEOs travel across the country with some earning six-figures in cash to speak to large groups representing the 1%. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was at one such event, speaking to members at the exclusive Union League Club of Chicago. Walker is well-known for his union busting tactics of eliminating collective bargaining rights for public employees in Wisconsin, which sparked a workers uprising where citizens occupied the State Capitol earlier this year. Walker’s visit to Chicago did not go unnoticed by the teacher’s union and community groups. Inside the event, the human microphone “mic check”, used in the Occupy movement, boisterously stated, “Governor Walker has vilified unions and insulted the 99%….”

While politicians are on the campaign trail selling books or raising funds from the 99% to be the next big honcho, the Occupy movement has too been hot on the trail. The Washington Post newspaper reports members of Occupy Minnesota purchased books at a Michele Bachmann book signing on Black Friday to have the opportunity to speak with her directly at the Mall of America. Bachmann just as Governor Walker was “mic check’d” at a previous event. President Barack Obama hasn’t gone unscathed by the disruptions. At a high school in Manchester, New Hampshire, the Occupy movement brilliantly “mic check’d” Obama highlighting the issue of the over 4000 peaceful protesters who have been arrested across the country and even handing him a note.

Although Bachmann and Barack handled the disruptions to the best of their abilities, Karl Rove took a different approach and engaged the audience in a shouting match, belittling the efforts of the movement. Occupy Baltimore staged a “mic check” at John Hopkins University where Rove was to address an audience, calling on his history as the architect of the Iraq war.

CODEPINK is no stranger to disrupting key events, spending time in jail and shaking the pillars of power when addressing war criminals and members of Congress at public hearings on the Hill. After years of disruptions, it’s refreshing to have a movement take on the reins of a tactic that requires nerves of steel to address those who should not be feted in a country with high unemployment, high foreclosures, expensive health insurance, expensive tuition and skyrocketing homeless communities.

So, hats off to the agents of disruption! We love the 99%! 

During a visit to the state of Washington, Karl Rove was met with opposition from demonstrators protesting his intent to buy the 2012 election with corporate funds. Leading the charge at the demonstration was former U.S. ambassador Joe Wilson whose wife Valerie Plame was exposed as a C.I.A. agent by members of the Bush administration.

Once again a resolution supporting the closure of the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo will go before the Berkeley City Council. As part of the resolution, the is city is being asked to host one or two former detainees who have been freed and cleared of charges as part of a resettlement project. Residents of Berkeley have volunteered to house former Guantanamo detainees.

Former U.S. President George W. Bush was given an un-welcoming in the Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Brigette DePape, former Senate Page who spoke out against Harper’s administration, addressed the protesters.

As activists were outside holding a demonstration against the former president, human rights legal organization, Center for Constitutional Rights was pushing for a lawsuit through the Canadian courts on behalf of a former Guantanamo detainee.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was greeted by demonstrators, with arrest warrants, outside Portland State University where alums, community members and veterans were outraged and appalled by her appearance.

In her roles as National Security Adviser and Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice approved and apologized for numerous war crimes on behalf of the Bush Administration. Using visions of mushroom clouds and other scare tactics, she convinced the American public of the necessity of waging an illegal war. She also allowed torture to displace diplomacy as the hallmark of the US foreign policy. Employing circuitous logic and Nixonian explanations, Rice recently explained away our misunderstandings about torture and international obligations: “By definition, if it was authorized by the president, it did not violate our obligations in the Convention Against Torture.”

Former Vice President Dick Cheney manages to stay in the news defending torture and insisting the intelligence to invade Iraq was correct. He has praised President Obama’s use of targeted assassination and felt the White House should apologize to former Bush administration officials for criticizing enhanced interrogation. President Obama has increased drone attacks, killing supposed enemies without trial or due process. In these attacks innocent civilians including women and children have perished. The drone industry continues to receive a surplus of funds from the government to continue to operate while much needed programs in the country are being cut. CODEPINK cofounders Medea Benjamin and Jodie Evans speak out against manufacturer General Atomics, maker of the killer Predator and Reaper drones.

Donald Rumsfeld continues on the speaking circuit across the globe. He received a real patriotic welcoming from members of Veterans for Peace and CODEPINK while in Boston. Rumsfeld helped craft the invasion of Iraq and lied the country into war.

Rumsfeld found himself going toe-to-toe with Al-Jazeera news. If you recall, while working as cameraman with Al-Jazeera news, Sami al-Hajj was detained in Pakistan and wrongfully held for six years at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo.

Former President George W. Bush is expected to receive an un-welcoming from the city of Surrey in Canada later in the month. Amnesty International and other human right groups are urging the government of Canada to arrest the former president when he enters the country. Even though there has been a public outcry against Bush traveling to Canada, former Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg has been denied entry into the maple leaf country. Begg who has traveled throughout Europe, Northern Africa, Middle East and Central Asia speaking out against his wrongful detainment, flew into Montreal and was taken into custody and denied entry.

Karl Rove was the latest politician to get “glitter-bombed” by gay rights advocates in Minneapolis. Rove and former President Bush are opposed to same-sex marriage. Rove does not regret his or Bush’s stance on this issue.

The controversial media-mogul Rupert Murdoch whose company News of the World faced allegations of hacking the phone numbers of private citizens was speaking at an education conference in San Francisco. In true San Francisco spirit, Morduch was greeted by demonstrators from Occupy Sesame Street and US Uncut, an organization holding corporations accountable through creative actions.

San Francisco activists including CODEPINK staged a protest outside the Marine Memorial where ‘Torture Memo’ author John Yoo was speaking at a Young Republican event.

Also speaking at the event was Ann Coulter and Andrew Breitbart. John Yoo was Bush’s Top Legal Lackey in helping to create the construct for torture. As Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Legal Counsel, John Yoo was dubbed “Dr. Yes” signing off on the legal opinions purporting the use of torture was legal as a part of the president’s vast wartime powers.

Military spouse Ashley Joppa-Hageman attended a Donald Rumsfeld book signing event at Ft. Lewis, Washington where she handed Rumsfeld a copy of her husband’s funeral program, explaining that her husband joined the military because of his lies. Donald Rumsfeld lied about WMDs and spent $3 trillion on the war in Iraq that killed over 4,000 US soldiers and 1.4 million Iraqis. He suspended the Geneva Conventions, approved countless acts of torture in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, and held prisoners indefinitely without access to legal counsel.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney’s book “In My Time” hit the shelves at local bookstores across the country to wide spread criticism from former Bush administration officials such as Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell to anti-war and human rights organizations. At the kick off of Cheney’s media book tour, Amnesty International was persistent in holding a no torture presence outside the barricades of the Today Show in New York City. CODEPINK cofounder Medea Benjamin inspired activists to take action in moving Cheney’s book to the Crime section in bookstores in her 10 reasons to move Cheney’s book.

Using social media to its full advantage to protest Cheney’s new book, activists had created a Twitter handle (@fakecheney) and hashtag #InMyTime, joined a Facebook group, taken pictures of moving books for a Flicker slideshow, filmed a YouTube video and downloaded, printed and inserted “Doin Time” bookmarks. Even actor Alec Baldwin got in on the action and tweeted how he felt about Cheney’s new book. If anything, Cheney’s resurrection has inspired creative action and opened old wounds.

In her piece  “Cheney, Rumsfeld and the Dark Art of Propaganda” DemocracyNow! Amy Goodman threads Cheney’s book release and military spouse Ashley Joppa-Hageman action against Rumsfeld together.

There are still others to be held accountable, CODEPINK activists in Dallas staged a protest presence outside of the Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference where Karl Rove was keynote.

Rove was intimately involved in the treasonous act of exposing the identity of covert American intelligence officer Valerie Plame for political retribution. “Only an energized and politically active public can make those prosecutions happen,” said one of the CODEPINK members. “War criminals must be publicly exposed and prevented from occupying powerful or influential positions within our society.”

Hundreds of protesters in Minneapolis protested outside the Convention Center where President Barack Obama was speaking to the American Legion. Former FBI Whistleblower Coleen Rowley writes Minneapolis Message to Obama Was Clear: Bring the War $$ Home.

On September 14, Karl Rove was speaking in Washington DC at a luncheon for the Legislative Conference of the American College of Cardiology. Perhaps the cardiologists wanted to see how a guy without a heart can continue to breathe and give lectures and evade accountability for his crimes!

DC CODEPINKers Joan Stallard, Brian Van Sykle and I went to greet him at the restaurant Johnny’s Half Shell. With our business attire and very little pink on, we got into the restaurant on the pretense of having lunch there. Rove’s party was in a private room, but we were monitoring it from our corner booth. When Rove started his speech, we burst into the luncheon room. Joan and I walked right up to the podium while Brian tried to get close enough to film. Karl was in mid-sentence when he saw us coming forward and blurted out, “These women are from CODEPINK!” We took out our handcuffs and proceeded to call for a citizen’s arrest and read the charges against him. We brought up the Iraq war lies, torture and Guantanamo, the manipulation of the 2000 and 2004 elections, and the new charges outlined by American Crossroads Watch against Rove’s plans to rig the upcoming elections in favor of corporate interests.

Rove immediately grabbed the handcuffs from my hand, and some of the guests started yelling for us to get out. The owner came running and threw us out. As we collected ourselves outside, one of the waiters came out to politely give us some signs we had left behind.

I’m sure Rove recovered quickly and went on to spew his lies. By now he must be accustomed to citizens demanding his arrest. But perhaps we at least caused him some indigestion!

Demand accountability and an end to dirty tricks! Arrest Karl Rove!!!