U.S. Citizens for Peace & Justice - Rome Italy anti-war demonstration in Rome

Past Events


Solidarity with Bradley Manning
December 17, 2011

No to "war as usual"
March 19, 2010

Winter Soldier Europe
March 14, 2009

Palestinian Flags Flutter
Alongside Peace Banners

January 17, 2009

Close Guantanamo Now!
January 17, 1009

10-Day Vigil for Gaza
January 8-18, 2009

Supporting La'Onf
October 29, 2008

Free the Cuban 5
Sept 13, 2008

Cheney in Chains
Sept 8, 2008

No Bush, No War
June 11, 2008

May Day ILWU Solidarity Action
May 1, 2008

War Tax Day
April 15, 2008

World Social Forum Global Day of Action
Jan 26, 2008

Shut Down Guantánamo Now!
Jan 11, 2008

No U.S. Military Base in Vicenza
Dec 15, 2007

Meeting Iranian Artists
Dec 05, 2007

End the War in Iraq, No War on Iran
Oct 27, 2007

Report on Final Days of No Dal Molin Festival in Vicenza, Italy
Sept 16, 2007

Camping for Peace in Vicenza, Italy
Sept 12, 2007

Impeach Them Both +
Judiciary Fax Blast

July 23, 2007

I-M-P-E-A-C-H !
April 28, 2007

4th Anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq
March 20, 2007

No Dal Molin, Vicenza, Italy
Feb 17, 2007

Congress: Act Now to End the War
Jan 27, 2007

No Military Bases, Vicenza, Italy
Dec 2, 2006

No War, No Cluster Bombs
Sept 23, 2006

Protest Calling for Cease-fire in Lebanon
July 26, 2006

Military Spending
Bean Poll

July 18, 2006

Stop the Escalation
in the Middle East

July 17, 2006

Refusing to Kill
July 06, 2006

Shailja Patel:
Poetry in Times
of War

July 05, 2006

Troops Home Fast
July 04, 2006

Italian Vote on
Military Missions

June 27, 2006

Peace Parade
June 02, 2006

Michael Uhl of
Veterans for Peace

April 29, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Hidden in Plain Sight

April 26, 2006

War Tax Day
April 15, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Hotel Palestine: Killing the Witness

April 12, 2006

National Anti-war Protest in Rome
March 18, 2006

Soldiers Against War
March 18, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Aristide and the Endless Revolution

March 15, 2006

Women (and men!) Say No To War
March 8, 2006

An Eyewitness Account of Post Katrina New Orleans
March 2, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Life and Debt

February 09, 2006

Vote to Renew Italian Mission in Iraq
February 09, 2006

Cindy Sheehan
February 06, 2006

NBC Today
Show Blitz

February 06, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
The Revolution Will
Not Be Televised

January 26, 2006

Cindy Sheehan
In Rome

January 18, 2006

Crimes & Lies:
with Dave Lindorff
and Maurizio Torrealta

January 13, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Peace Propaganda and
the Promised Land

January 12, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
The Oil Factor

December 15, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Plan Colombia

December 01, 2005

Fallujah: The Hidden Massacre
November 30, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Wal-Mart

November 17, 2005

Protest at U.S. Embassy: White Phosphorus in Fallujah
November 14, 2005

Control Arms Petition
at Piazza Chiesa Nuova

November 12, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Invisible Ballots

November 10, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
The Corporation

October 27, 2005

Movie Night:
Viva Zapatero

October 25, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Hidden Wars of
Desert Storm

October 13, 2005

Anti-war rally
at U.S. Embassy

Sept 24, 2005

USC4P&J Social
at the Beehive

June 22, 2005

Die-In with
Articolo 11
at Palazzo Chigi

June 21, 2005

Collecting Photos
with Control Arms

June 18, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Unconstitutional

June 16, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Outfoxed

June 09, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Weapons of
Mass Deception

May 19, 2005

Vigil at Palazzo Chigi with Articolo 11
May 05, 2005

Vigil at Palazzo Chigi with Articolo 11
April 28, 2005

Vigil at Palazzo Chigi with Articolo 11
April 21, 2005

International Day of Protest
March 19, 2005

Today Show Blitz

Anti-war and Impeach Bush Message during live Today Show broadcast at Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy

We learned that the NBC Today Show would be shooting live from Piazza Navona in Rome, and it sounded like a good opportunity to get our message on national TV.

On Monday, February 6, Stephanie, Nick, Kathy, Tom, Norm, Ryan, Giuliana and Julienne met at Campo de' Fiori to prepare signs and plan our "appearance". The group then walked over to Piazza Navona where we endured the chilly wind in order to get the anti-war/anti-Bush message across during the morning broadcast of the Today Show.

The underlying theme of the entire production here, and the obvious focus of Couric’s introductions for the show’s co-hosts mediated news back in New York City were, (pray tell me but, what else could it be?) for the happy touristy/commerce-driven crowds – i.e. pasta, cappuccino, upcoming Winter Olympics next week, and the like.

Our reconnaissance mission reported back that they were set up by the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Four Rivers Fountain) and also the best position for our group. However, arriving just after 2pm., we realized they were shooting from various locations for Katie Couric’s presentations including a balcony looking out on the square, which afforded us no opportunities, and over a manhole cover to discuss what “SPQR” means, which was so short we didn't have a chance to act.

We soon realized there were virtually no shots of the crowd and we would need to act quickly to get our message on the air. The next shot was from an outdoor café where Katie Couric was seated with Giada de Laurentiis, granddaughter of the famed director.

We formed a rather compact group off to one side during the “café” site and waited until Couric began speaking whereupon we began our chants "Stop Stop Stop the War" and unfolded our "Hi Mom" signs to reveal IMPEACH BUSH. [see video]

Katie was forced to comment, "Those were some stop the war protesters chanting in case you were wondering what was going on; you see free speech is alive and well here in Italy." But soon we were moved, in a determined but not forceful manner, back and away from the main well-wishing crowd, which numbered about 100 or so.

One of the show's producers, visibly upset, came over and pleaded with us not to further interrupt the show. She told us, "you got your message on the air, will you promised to call it quits?" Kathy asked, "Will NBC promise to cover the next anti-war demonstration?"

The producer went on to say that that wasn't the right place for this sort of thing. An Italian man said, "No, this is the right place. It's a public square. What you guys did was right." She then said "You can't get your message across by shouting. You need to communicate calmly." Stephanie responded, "Give me a mic and I'll explain our position with all the calm you want." The offer was not accepted.

Someone else remarked that this wasn't the right place because it is an entertainment show. Nick replied, "Everything in the U.S. is an entertainment show!"

From that moment, however, interest was generated towards why we were there and more than a few persons approached asking to photograph us with our impeachment signs along with the Peace/USA flag.

One asked to be pictured with us; others thanked us for being there. Cindy Sheehan was to appear later that afternoon at the Campidoglio with the Mayor of Rome and Gino Strada of Emergency, and details for that event were passed on to another couple from Ohio. In fact, most of our group walked over to hear Cindy as a way of topping off a fine day. We had sent word to her that we were planning the blitz and she was pleased to hear we managed to get on the air.

Later, a group of 15 or so young and very friendly French students were particularly interested in us and requested an interview and photographs, which we gladly supplied.

Shortly after, Couric rode away in a horse-driven carriage with a studley-looking Italian male. Portions of that video shows Nick’s sign [see video]. Well done, Nick. First Prize!! IMPEACH BUSH can be seen immediately after the map of Italy.

We had fun and got our message on the air. It may seem to some a prank. However, as Kathy pointed out, streaking would have been a prank. We took what we did very seriously. Considering the lack of opposing views on the mainstream media, this was a chance to make our voices heard, and we took advantage of it.

A good day, well done, everybody!!

Tom Fieselmann and Stephanie Westbrook
Photos copyright © 2006 Tom Fieselmann

Ongoing/Future Events


Our Eyes Wide Open Film Series is suspended; for further information click here.


Upshot of our Nov. 9th group discussion on current politics:

It wasn't the Russians that got us Trump. Or Comey. Or even the massive GOP election fraud. It was the DNC.*
*Dem National Committee

To learn how to stop the DNC from delivering us another Trump, read Autopsy: the Democratic Party in Crisis.


Photo of a school in Yemen bombed by Saudi Arabian jets supplied by the U.S. and fueled in the air by the U.S. Air Force. Tell Trump to STOP THIS CARNAGE, not fuel it! Click here.

Also participate in the CodePink email and/or phone initiative:




Click here to sign a petition, to put an end to the sanctions against Syria - their only effect is to take a terrible toll on the population, causing them to migrate! And click here to see the video by the Italian Committee to lift sanctions against Syria.



Iraq Deaths Estimator
Did someone tell you that U.S. military intervention in Iraq was over? Not true: we're at it again. This time the pretext to drop bombs is "curbing ISIS" (which was created by the U.S. in the first place, to overturn al-Malaki in Iraq and then Assad in Syria, and is now out of hand. Like what happened to "our" creature al Qaeda in Afghanistan). And the death toll continues to rise...
Write your senators and tell them: "Enough! U.S. out!! Iraq has shown it can curb ISIS by itself!"

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Copyright © 2006 Tom Fieselmann and Stephanie Westbrook  All rights reserved
U.S. Citizens for Peace & Justice - Rome, Italy