Pyotr Verzilov, Pussy Riot's Man On The Outside

August 22, 2012 - If you have not heard of the all-women Russian punk rock band called "Pussy Riot" by now, you're probably living in a cave. The 10-woman group has been performing political street theater for some time now, but three were recently sentenced to two years in prison.  

On February 21, 2012 five of the Pussy Rioters performed song (a "punk prayer") in Moscow's Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Christ Savior. They asked the Virgin Mary to "drive away Putin."

Pyotr Verzilov: Photo source Opinionblog.ru

Two members of Pussy Riot — Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23 (also known as also known as Nadya Tolokno) and Maria Alekhina, 24 — were arrested on March 3 and charged with "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred."

It was no accident that Pussy Riot chose the eve of Russia's March 4th presidential election for their "punk prayer" performance. Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, was arrested on March 15. The three women were ultimately found guilty and sentenced to two years each on August 17. Two of the women who performed at the Orthodox Cathedral are still at large.

There is much more to Pussy Riot, of course, than that one performance and prison sentence. When formed, the "feminist collective" membership was to be kept secret. That's been blown, of course, and the Russian authorities are currently trying to hunt down the other women of Pussy Riot. They will have a difficult time, however. Even if they catch and imprison all of the seven at-large women, they will still have this guy to contend with: Pyotr Verzilov. He is married to Pussy Riot's Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, who is now in a Russian prison.

Pyotr, like his wife, has been very active in the anti-Putin pro-democracy movement in Russia.

In this video, Pyotr Verzilov spoke to the Oslo Freedom Forum, which took place on May 7, 8 and 9, 2012. 

Pyotr, fluent in English and very articulate, spoke to an audience about "several provocative and politically-charged artistic performances by the Voina Group and the feminist punk collective Pussy Riot."

"On March 3, 2012, Verzilov’s wife Tolokonnikova and the other members of Pussy Riot were arrested by police and accused of performing the protest song, called “Virgin Mary, redeem us of Putin," in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina remain in custody, charged with “aggravated hooliganism," a crime punishable by up to seven years in prison. A judge of Moscow’s Tagansky Court refused a request to release the trio on bail, and extended custody until June 24, 2012. Amnesty International declared Verzilov’s wife and Alyokhina prisoners of conscience and called for their immediate and unconditional release."  ~ Oslo Freedom Forum website

Related:

• Pyotr Verzilov: Pussy Riot’s Bearded Face RiaNovosti
• Putin's Religious War Against Pussy Riot The New Yorker 
• Who Is Pussy Riot? About.com 
• A Timeline Of The Russian Punk Band Pussy Riot's Arrest And Trial Gothamist
• Why Pussy Riot is the greatest threat Vladimir Putin has faced Slate.com
• Russia's Pussy Riot Guilty Verdict Unmasks Putin's Dictatorship Forbes

UPDATED: Rep. Paul Gosar: Constitution Not Worth Fighting For

Rep. Paul Gosar, Arizona:
Willing to compromise on
the U.S. Constitution

July 12, 2012 - "What happens when a Republican Congressman tells Conservative Activists that fighting for the Constitution is a losing battle?" That's the question posed by Unite In Action, which posted this disturbing video to YouTube today. According to Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz, District 1), half of all Americans don't believe in the Constitution, and so that makes it not worth fight for if it means losing on other issues. Gosar was speaking as a panelist with other conservative activists (although one wonders how "conservative" Gosar really is if he's willing to compromise on the Constitution). Gosar is currently running for re-election.

"If all you're going to do is stand just for the Constitution and nothing less, you will lose," Gosar said. "We have to have the Constitution but a plan to get back."

"Why would they lose if they stood for the Constitution? Is it too far to go?" another panelist asked him.

"Because not everybody believes in the Constitution," Gosar said. "You have fifty percent of the people..." he was interrupted by KrisAnne Hall, Unite In Action's Director of Legal Affairs.

"You cannot abandon the Constitution," Hall said emphatically, and she continued to make a strong case for not backing down or compromising when it comes to the Constitution - as Rep. Gosar had just urged the group to do.

Gosar had local tea party support when he ran for Congress in 2010, and is now running in Arizona's 4th District after moving to Prescott. According to TriValleyCentral.com, "That leaves things wide open in the 1st District, where Democrats hold a slight numerical advantage over Republicans in the far-flung region that stretches from the north edge of Tucson through Pinal County, much of eastern Arizona and northern Arizona to the Utah border." 

It would be surprising if Gosar gets the same level of enthusiastic support from tea party factions after this.

I would present more information about this but, oddly, there is nothing on the website of Unite In Action. Strangely, too, there is no information about when this event happened, where it was or even what the name of the event was. I tried to contact them, but their message function was not functioning properly at 3:14 p.m. CDT today.

Related:

• AZ-4: Paul Gosar Says Constitution Not Worth Fighting For MadisonProject.com
• 1st congressional district campaign: Six contend for Gosar's seat TriValleyCentral.com
• Rep. Gosar says Congress should give up salaries, but won't give up his AZFamily.com
• GOSAR: If all you do is stand for the Constitution you will lose High Plains Pundit
• Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Suggests Americans Stop Fighting For The Constitution! Waking Giant

New Book, "Piss 'Em All Off," Promises Just That

Former aldermanic candidate Don Gordon is now an author. He lost to Joe Moore in a vicious run-off election in April, 2007 up in Chicago's 49th Ward. Gordon learned a lot during that nightmarish experience, and now shares some of his knowlegde in a new book. I love the title, "Piss 'Em All Off... and other practices of the effective citizen." Gordon was something of a community activist himself before running for alderman (his main issue has always been preservation of the lakefront, especially along his beloved Rogers Park neighborhood on Chicago's north side). Author Gordon will be signing copies of his new book and answering questions this coming weekend on both Saturday, October 9 from 10:00 am to Noon and also on Sunday, October 10 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. WHERE: Charmers Cafe, 1500 W. Jarvis (at Greenview) in Rogers Park, Chicago. (Very little street parking, but a short 1/2 block from the Jarvis CTA Red Line station.) The book is described by Gordon as an effort to closely examine "the five practices of being an effective citizen, showing that they are simple, require little of our time, and make a dramatic difference in how government responds." Is he talking about the Tea Party? No, not intentionally, anyway. Gordon is not a Tea Partier, but like many self-described "Democrats" he shares many of their values. Like many of those Democrats, he probably wouldn't admit this. Even so, Don Gordon is a bright man with a likable personality (I've gotten drunk with him on more than one occasion) and it would be well worth your while to meet him and check out his book. Gordon sounds Tea Party-ish in his recent media release, in which he poses these questions: "Tired of getting screwed over by a government that's out of touch? Weary of corrupt and incompetent politicians who make things worse? Frustrated by a political system that works only for the well-connected? Well don't give up! Our democracy is indeed failing, but it's you and I who are responsible. Only we can make a difference, and only if we take the time to do what is necessary. What we need is a guide that explores the practices of effective citizenship. This book is that guide." We need all the informed advice we can get these days in our troubled republic, and Don Gordon is more informed than most. But I can't help urging you to remind my friend Mr. Gordon that he should attend one or two Tea Party rallies. He would, I think, find a lot of common ground there. More about the book and the book signing here...

Californians Hit the Streets of Boston to Support Brown

Ryan Dixon and some other dudes flew to Boston from California to help Scott Brown on his campaign for U.S. Senate to defeat Martha Coakley, Obamacare, and the American left. Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

At Last! Sept 12 Chicago Tea Party Video is Up!

Now, after requests from world leaders and incessant phone calls from my security chief, here it is, below. (Also see our slideshow of the event.) Cool Hats & Shirts for Cool Conservatives Leave a Comment... Chicago News Bench RSS Feed We're on Twitter...

Video! Chicago Tea Party in Millennium Park

I swear helds will roll for this. Intern! Intern, tell everyone that they can see the video by clicking here. Now, go fetch me a coffee. Be quick. Cool Hats & Shirts for Cool Conservatives Leave a Comment... Chicago News Bench RSS Feed We're on Twitter...

195 Photos of the Shiller - Olympics 2016 Meeting

This is the now infamous meeting at which angry Uptown residents chased Chicago's 46th Ward Alderman Helen Shiller from the building all the way to her car. These photos document the room up to the moment when Shiller abruptly ended a press conference, after somebody yelled "Liar!" at her. To see the chase scene that happened immediately after, see the Best Video of Mob Chasing Alderman Shiller. Cool Hats & Shirts for Cool Conservatives Leave a Comment... Chicago News Bench RSS Feed We're on Twitter...

Video of Democrats Chasing, Screaming at City Council Woman in Chicago

New: Anti-Helen Shiller Campaign Is Go! This is the best video of the now-famous Shiller Olympic Mob Chase Incident. This version combines the entire press conference that Shiller gave immediately after the useless Chicago 2016 Olympics town hall meeting, plus the entire chase by an angry mob all the way to Shiller's car. Gad, what entertainment! Mainstream Democrats and liberals chasing a liberal Democrat city council member, acting like crazed right-wing lunatics at a congressman's town hall meeting. Note the hypocrisy of the media in the way they report the mob action. For example, NBC Chicago's headline, "Alderman Walks Out On Peaceful Protesters," is a joke. If the same people were conservatives behaving exactly the same way, but screaming at a Democrat congressman, would NBC have referred to them as "peaceful?" Doubtful. See related items below the video... ALSO SEE: 195 Photos of the Shiller - Olympics 2016 Meeting - These photos document the room up to the moment when Shiller abruptly ended a press conference, after somebody yelled "Liar!" at her. RELATED: Protesty w sprawie przestępczości -FaktyChicago.com Shiller Chased Out Of Press Conference - Raw Video - Lake Effect News Run, Helen, Run - Lake Effect News Hail to the Insurgents? - Lake Effect News Ald. Shiller Hounded Out of Her Own Press Conference‎ - Chicagoist Chicago alderman chased by protesters - Marathon Pundit Helen Shiller Avoids Angry Residents at Town Hall Meeting - Windy Bloggy Leave a Comment... Chicago News Bench RSS Feed We're on Twitter...

RAW VIDEO OF SHILLER CHASED BY ANGRY MOB

Alderman's son says,
"You might wanna back up, you might get ran over.
If I was driving I'd run somebody over."

ALSO SEE: The 10-minute version that shows Shiller's entire press conference plus the full chase scene. ALSO SEE: 195 Photos of the Shiller - Olympics 2016 Meeting - These photos document the room up to the moment when Shiller abruptly ended a press conference, after somebody yelled "Liar!" at her. ALSO SEE: Anti-Helen Shiller Campaign Is Go!

Like many of the rowdy town hall meetings held in August, this one turned a bit crazy. No violence, but plenty of shouting - and the chasing of a Chicago City Council member from the meeting to her car. The meeting was actually held by a Chicago 2016 Olympics panel, but Alderman Helen Shiller (Helen Shiller) being pursued by screaming constituents eclipses that. While the Olympics discussion was predictable, boring and an utter waste time, the Shiller story was sensational. The vast majority of the signs in front of the meeting facility had nothing to do with the Olympics. Instead, most of those in attendance were protesting Shiller's alleged disinterest in cleaning up crime in one of the north side's most violent neighborhoods.

Of note in the video: Near the end, a large man in a light blue shirt leans into Shiller's car window. That's her son, attorney Brendan Shiller. He walks toward me and says, "You might wanna back up, you might get ran over. If I was driving I'd run somebody over."

This rivals many of the recent rowdy town hall meetings held by members of Congress in August, 2009. Two predictions: (1) This story will get big national news play on Tuesday morning, and (2) Nobody will refer to the largely liberal crowd (including a gaggle of socialists) as "Nazis" or accuse them of being unpatriotic. You know, like they've done to conservatives loudly voicing their opinions at Congressional town halls.
RELATED:
Uptown Residents Say Neighborhood Is Under Attack
Gang brawl video spurs dueling protests in Uptown
Chicago official predicts even worse budget problems in 2010
Shiller responds to Fix Wilson Yard's lawsuit
Protesty w sprawie przestępczości -FaktyChicago.com

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Activists Lying About Ald. Munoz Assault Incident

That infamous video of a Chicago alderman assaulting a constituent received a little national attention earlier this month. Uberblogstress Michelle Malkin, for example, gave it prominent attention on her website. The alderman, Ricardo Munoz (22nd Ward), is seen in the video shoving a man and telling him to "Get the f^#% out of my office!" Many accepted the brief video encounter as representing the full story, but it doesn't. Chicago News Bench has learned that the video's makers intentionally presented a misleading story. Eight days ago, we asked ChicagoCitizens, the makers of the video, for more information. As the late Paul Harvey might have said, we wanted the rest of the story. Stand by for news; we are still waiting for ChicagoCitizens to respond. In my email to ChicagoCitizens, I wrote the following: We would love to see the video of the entire encounter, including the initial entering of the Munoz offices. The video begins with Munoz's door opening. What happened prior to that happening? Your YouTube page says that you have "No editing of video contents integrity, just straight facts. Contributions by Chicago Citizens." Please post the "raw," unedited video. The video, posted on YouTube on February 24, is still there today. We have learned that the video was actually made in late 2008. A witness to the event, who asked us to not identify him, recalled by phone today that "it was still warm out, it was late September or early October" when the encounter happened in Munoz's ward service office. That witness was in the 2-story ward office of Alderman Munoz at the time and recalls a group of people numbering "about five or six." "Claudio," the guy who is seen being shoved by Ald. Munoz, asked to see the alderman and was told by a staffer that he was in a meeting and could not be disturbed. Claudio, says the witness, complained that he had previously tried to make an appointment to see Munoz but did not have one scheduled. Then, says the witness, Claudio walked up the stairs to where the meeting was taking place. He was followed by the group member who had a video camera. The witness recalled that Claudio opened the door and walked into the meeting, but did not hear what was said. Alderman Munoz was upset that Claudio barged into a private, previously scheduled meeting and then ejected him, as seen in the video. The video, then, gives the false impression of an average citizen just trying to talk to his alderman and being booted out of the office. What seems more likely is that Claudio, and the group of activists with him, went to the office looking for a confrontation and hoping to catch it on video. Instead of playing by the rules and getting an appointment to see Ald. Munoz, Claudio took it upon himself to interrupt a meeting already underway. It was, in effect, a form of "gotcha journalism" done badly, unfairly, and rudely. We do not expect a response from ChicagoCitizens. They are apparently not interested in truth, and are unlikely to honestly answer our question. What a repugnant act, shameless and disgraceful. Activism is all well and good, but only if it done honestly. Most community activists try to do the right thing, by challening authority and doing it honestly. ChicagoCitizens apparently feels that doing it honesty and telling the truth, the whole truth, would not help them. They're right. Related: Munoz Assault Video Raises Questions Ald. Munoz goes wild for TIF, my post! no comments will be denied ... (Note: This is a repost of the video by YouTube poster "hsinaps77," who wrote, "i posted this because claudio and company kept deleting my comments, so here we go, shoe the whole video claudio! be a man! its a shame that you dont because then averybody will see what really happend, that claudio was being thrown out for not having an appiontment, then he ran up stairs like a little child,barged into the Ald. Munoz office, i would have thrown you out to, taken your camera by force and i would post the raw footage, BE [A] MAN CLAUDIO AND POST THE RAW FOOTAGE." It's worth visiting to read the comments. ) Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Cool Stuff...

When Is An Activist Lying?

Sometimes, it's when their lips don't move. An article from today from ConsumerFreedom reports this: Sometimes the best way to find out activists' true intentions is to notice what they don't say. Earlier this month, California's Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that the spinach responsible for last September's E.coli outbreak was grown on an organic farm. This confirms a widely-held suspicion that the activist-inspired storyline blaming conventional (read: "corporate") farming techniques for the villainous veggies is bogus. The rest of this story...