The Longest-Ever White House Protester Died Today

January 25, 2016 5:27 PM

Concepcion Picciotto, who held vigil outside the White House for more than three decades, died today.

More on "Connie" from a previous post.

posted by anya32 (23 comments total)

Wow. I remember a cold night when I lived in a house in SE with a bunch of Church of the Brethren missionaries. We went and took her hot chocolate. I understand better now why she was important to the COB ladies.
Thanks
posted by rudd135 at 5:44 PM on January 25, 2016

I am reminded of Peace Pilgrim. Regardless of their effectiveness I respect that they found meaning in their lives.
posted by LastOfHisKind at 6:02 PM on January 25, 2016

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Very sad news. I'm glad she was in a shelter during the storm.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 6:07 PM on January 25, 2016

🗽
posted by clavdivs at 6:16 PM on January 25, 2016

I remember seeing her many times in DC when I worked there.
Respect. May she rest in peace.
posted by pjsky at 6:30 PM on January 25, 2016

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posted by Cash4Lead at 6:43 PM on January 25, 2016

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posted by pt68 at 6:47 PM on January 25, 2016

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posted by Twain Device at 6:54 PM on January 25, 2016

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posted by Navelgazer at 7:00 PM on January 25, 2016

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posted by PROD_TPSL at 7:03 PM on January 25, 2016

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posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:14 PM on January 25, 2016

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posted by rossmeissl at 7:16 PM on January 25, 2016

A heartfelt thanks to you, Concepcion Picciotto, and to the other supporters of Proposition One. I hope one day your advocacy will bear fruit.

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posted by mistersquid at 7:33 PM on January 25, 2016

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posted by pogo at 7:35 PM on January 25, 2016

Her encampment is a landmark of 80s/90s DC, and immediately recognizable to anyone who lived here then. I talked to her a number of times over the years, going back to the late 1980s when I was in high school, and while I was serving meals with Food Not Bombs in Lafayette Square in the mid-90s. She definitely gave the impression of having mental health issues, but she was fairly lucid and dead on when talking about nuclear disarmament (which, in the 80s, was obviously a far more terrifying, life-or-death issue). She was also deeply connected to pacifist and left political circles in DC via St. Stephens and other radical congregations.

Having now lived another almost 30 years in Washington, Picciotto seems vastly more sane in retrospect than many of the nominally "normal", "functional" political monsters that walk around this city every day. RIP.
posted by ryanshepard at 7:43 PM on January 25, 2016 [9 favorites]

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posted by teponaztli at 8:09 PM on January 25, 2016

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posted by one teak forest at 9:26 PM on January 25, 2016

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Peace be with you.
posted by Drinky Die at 9:37 PM on January 25, 2016

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posted by 1367 at 10:21 PM on January 25, 2016

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posted by spinifex23 at 12:08 AM on January 26, 2016

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posted by gingerest at 12:41 AM on January 26, 2016

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posted by asok at 1:09 AM on January 26, 2016

I met her briefly a few years back on a trip to DC. She was super passionate about her cause, but also pretty paranoid. We only spoke for 4 or 5 minutes but it was enough time for her to bring up several conspiracy theories.

She wanted to meet with a President, and had kept her vigil through the rise and fall of many administrations. It's a shame that wasn't meant to be during the Obama administration. (Presidents don't normally meet with protesters, and are also insulated from meeting with people who have apparent mental health issues, as long as they're not members of Congress, or other heads of state.) For her, it would have been a fulfillment of a life-long dream. For the President, it would have been quite a statement.

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posted by zarq at 9:56 AM on January 26, 2016 [3 favorites]