From
The Huffington Post: A video of the protest is with
The Huffington Post's article.
When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (pictured) took to the podium to speak at the America's Future Now! conference on June 8, the California Democrat was interrupted by protesters screaming just a few feet away from the stage.
The Washington Post reports that health care activists shouted, "Our homes, not nursing homes," throughout Pelosi's policy speech:
The protesters, wearing orange shirts and chanting "Our homes, not nursing homes," did not let up until Pelosi finished her address and left the stage with security guards. The protesters said they were members of ADAPT, an activist group that advocates for disability rights and is fighting for passage of the Community Choice Act.
In response to the unexpected and prolonged disruption, Pelosi held her ground and shot back at the demonstrators that she wasn't going to cut her speech short or leave the stage.
"I'm not going to leave, I'm going to deliver my speech," the House Speaker said, later quipping, "Listen I'm used to noise, I talk to the Democratic Caucus everyday."
Despite breaking briefly to address the disruption, the House Speaker reportedly delivered her speech in its entirety in a graceful manner.
(Code Pink protesters also reportedly showed up at the Washington, DC event with a large sign reading "Stop Funding Israel Terror," but remained "mostly silent" during Pelosi's speech.)
Politico reports on the substance of the remarks delivered by the House Speaker to her progressive audience:
"President Obama and the Democratic caucus have saved this country from a financial crisis created under the Bush administration," Pelosi told the America's Future Now gathering in Washington.
She blamed Republicans for de-regulating big oil, assuring the receptive crowd that BP would be held accountable for its handling of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
And she had harsh words for Wall Street, as the House and Senate get set for a final conference committee on a financial reform bill.
From The Huffington Post: A video of the protest is with The Huffington Post's article.
