D.C. residents Nell Schaffer and Joanna London in hippo costumes protest outside an office building Sen. John McCain visited, Oct. 31, 2007.
by Frank James
Because it’s Halloween, you expect to see people dressed up in costumes.
But because it’s Washington, a costume isn’t necessarily a costume, but can be a political statement as well.
That was the case with the people who were dressed up as hippopotamuses outside the Kaiser Foundation offices several blocks from the White House today.
They were there with their signs protesting Sen. John McCain, (R-Ariz.,) the Republican presidential candidate, who was visiting the Kaiser building.
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Shouting “Hippos follow hypocrites,” they were members of DC Vote who were protesting McCain’s opposition to Senate legislation that would give residents in the nation’s capital voting representaion in Congress. Their position is that McCain is a hypocrite since he supports bringing democracy to Iraq but has helped to stall the DC voting rights bill in the Senate.
The DC Vote people have protested against McCain at other of his appearances. But today the costumes met their moment, Halloween, so the protesters kind of blended with the crowd more than they usually do, like with the bicycle courier wearing the cow outfit.
D.C. resident Eli Zigas in hippo outfit explains protest to a cow-clad bike courier.
(photos provided by DC Vote.)