Concepcion Picciotto

Concepción Picciotto also known as Conchita or Connie, was a Spanish-born peace United-States based activist. She lived in Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C. on the 1600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, in a peace camp across from the White House, from 1 August 1981 in protest of nuclear arms until her death.

She carried on the longest continuous act of political protest in the United States, with her camp having been nicknamed by her supporters as "1601 Pennsylvania Avenue".

Picciotto emigrated to the United States at the age of 18. She worked in New York at the Spanish consulate. She fell in love with an Italian businessman and married him at 21. However, a bitter separation and custody battle cost her her home, her daughter and her job.

Picciotto was inspired by fellow activist William Thomas (died 23 January 2009), who originally began the White House Peace Vigil on 3 June 1981. They began protesting on the sidewalk by the White House fence. National Park Service rules moved them across Pennsylvania Avenue. She was sentenced to 90 days for violating rules. They are moved for inaugural parades.

During her life she was assisted by members of Occupy Peace House where she resided.

She was reported to be in discussions with Ellen Thomas to remain in the Peace House, a house in Washington D.C. that Ellen inherited from her late husband.

She died at age 80 on 25 January 2016 at N Street Village, a non-profit that supports homeless women in Washington. The cause of death was not immediately known but she had recently experienced a fall.

Picciotto was featured in Michael Moore's 2004 film, Fahrenheit 9/11, as well as in veb-films Route 66 mockumentary. The Oracles of Pennsylvania Avenue (2012) by Tim Wilkerson, a documentary commissioned by the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, recounts the life of Picciotto, William and Ellen Thomas, and Norman Mayer.