Code Pink

Code Pink: Women for Peace

Code Pink activists demonstrate in front of the White House on July 4, 2006.
Formation	November 17, 2002 (2002-11-17)
Type	NGO
Purpose	Anti-war, Social justice
Region served	United States of America
Key people	Jodie Evans, Medea Benjamin
Website	www.codepink4peace.org

Code Pink: Women for Peace is a left-wing NGO that describes itself as a "grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end U.S.-funded wars and occupations, to challenge militarism globally, and to redirect our resources into health care, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities". In addition to its focus on anti-war issues, it has taken action on issues such as drones (including protests, trips to meet with drone victims in Pakistan and Yemen and bringing them to the US), Guantanamo Bay prison (including a delegation that included former prisoners and yearly protests at the White House), Palestinian statehood (including its involvement in the BDS movement to protest Ahava, SodaStream, ReMax, and AirBnB), the Iran nuclear deal, Saudi Arabia (including protests to end U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia, its airstrikes on Yemen, and its executions of its political dissidents), and Women Cross DMZ. The organization characterizes itself as women-initiated.^[1][2] It has regional offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and many more chapters in the U.S. as well as several in other countries.^[3][4]

With members wearing the group's signature pink color,^[5] Code Pink has conducted marches, protests, and high-visibility publicity actions in order to promote its goals. Although women initiated and lead the group, Code Pink encourages men to participate in its activities.^[6]

History

Code Pink was founded on November 17, 2002 by Jodie Evans, Medea Benjamin and other activists.^[4] The group's name is a play on the United States Department of Homeland Security's color-coded alert system in which, for example, Code Orange and Code Red signify the highest levels of danger.^[7]

In February 2003, just weeks before the invasion of Iraq, Code Pink organized its first trip to that nation, and subsequently led five delegations there. These delegations included parents who had lost their children in Iraq, and parents of active soldiers. Additionally, they brought six Iraqi women on a tour of the United States, and published a report about how the U.S. occupation affected the status of Iraqi women.^[8]

On its website, Code Pink lists allegations of U.S. war crimes, and states that thousands of civilians were killed in Fallujah in 2004 due to the actions of the U.S. military.^[9] Along with other groups, they gave over $600,000 worth of humanitarian aid to refugees of Fallujah in 2004.^[10]

Demonstrations at Walter Reed Medical Center

Code Pink has also joined in vigils at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The group has been criticized for actions at the vigils: the criticism has centered on tactics such as displaying coffins and chanting aggressive slogans. Speaking about the display of coffins, Kevin Pannell, an amputee and former patient at the hospital, said it "was probably the most distasteful thing I had ever seen. Ever. We went by there one day and I drove by and [the anti-war protesters] had a bunch of flag-draped coffins laid out on the sidewalk. You know that 95 percent of the guys in the hospital bed lost guys whenever they got hurt and survivors' guilt is the worst thing you can deal with."^[11] To those that faulted aggressive chants and signs, Code Pink responded that certain of the disruptive protesters were not part of their group and that they have asked these protesters to be respectful.^[12] Code Pink says that the purpose of the vigils is to highlight the lack of care for veterans and claims that the vigils have helped spur improvements in that care.^[12][13]

Protest during Plame hearing

In March 2007, there were U.S. Senate hearings about the disclosure of the classified role of Valerie Plame Wilson. During the hearings, a Code Pink activist, Midge Potts, constantly maneuvered to be in the camera views of the witness. Potts wore a pink T-shirt emblazoned "Impeach Bush." She said she was in the Judiciary Committee hearing room not to add anything to the proceedings there, but "...I switched it to the impeach during the Valerie Plame hearing mainly because it seems like that the Democrats or—are going to push the supplemental through."^[14] This action was criticized by the Capitol Hill Blue political news website on the grounds that it gave ammunition to Administration political workers to portray any complaints about the President or the occupation of Iraq as being from extremists.^[15]

Tucker Carlson interview

Conservative talk-show host Tucker Carlson criticized Pink leader Medea Benjamin for her support of Hugo Chávez. She was quoted as saying that the charge in sections of the US media that Chavez had cracked down on free speech and civil rights in Venezuela was a myth.^[16] In an interview on his MSNBC show, Benjamin was asked, "Do you want to revise that given the news that Hugo Chavez has closed the last nationally broadcast opposition television station for criticizing him?" Benjamin replied that it was not true and that Chavez simply did not renew the license because the station "participated in a coup against a democratically elected government, his [Chavez's] government." Benjamin also said "Peru recently did not renew a license. Uruguay didn‘t renew a license. Why do you hold Venezuela to a different standard?"^[16] Carlson responded that a 360-page Venezuelan government-published book accused RCTV of showing lack of respect for authorities and institutions. Carlson asked Benjamin, "I would think, as a self-described liberal, you would stand up for the right of people to 'challenge authorities and institutions.' And yet you are apologizing for the squelching of minority views. Why could that be?" Benjamin replied that, "They [RCTV] falsified information. They got people out on the street. They falsified footage that showed pro-Chavez supporters killing people, which did not happen. They refuse to cover any of the pro-Chavez demonstrations."^[16]

Ground the Drones

In the summer of 2009, Code Pink began their "Ground the Drones" campaign.^[17] This campaign was a response to the Obama administration's continued and increased use of unmanned drones in the "war on terror," specifically in regions surrounding Pakistan and Afghanistan. Code Pinks claims that many of the drone strikes intended to target terrorist leaders and strongholds often miss their targets, causing the unnecessary deaths of innocent civilians.^[18]

"Ground the Drones" was fashioned as a form of non-violent, civil disobedience, similar to protests earlier that spring, by groups such as Voices for Creative Non Violence.^[17] Code Pink targeted Creech Air Force base in Indian Springs, Nevada, claiming it is the “epicenter” for controlling drone activity.^[18] The goal of the protest was "halting unmanned aircraft strikes controlled via satellite links from Creech and other bases."^[17] The group continued protesting at Creech AFB through until November and December 2009. Code Pink returned to Creech AFB in October 2011, along with other protest groups, to mark the 10th anniversary of the occupation of Afghanistan. Protesters dubbed it as the "largest anti-war demonstration ever at Creech Air Force Base.^[19]

In August of 2013, Code Pink's national coordinator, Alli McCracken, disrupted the annual Aerial Unmanned Vehicles Systems Integrated summit, in Washington, DC. During a speech advocating the full automation of unmanned drones, McCracken interrupted by shouting “Are you going to talk about the innocent people who have been killed by the drones?,” while producing a "STOP KILLER DRONES" banner, until she was escorted out by security.^[20]

In November 2013, Code Pink organized a "Ground the Drones." The summit took place over two days and was held at Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C. The summit featured films pertaining to drone warfare, as well as a variety of guest speakers from various human rights and civil liberties organizations. Topics of the summit included ethical and legal arguments surrounding drone warfare, as well as concerns over the use of drones domestically.^[18]

"Ground the Drones" has also attempted to involve American citizens in the fight to end drone warfare. Code Pink's website advises readers to take action by, among other ways, contacting their local representatives, organizing film-screenings, and distributing pamphlets.^[18]

Halloween 2009 White House protest

On October 31, 2009, Code Pink organized a protest rally outside the White House to coincide with President and Mrs. Obama's official Halloween party. As many of the guests were family members of military personnel, the Code Pink press release encouraged attendees to dress as "zombie soldiers".^[21] The event gained some notoriety when complaints surfaced about Reuters' characterization of their protest as "taunting" children, a characterization that Reuters stood by.^[22]

Gaza activities

Code Pink has organized more than seven delegations to Gaza, some of them at the invitation of the United Nations. Critics have since accused Code Pink of working "closely with terrorist organizations and states sponsors of terrorism" in Gaza and Iran.^[23] Prior to the Gaza Freedom March, Code Pink endorsed the “Cairo Declaration to End Israeli Apartheid", which calls for comprehensive boycott of Israel.^[24]

During the Gaza Freedom March, Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin coordinated the organization's stay with the Hamas government. Members resided in the Commodore, a Hamas-owned hotel in Gaza City. Hamas security officials accompanied activists as they visited Palestinian homes and Gaza-based NGOs.^[25] Prior to the march, Benjamin said the Hamas government had "pledged to ensure our safety."^[26] However, Code Pink leaders claimed Hamas had hijacked the initiative from the onset after imposing prohibitions on the organization's movements around Gaza. Amira Hass referred to the event as "an opportunity for Hamas cabinet ministers to get decent media coverage in the company of Western demonstrators."^[25]

Code Pink helped to organize an International Women's Day Delegation to Gaza in March 2014. Upon arrival at the Cairo airport on March 3, 2014, Medea Benjamin was detained and assaulted by Egyptian authorities. She was deported to Turkey after the authorities had dislocated her shoulder.^[27] Other members of the international delegation, including American, French, Belgian, and British citizens, who arrived the next day were also deported. Some members made it into Cairo, although no one from the delegation made it to Gaza.

National Rifle Association Protest 2012

Code Pink protesters were present at the National Rifle Association's first press conference following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, where N.R.A.'s Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre advocated placing armed guards in schools and said "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun."^[28][29]

Protest against intervention in Syria

About ten activists of Code Pink demonstrated in U.S. Congress against military attacks in retaliation for Syria's suspected use of chemical weapons against its own people.^[30][31]

Protesting American intervention against ISIS

Code Pink activists demonstrated in Capitol Hill against the American intervention in Syria and Iraq to stop ISIS.^[32]

See also

• Anti-war movement
• List of anti-war organizations
• List of peace activists
• Raging Grannies

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Code Pink.

• Code Pink
• Video (44:07): Medea Benjamin on Code Pink (C-SPAN, September 7, 2013).

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