August, 2004
HOME/
WHO
WE ARE/
PROJECTS/
CONTACT/
AWAKENEDWOMAN
E-ZINE
From Code Pink at the DNC
7/30/04
We had an exciting week in Boston at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). After a weekend of leading CODEPINK training sessions and spending time with thousands of peace and justice activists at the Boston Social Forum and the National Vets for Peace Convention, we made our way to the DNC. Each day, from the early morning until the wee hours of the night, we galvanized and organized so as not to let the convention render the war in Iraq completely invisible.
We delivered the message to the DNC that they should join the pro-peace majority and adopt an anti-war position on Iraq. We hung a huge pink slip banner out a hotel window to highlight the message "Bring the Troops Home, NOW!" We dressed as pink statues of liberty with tape over our mouths to object to the 'protest pen', a cage designated as the convention's "Free Speech Zone", made of tall wrought iron fencing and barbed wire. We distributed stickers to delegates that reminded them that 82% of democrats oppose the war. We fought hard to ensure that the police didn't remove our banners, which were hung around the city.
We organized a press conference to urge Kerry and the Democratic leadership to set a timeline for the withdrawl of troops from Iraq that featured Kelly Dougherty, an Iraq war vet, and Fernando Suarez, whose son was one of the first soldiers to die in Iraq. Police came to take down our banner. We stood our ground and as Fernando and others struggled to keep our banner up, Fernando asked, "is this the freedom of speech my son died for?"
Inside the convention, our anti-war message was received with delight and gratitude. Ninety five percent of the convention delegates oppose the Iraq war, but, even so, our own Medea Benjamin was carried off the convention floor after holding up a pink banner with the message "end the occupation of Iraq" just as Theresa Heinz was calling for women's voices and all voices of dissent to be heard.
We're on to Tampa and Orlando to co-lead with the League of Pissed of Voters activist's trainings to mobilize women for voter registration and educate them on how to ensure that everyone's voice is counted in this critical state. All of our election related activities energizes us for the month of organizing ahead, knowing that we are supported by people throughout the United States who want us to keep the pressure on U.S. policymakers who would rather sweep the reality of the Iraq occupation under the rug. We won't let them. Not the Democrats, and not the Republicans …
IT'S TIME TO START MAKING YOUR PLANS FOR THE RNC!
CODEPINK activists have an opportunity to make history this summer at the Republican National Convention in New York City. A CRITICAL QUESTION: WILL YOU BE THERE WITH US? Will you get on the plane or the bus or the train and make it to New York City to tell the Republicans that we've had enough of our government's lies and cover-up, wars and occupations? The eyes of the world will be upon us as hundreds of thousands of peace and justice activists take to the streets of New York. Please join us and spread the word.
CODEPINK has two exciting events planned for the RNC (and many more events as of yet unplanned): a festive and music-filled evening at The Riverside Church on Saturday, August 28, featuring Eve Ensler, Amy Goodman, Cynthia McKinney and other phenomenal women; and a vibrant women's peace rally and colorful march on Sunday, August 29 that will become the "women's
contingent" of the MASSIVE United for Peace and Justice anti-war march. We will also participate in several of the other wonderful events planned during the RNC, including ones sponsored by Planned Parenthood and NOW.
Details about the CODEPINK events are below and regular updates will be posted to http://www.codepinkalert.org/National_Actions_RNC.shtml. Our website also has downloadable flyers as well as housing and volunteer information.
Make your travel plans now, and don't miss this opportunity to join us in New York City on August 28 and 29 and send a message to the world that the women of the United States are determined to work for a world based on non-violence and respect for all human life - not the war, militarism and aggression that have underpinned U.S. foreign policy since Sept. 11, 2001.
Let's make history!
Saturday, AUGUST 28, 7 PM
WOMEN AGAINST WAR &endash; AN EVENING OF MUSIC AND INSPIRATION
Music and spoken word to celebrate women's passion, creativity and strength in saying no to war and yes to peace and justice!
Featuring
Playwright and Performer Eve Ensler
Democracy Now! Host Amy Goodman
Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney
Hip Hop Performance Poet Aya De Leon
Singer Noe Venable
And the young women of We Got Issues!
The Riverside Church Nave, 490 Riverside Drive at 120th Street, NYC
Advance Tickets: $10. Call 1-800-838-3006 or visit <http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/407>www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/407
Sponsors: CODEPINK: Women for Peace, the Global Fund for Women, The Riverside Church Global Justice and Peace Ministry, and The Nation Institute
*This event is part of the Imagine Festival of Arts, <http://www.imagine04.org/> Issues & Ideas.
Sunday, AUGUST 29, 10 AM
WOMEN'S PEACE RALLY AND MARCH
Join us for a vibrant women's peace rally and a loud and colorful march that will become the "women's contingent" in the massive United for Peace and Justice anti-war march. Bring signs and other creative gear, and wear pink!
Location to be announced! (Permit application pending for Madison Square Park.)
Sponsors: Abolition 2000 New York, Bluestocking Bookstore, CODEPINK, Feminist Majority, Feminist Peace Network, Grandmothers for Peace, MADRE, Mothers Acting Up, Pink Bloque, We Got Issues!, Women Against War, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and many others
OTHER RNC PROTEST EVENTS
To find out about the dozens of
other protest events planned for the RNC, see
<http://www.unitedforpeace.org/>
<http://www.counterconvention.org/>
<http://www.rncnotwelcome.org/>
HOUSING
Can you offer a bed, couch or floor space in your New York City apartment to a CODEPINK activist from out-of-town that plans to join us at the RNC protests? Or are you one of the activists who need a place to stay? Please contact us as soon as possible so that we can match offers of free housing with CODEPINK activists who'll need a place to sleep. Please email Beth Oram, our NYC housing coordinator, at EOram25@aol.com. Other housing options are as follows:
*Check the RNC Counter Convention housing board
*There are still affordable rooms available at the Vanderbilt YMCA, 224 E 47th St (btwn 2nd and 3rd Avenues), New York, NY, tel. 212-756-9600. Single rooms are $67/night; double rooms (with bunk bed) are $75. Quads are also available. All rooms are with shared bathrooms. Check our website for a description of the Vanderbilt Y from CODEPINK activist Nancy Mancias, who checked the place out for us.