Code Pink

For the hospital emergency code, see Hospital emergency codes § Code Pink.

Code Pink activists demonstrate in front of the White House on July 4, 2006.

Code Pink: Women for Peace is an anti-war group that is mainly composed of women. It has regional offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, and Washington DC, and many more U.S. chapters as well as several worldwide. Code Pink describes itself as "a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities."

With members wearing the group's signature pink color, Code Pink has conducted marches, protests, and high-visibility publicity stunts in order to achieve its goals. Although women initiated and lead the group, men are welcome to participate at both the local and national level.

History

Code Pink was founded on October 2, 2002 by women activists Jodie Evans et al. Soon after its inception, Code Pink launched a 4-month vigil in front of the White House, beginning in November and culminating on March 8, International Women's Day, with a 10,000-person march.

The name "Code Pink" 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.

In February 2003, just weeks before the invasion of Iraq, Code Pink organized its first trip to Iraq, and subsequently led five delegations there. These delegations included a trip with parents who had lost their children in Iraq, and also a trip with parents of active soldiers. Additionally, they brought a group of six Iraqi women to the United States to tour the country, and published a report about how the US occupation has affected the status of Iraqi women.

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

Activities

Activity timeline

Code Pink protesting against Arnold Schwarzenegger, during his campaign to get elected as the Governor of California.

Protest by Code Pink against AHAVA in Los Angeles, California in July 2009.

• January 20, 2005: Code Pink protesters attended President G.W. Bush's second inaugural address, unfurling banners and heckling the president during his speech. The group reportedly received VIP passes from unidentified members of Congress, and were eventually escorted out of the area by police.

• September 21, 2006: Code Pink staged a peace march that blocked traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge. Code Pink received permits allowing them to march after the morning commute hours at 10:00am. Instead, the group began an illegal walk toward the center of the span at 7:30am. They left by 10:00am.

• March 20, 2007: a Code Pink protester interrupted a Hillary Rodham Clinton fundraiser in Washington DC and was removed by security. This was one of a series of Code Pink protests against Senator Clinton; a week later, five Code Pink members confronted her at the legislative-political conference of the Communications Workers of America.

• March 22, 2007: several Code Pink protestors were arrested outside the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi after announcing their intent to take over her office. Code Pink was protesting that the majority Democratic Party had not stopped war funding.

• September 10, 2007: Code Pink attended General David Petraeus' Congressional testimony. Petraeus testified that security objectives in Iraq were largely being met and that a long-term effort there was needed. Members of Code Pink protested, interrupting the general's testimony and were subsequently removed. Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) banged his gavel, attempted to restore order, and informed the protesters of possible legal ramifications of their actions.

• September 2007 onward: Code Pink began holding weekly counter-recruitment protests in front of the United States Marine Corps Officer Selection Office located in Berkeley, California. These protests escalated into the broader Berkeley Marine Corps Recruiting Center controversy.

• October 24, 2007: Desiree Ali-Fairooz approached Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice with red paint on her hands and shouted "The blood of millions of Iraqis is on your hands!" She was immediately arrested.

• September 4, 2008: At the 2008 Republican National Convention, a Code Pink activist attempted to confront nominee John McCain onstage while he was giving his acceptance speech. Secret Service stopped the activist before she reached the stage.

• December 12, 2008: Code Pink announced its plans to invest in Iranian wind energy in hopes to defy sanctions and build peaceful relations with the government of Iran.

• June 3, 2009: Code Pink flew a banner that said "End the siege of Gaza" at President Obama's Muslim-outreach speech at Cairo University.

• December 31, 2009: Code Pink was one of the organizers of the Gaza Freedom March on December 31, 2009 which brought over 1,300 people from more than 43 countries to join the Palestinians of Gaza in a non-violent, mass march to the Israeli border.

• May 11, 2010: Code Pink attempts to arrest Karl Rove at a book signing.

• June 8, 2010: Code Pink heckles House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over lack of funding for states.

Marching in 2004.

Ongoing protest rallies

Code Pink often uses political street theater to publicize its positions. Favored methods include the use of puppets, effigies, over-sized heads, and fake blood, according to John J. Tierney in a publication of the conservative think tank, Capital Research Center.

Code Pink organizes annual rallies on Mothers Day and St. Valentine's Day. On Mother's Day 2006, Code Pink organized a 24-hour gathering in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, which was attended and supported by activists such as Cindy Sheehan, Susan Sarandon and Patch Adams. For Valentine's Day they organize kiss-ins in which members are encouraged to assemble outside military recruitment centers and kiss; as well as holding up banners with slogans such as "Make out, not war!" and "Love the troops, Hate the War". Members are also asked to hand out flyers challenging the representations of military recruiters. According to the Code Pink website, "For example, the flyers claim that recruiters tell potential recruits their chance of being sent to a combat zone is slim. In contrast, according to the flyers, almost all recruits will be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan."

Code Pink has also organized vigils at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. It encourages counter-recruitment in opposition to US military recruitment in schools and at recruitment centers. In late 2007, CodePink began protesting a US Marine Corps recruiting center in Berkeley, California. Berkeley City Council had already passed a motion declaring its opposition to military recruitment in 2005 titled Proposition I / College Not Combat. Berkeley resident and CodePink protester Cynthia Papermaster said "We're not against the Marines, but against what they're recruited to do." Counter-protesters held signs, including one that said "stop bashing our boys."

Demonstrations at Walter Reed Medical Center

Code Pink has been criticized for actions at demonstrations at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC. The criticism has centered on the use of 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." To those that faulted aggressive chants and signs, Code Pink responded that certain of the disruptive protesters are not part of their group and that they have asked them to be respectful. Code Pink describes the demonstrations as "vigils not protests" and says their purpose is to highlight the lack of care for veterans. They believe they have helped spur improvements in that care.

Protest during Plame hearing

In March 2007, there were US Senate hearings about the disclosure of the classified role of Valerie Plame Wilson, for which a member of Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby was convicted of obstruction of justice, perjury, and making false statements to federal investigators. 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."

Halloween 2009 White House protest

On October 31st, 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 members, the Code Pink press release encouraged attendees to dress as "zombie soldiers".

Book

Code Pink also published a book called Stop the Next War Now, which included essays by Eve Ensler, Barbara Lee, Arianna Huffington, Janeane Garofalo, Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Hong Kingston, Jody Williams, Naomi Klein, Benazir Bhutto, Helen Thomas, Julia Butterfly Hill, Amy Goodman, Doris Haddock, Cynthia McKinney, Gael Murphy and others.

External links

• Code Pink
• World Social Forum 2006 » Day Three - Meeting Chavez
• America Looks Great In Pink! - Code Pink at Obama's Inauguration
• Jodie Evans - MIPtalk.com Interview