CODEPINK invites you to learn with us as we kick off a Divest from the War Machine campaign. Join us and a broad coalition of partner organizations for a day of examining the current state of the war machine (surprise- it’s thriving!) and learning the skills and knowledge necessary to use divestment as a tool to shine a critical light on the weapons producers that supply and profit from deadly hyper-militarism both at home and abroad. 

If you are a student register free here!

We encourage and can help you to hold similar events in other locations, and this event will be live-streamed so that other events can watch it.

Speakers

Check out our speaker bios here!

Medea Benjamin, Vijay Prashad, Ajamu Baraka, William Hartung, Jodie Evans, Lisa Renstrom, Larry Wilkerson, Miriam Pemberton, John Qua and more! 

Schedule

Friday Evening, October 20

5:00 pm-7:00 pm: Join us in action before the Summit! Gather at the Pentagon for a commemorative vigil on US responsibility for the legacies of war: landmines, unexploded ordnance, Agent Orange, forced relocation of rural people, and on the struggles of veterans. We will meet at 5 pm at a spot very near the exit from the Pentagon Metro Stop. Coming up the stairs for VISITORS you will see the area immediately to the left as you face the Pentagon. See you there!

Featured will be Peter Yarrow of the legendary folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, performers at the 1967 rally at the Lincoln Memorial, draft resisters whose cards were turned into the Justice Department on the same date fifty years ago, and advocates of taking responsibility for war legacies.

Saturday, October 21

9:00 am-9:30 am Welcome

• Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK
• Jodie Evans, CODEPINK
• Haley Pedersen, CODEPINK

9:30 am-11:00 am The U.S. War Machine: Fueling Violence at Home and Abroad

• William Hartung, Center for International Policy
• Ajamu Baraka, Black Alliance for Peace

11:00 am-12:00 am Conversion from a War Economy to a Peace Economy

• Miriam Pemberton, Institute for Policy Studies
• Maggie Martin, About Face, Drop the MIC campaign

12:00 pm-1:15 pm Lunch and Keynote Speaker

• Larry Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff under Colin Powell

1:15 am-2:15 pm Assessing the Nuclear Threat and Targeting Nuclear Weapons Producers

• John Qua, Global Zero
• Jackie Cabasso, Mayors for Peace
  

2:15 pm-3:00 pm Lessons from Other Movements

• Garik Ruiz, BDS National Committee
• Lisa Renstrom, Divest/ Invest

3:00 pm-4:00 pm Divestment as a Tool for Confronting the War Machine

• Jarrett Smith, Takoma Park City Council Member
• Richard Torgerson, SharePower Investing
• Susi Snyder, Don’t Bank on the Bomb

4:00 pm-4:30 pm Taking on the War Machine

• Vijay Prashad, historian and journalist

4:30 pm Wrap up

• Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK
• Jodie Evans, CODEPINK
• Haley Pedersen, CODEPINK

Sunday, October 22

10:00 am - 1:00 pm: Strategy sessions on how to implement the Divest from the War Machine

Cost

Sliding scale between $15—$100+ (FREE for students! If you are a student register free here! $25 for low-income individuals). NOTE: We want this event to be accessible to everyone. If you can not afford any of these price options, please email [email protected].

Payment includes the following:

• Entrance to Saturday event and Sunday's optional organizing sessions
• Refreshments and lunch for Saturday, October 21st only

For organizers who join us for Sunday, October 22nd, you will be responsible for your own lunch. Please bring something from home or money to grab something nearby!