FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 15, 2024

Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | [email protected]

CODEPINK and Milwaukee4Palestine Holds Demonstration Outside Fundraiser for Senator Tammy Baldwin Featuring Senator Cory Booker

Milwaukee, WI - In a continued effort to protest the ongoing genocide in Gaza, CODEPINK, Milwaukee4Palestine, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) held a demonstration outside a private fundraiser for Senator Tammy Baldwin, where Senator Cory Booker was a guest.

Milwaukee4Palestine and PSL - Milwaukee have disrupted several of Senator Baldwin's campaign events in recent months, criticizing her support for policies that support the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the illegal occupation of Palestine. Tonight's demonstration aimed to pressure both Senators Baldwin and Booker to stop funding Israel’s genocide in Gaza and to meet the movement's demands for an unconditional ceasefire.

“Every day that passes without a ceasefire is hundreds of Palestinians being killed - from bombs, disease, famine. Our demands represent the majority opinion of Americans who want an immediate, unconditional ceasefire. Senators Baldwin & Booker are making an active choice to serve their class & political interests over their constituents' interests. Shame on them. We will not rest until a ceasefire is achieved, followed by an arms embargo on arms sales to Israel,” explained Heba Mohammad with Milwaukee4Palestine.

The timing of this fundraiser coincides with the Republican National Convention (RNC), where Baldwin and Booker are trying to distinguish themselves from their Republican counterparts, who also support the genocide in Gaza. However, protesters highlighted that the majority of Americans want a permanent ceasefire and an end to weapon sales to Israel. 

The demonstrators sought to expose the hypocrisy of Baldwin and Booker, who, despite their rhetoric on democratic values, continue to support actions that the protesters argue go against the will of the American public. This subversion of democracy is evident by the hundreds of thousands of dollars senators like Baldwin take in from pro-Israel lobbies. To date, Sen. Tammy Baldwin has taken in $469,988 from pro-Israel lobby groups ensuring she is representing the state of Israel over the needs of Wisconians. Not to be outdone, Sen. Corey Booker has taken in over $893,998 from pro-Israel lobbies like AIPAC. 

Earlier today, the group joined the March on the RNC counter-rally as part of the antiwar contingent, highlighting how Republicans, influenced by the Israel lobby and weapons industry, divert the hard-earned money of the struggling American working class to fund wars that cause global destruction and suffering.

In a speech at the rally CODEPINK co-director Danaka Katovich made the connection between the two parties. “We came here to march on the Republican National Convention. We know there’s a democratic president but the republicans in Congress are bought off by the Israel lobby and the weapons industry and every one of them votes in favor of sending  the bombs that are dropping on Gaza. Both parties conspired to make this genocide possible. It seems like the only thing they can agree on: sending the money of the American working class who struggle to make ends meet every day to bomb and starve people all over the world,” she said. 

For more information, please contact Melissa at [email protected] 

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