FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2024
Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | [email protected]
CODEPINK Coachella Valley Sends Message on International Women's Day: “Feminists Say No To Genocide”
Coachella Valley, CA – Today, CODEPINK Coachella Valley demonstrated their unwavering commitment to peace and solidarity on International Women's Day. Taking a stance against the genocide in Gaza, the group unfurled a sizable banner off the Cook Street Overpass on I-10, capturing the attention of passersby and attendees of the BNP Paribas Open.
In the face of relentless violence and loss of innocent lives in Gaza, CODEPINK refuses to remain silent. The banner, prominently displaying the message "Feminists Say No To Genocide," serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for action this International Women’s Day. Feminists in the United States who claim to be for reproductive justice must call for an immediate ceasefire.
“The torture and starvation, the deprivation of Palestinian women and children of the very basic needs for survival, the systematic destruction of their lives & families, all have to end; otherwise, peace is as endangered.”
Israel’s genocide in Gaza supported and funded by the United States is directly attributing to a devastating reproductive crisis for the women of Gaza.
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Miscarriages in Palestine have increased by 300%
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There is little to no access to adequate prenatal and postnatal care, treatment, and medicine for families.
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1 in 10 Palestinian women in labor are delayed in reaching hospitals by military checkpoints, which can result in them being forced to give birth in unsafe, undignified, and sometimes fatal conditions
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Over 94,000 Palestinian women lacked access BEFORE Oct. 7; Gaza is home to over a million children without access to proper food, medical services, and freedom of movement.
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There is a shortage of blood to treat postpartum injuries, and surgeons have performed C-sections with no anesthetic.
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The Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association (PFPPA) has worked to ensure the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health care services for Palestinians. Israel destroyed it with an airstrike.
The location of the demonstration was chosen to ensure that those attending the BNP Paribas Open that there can be no business as usual in the midst of genocide.
The antiwar group echoes the voices of millions worldwide as they demand an immediate ceasefire and an end to the complicity of U.S. political leaders in perpetuating violence through funding.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Janet at [email protected].
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