Posted by CODEPINK Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     CONTACT
Jodie Evans, co-founder, 310-913-4821

ST. PAUL -- Two activists of the women's peace group CODEPINK disrupted Sarah Palin's speech tonight at the Republican National Convention when they approached the stage where Palin was speaking, adjusted their clothes to reveal pink slips that read "Palin is not a woman's choice," stood there at the side of the stage for about a minute and yelled "Women say no to war!" and "Women need a vice-president for peace!" They also removed banners that read "Women need a peace vice-president."

Co-founders Medea Benjamin and Jodie Evans, who were given their tickets to the speech by a Republican delegate who was frustrated with the Republican party and Sarah Palin, caught the attention of Palin with their banners and shouting about 15 minutes into her speech. Palin stopped talking for a moment to turn to look at them. (Read a Washington Post description of the incident here: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/03/inside_the_convention_hall.html).

After another moment, security then grabbed Benjamin and Evans and escorted them one at a time out of the St. Paul Xcel Center, where they were held until the end of the Palin's speech and told they would be arrested if they tried to reenter. They were told they'd committed an arrestable offense but they were not charged.

"Sarah Palin is not a woman's choice," said Jodie Evans, co-founder, moments after being released. "That's it."

CODEPINK is a nonpartisan women's peace group. They vehemently oppose Palin's pro-war, anti-environment, anti-choice positions. More details to come. For questions, please call Jodie Evans at 310-913-4821.