MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Mariana Mendoza | CODEPINK organizer | mariana@codepink.org | (310) 463-6639
When: Thursday, April 13th 2017
Where: New York City, Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and across the US
CODEPINK will join social justice and humanitarian organizations for a hunger strike in solidarity with Yemeni people as a call for an end to the devastation in Yemen. This week, activists across the U.S. are rising up for Yemen by calling for an end of U.S. weapons sales and airstrikes, a negotiated settlement to the war in Yemen and humanitarian aid for the millions of Yemenis facing starvation.
The situation in Yemen is so severe that one Yemeni child dies every ten minutes from malnutrition caused by destruction from the US supported Saudi bombing of hospitals, clinics and civilian infrastructure in Yemen. “While Yemeni children are starving, US weapons makers, including General Dynamics, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin, are profiting from weapon sales to Saudi Arabia,” stated Ariel Gold, CODEPINK Campaign Director.
As we fast from all solid foods, we urge others to join us in calling for a humane response to the famine facing Yemeni civilians whose country has been ravaged by civil war and regularly targeted by Saudi and U.S. airstrikes. “The US should take responsibility and be accountable for the children and people who are dying in Yemen,” said CODEPINK Co-founder, Jodie Evans.
“We call on the Saudis and Donald Trump to look at the horrific effect their bombing is having on the beautiful babies in Yemen, where one child is dying every ten minutes from the effects of this war,” said CODEPINK Co-founder Medea Benjamin. “Trump should be concerned about all suffering babies, whether they are in Syria or Yemen, and do what he can to alleviate their suffering. In the case of Yemen it is easy: Stop the bombing; Stop US support to the Saudi regime.”
This action coincides with a week-long vigil and fast in front of the United Nations in NY by peace activists, such as Cathy Kelly from Voices for Creative Nonviolence, calling for peace in Yemen. In D.C., activists will be at the Saudi embassy and White House. In Los Angeles, immigrant rights, faith-based and peace groups will gather for an interfaith day of prophetic action rising with immigrants, refugees, and Yemeni people. In the Bay Area activists will dedicate a weekly vigil for drone victims to those in Yemen. “Stop the bombing; Stop US support to the Saudi regime, and let humanitarian aid in!” is our call.
On-the-ground Actions
NYC: http://www.codepink.org/yemen_hunger_strike_in_nyc
DC: http://www.codepink.org/unite_for_yemen_outside_the_white_house
LA: www.codepink.org/rise_and_fast_for_yemeni_people_immigrants_and_refugees_in_
