Tuesday Protest Outside Saudi Embassy to Block U.S. Weapon Sales to Saudi Kingdom and Demand Ceasefire with Yemen

Contact: Alli McCracken, CODEPINK National Director, 860-575-5692, [email protected]
Sam Ritchie, CODEPINK Communications Director, 347-452-0008, [email protected]

WASHINGTON, DC – CODEPINK will be outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy on Tuesday, August 23, at noon to demand that the Saudi government immediately cease its brutal bombing campaign against Yemen. Displaying banners that call attention to Saudi Arabia’s murder of Yemeni children and intentional targeting of civilians – actions that amount to war crimes – activists will call on Saudi Arabia to halt airstrikes immediately. Activists will also urge the US to halt its latest weapon sale ($1.15 billion) to Saudi Arabia and end its compliance with this unjust war.

When: Tuesday, August 23 at 12 pm
Where: Saudi Embassy, 601 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037
Visuals: Activists will display banners denouncing the murder of Yemeni children and intentional targeting of civilian targets, such as schools, hospitals and factories.

Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition against Yemen have caused the deaths of well over 3,000 innocent civilians since the campaign began 18 months ago. The death and destruction – which the United Nations has characterized as a “humanitarian catastrophe” – has largely been caused by attacks employing U.S.-made jets, cluster bombs and other munitions. Despite the overwhelming evidence that the Saudis are committing war crimes in Yemen, the Pentagon recently announced that the U.S. will rearm Saudi Arabia with an additional $1.15 billion in weapons. Congress has only 30 days to block the arms deal.

“I’m protesting outside the Saudi Embassy in Washington DC because Saudi Arabia is bombing my country, Yemen. It’s the country where I was born and raised, and where all my memories are from. Now, I’m watching it vanish,” said Bushra Al-Fusail, CODEPINK Campaigner to End US Weapons to Saudi Arabia. “The US must stop selling weapons to Saudi. There are thousands of people who are being injured or killed, including women and children who are affected the most.”

To set up interviews or get more information, contact Alli McCracken at (860) 575-5692.

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