FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 27, 2024
Media Contact: Melissa Garriga [email protected]
CODEPINK Co-Director Escorted Out of Senate Subcommittee Hearing on Yemen and Red Sea “Security Issues” for Disrupting With the Truth
“You all know exactly how to stop the blockade...stop support for the genocide in Gaza!"
WASHINGTON D.C. – Because those in power seem to be willfully ignorant and/or purposely evil, CODEPINK was forced to disrupt yet another Senate subcommittee hearing on Yemen’s legal Red Sea blockade.
Sitting in the hearing displaying the blood-stained hands emblematic of the hands of the genocide supporting elected officials serving on the Senate Foreign Affairs committee, CODEPINK co-director Danaka Katovich was compelled to disrupt the ridiculous warmongering.
“You all know exactly how to stop the blockade on the Red sea, and that’s to stop support for the genocide in Gaza. What you need to do is stop and call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” shouted Katovich.
“You say you care about service members dying but you say nothing about Aaron Bushnell who lit himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy 2 days ago,” she continued as she was forcibly removed from the hearing.
Every elected official present and each “expert” brought in to testify know exactly why the Houthis are blocking the Red Sea. The Houthis made their demands clear - they want to end the genocide in Gaza, where 30,000 Palestinians have been murdered.
The committee started the hearing by saying that they mourn the loss of U.S. soldiers. However, none of them have made any comment on the death of active Airman Aaron Bushnell who self-immolated in front of the Israeli embassy on Sunday. As part of the U.S. military, Aaron could no longer handle being complicit in the genocide of Palestinians by Israel through the support and funding of the United States.
Aaron's final words, "Free Palestine!" echo the sentiment of countless individuals worldwide who want an end to the genocide in Gaza and the occupation of Palestine.
Katovich was briefly detained but released.
For more information, please contact Melissa at [email protected]
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