FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2024
Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | [email protected]
CODEPINK Members Arrested at House Committee on Foreign Affairs Hearing on US Aid
Washington, D.C. - Four members of CODEPINK were arrested today at a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing focused on eliminating U.S. aid to entities designated as terrorists.
CODEPINK member Julia Norman challenged the testimonies presented during the hearing, accusing those testifying of disseminating false information. Another member, Mary Beth, vocally confronted the participants, asserting that their actions were directly responsible for the starvation of children in Gaza.
After the meeting adjourned, Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK, addressed the room, stating that she had visited Gaza seven times. She emphasized that she has personally witnessed the operations of UNRWA schools and distribution centers and refuted claims made during the hearing that U.S. aid intended for Gazans is going to Hamas. Benjamin emphasized that the allegations made in the hearing were without evidence. CODEPINK member Pua Ali’i Lum echoed her sentiments.
Despite the hearing being officially over and no signs being used, Medea Benjamin and Pua Ali’i were detained and arrested in the hallway for "demonstrating in a federal building." The arrest decision appeared to have been made by Capitol police rather than the committee chair.
The sham hearing featured three witnesses, yet failed to entertain any testimony from witnesses on behalf of UNRWA. The actual criminal act is when elected officials and their "witnesses" lie under oath in the people's house. It is even especially heinous when those lies are directly contributing to the death by starvation of innocent men, women, and children.
Despite the oppressive tactics today, CODEPINK will continue to speak truth to power that lies. We will continue to call out those who are directly contributing to war crimes.
For more information about the arrests, please contact Melissa at [email protected].
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