FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Melissa Garriga | [email protected]
Activists Decorate Congress With Anti-war, Feminist Messages on International Women’s Day
CODEPINK & activists say End War, Peace NOW
WASHINGTON – For International Women’s Day CODEPINK activists bring the feminist lens for peace, justice & an end to war to the House of Representatives. While some made a large human peace sign in the rotunda, a banner demanding “Peace NOW” was unfurled from an upper level.
The group in the rotunda formed a human peace sign donned with pink parasols and peacefully sang “Give Peace A Chance.”
The human peace sign and the “Peace NOW” banner were followed up by office visits to Congresswomen who initially signed the Progressive Caucus letter to Biden demanding he pursue a path to negotiations to end the Russia/Ukraine War. The Progressive Caucus retracted their letter. Today in honor of International Women’s Day, CODEPINK activists revisited the women signees pressuring them to once again pursue negotiations and peace.
Olivia DiNucci, one of the day’s organizers, explained the importance of the action on International Women’s Day, “I’m a feminist calling for an end to war and the addiction to the military industrial complex here at home and abroad on International Women”s Day and every day. We brought a symbol of peace into congress because the warmongering that goes on inside the building needs to be resisted.’
In September of 2022, the UN came out with a policy report that highlighted the war in Ukraine’s impact on both the women of Ukraine and around the globe. The report showed that food price hikes that occurred after the war broke out widened the gender gap in regards to food insecurity. Fuel shortages led to homes using less clean energy sources, leading to increased pollution that kills mostly women and children. 37% of women-headed households in Ukraine were likely to be food insecure compared to 20% of households headed by men. Women are also seeing ever-increasing rates of sexual exploitation and violence, as occurs with wars all over the world.
Progressive congresswomen cannot say they are champions for women’s rights while they simultaneously support war and funding for war. We ask them to stand for women by standing for peace and calling for an end to the war.
This International Women’s Day, CODEPINK stands with women across the world in the feminist demand to end war. Today’s actions are a part of multiple actions and educational events across the country as part of our #IWDEndWar week of solidarity. Among the demands is a call on President Biden to fire the undiplomatic diplomat Victoria Nuland.
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