Peace Activists Protest AIPAC’s Bellicose Policies re Iran and Palestine during AIPAC Summit

CODEPINK Press Release

CODEPINK Press Release

February 23, 2015

Contact: Anna Kaminski, CODEPINK Organizer, 608-397-8486,Anna@codepink.org
Alli McCracken, CODEPINK National Coordinator, 860-575-5692,Alli@codepink.org

Washington, DC–– From February 28 - March 3, CODEPINK and a coalition of human rights organizations will organize four days of political action in Washington DC to oppose the policies of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) during its annual policy conference. Coined #ShutDownAIPAC, activists will host a variety of creative events: protests outside the DC Convention Center and Netanyahu’s speech in Congress; events critiquing AIPAC policies; and a lobby day in Congress to call for no more sanctions on Iran.

The #ShutDownAIPAC coalition will draw attention to AIPAC’s role as a special interest lobby that maintains a dangerous stranglehold over US policies. Activists will urge the US government to advocate instead for diplomacy with Iran and an end to the brutal occupation of Palestine.

Simultaneously, the Palestine Advocacy Project will place ads in 12 metro stations in Washington DC (as well as Boston, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, LA, Chapel Hill, San Diego, and San Antonio).

“With the politicization of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech and the growing divide between Democrats and Republicans over Speaker Boehner's invitation to the foreign leader, now is the time to confront the influence of the Israel lobby AIPAC and highlight the brutal military occupation of Palestine,” said CODEPINK organizer Anna Kaminski. “The 30 congresspeople skipping Netanyahu's speech could mark the beginning of a shift in public opinion toward both the Israel lobby. Peace activists need to seize this moment and #ShutDownAIPAC is an important step forward.”

Schedule of protests:

Sunday, March 1, 2015, 12:00 - 3:00PM: Rally at the Washington Convention Center (801 Mt Vernon Pl, NW Washington DC)

Hundreds of protesters will rally outside AIPAC’s conference at the DC Convention Center with visuals such as mock settlements, a checkpoint, a creative action with 100 Netanyahu masks and “bloody hands.” Speakers include founder of Boycott From Within Ronnie Barkan; Founder of the Dream Defenders Ahmad Abuznaid; and Jewish Voice for Peace organizer and Friends of Sabeel representative Ariel Gold. There will be civil disobedience actions at this demonstration.

Monday, March 2, 2015, 6:00 – 9:00PM: Protest at the Washington Convention Center during Netanyahu’s AIPAC speech (801 Mt Vernon Pl, NW Washington DC)

Activists will hold a protest and candlelight vigil to commemorate all the lives losts in the brutal Israeli bombing campaign of Gaza over the summer of 2014.  

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

9:30 AM CODEPINK and coalition members will confront AIPAC during their congressional lobby day to tell Congress no more sanctions on Iran.

(Time TBA) Hundreds of protesters will gather outside the US Capitol Building for creative protest and speakers when Netanyahu is giving his controversial address to joint session of Congress.

Schedule of talks:

Saturday, February 28, 2015, 7-10 PM:  #OneStruggle at Trinity Lutheran Church (Corner of E and 4th NW, Washington DC)

Discussion with Palestinian-American human rights lawyer Noura Erakat; police accountability activist and founder of the Dream Defenders Ahmad Abuznaid from Ferguson, Missouri; founder of Indigenous Resistance and Native American activist Andrew Curley; and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) organizer Tareq Radi. Speakers will discuss the similarities between systems of oppression across the globe and gaining strength through unity.

Sunday, March 1, 2015, 7:00 – 10:00PM: #TheCouragetoSpeakOut(Busboys and Poets, 1025 5th St, NW Washington DC)

Speakers Miko Peled and Philip Giraldi will discuss AIPAC’s political power and how best to counter it.

Event sponsors include: CODEPINK, Humanity for Palestine, US Campaign to End The Israeli Occupation, Boycott from Within, Students for Justice in Palestine East, Jews for a Just Peace for Palestinians, Friends of Sabeel North America, Boycott from Within, Answer Coalition, United States Palestinian Community Network, Just Foreign Policy, If Americans Knew

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