Set up a Picnic for Peace with Iran Event!

By September 17, Congress has to vote on the Iran nuclear deal and we are working hard to ensure that they vote in favor of this historic agreement. We've teamed up with our friends at the National Iranian American Council, Busboys and Poets, and the Jewish Voice for Peace DC Metro Chapter to invite you to organize a Picnic For Peace with Iran event in your community. This is a great way to bring together different sectors of your community who care about peace and to have an action that is fun and visible to the press.

Here’s how we’re going to do it in Washington DC, but feel free to shape the event as you please:

We’ve chosen Sunday, August 30th at 4pm.

We’re teaming up with Iranian Americans. Not all of you will have a local Iranian community, but check to see if you do--and if they are in favor of the peace deal. One way to do that is by asking the folks at the National Iranian-American Council. You can email Mahsa at mpayesteh@niacouncil.com.

We’ve selected Lafayette Park in front of the White House. We did this because we want a visible, well-trafficked location (but feel free to pick an indoor location like a faith-based venue, community center, etc. and call your event Dining for Peace with Iran or whatever makes sense).

We’re going to do this traditional Iranian style, with round white table clothes on the ground with space for ten people at each “table.” We’ll have flowers and candles on the clothes.

We’re going to encourage people to dress nicely and in all white for peace (with a touch of pink!), to make the event aesthetically pleasing.

Our goal is to have 200 people. We’re asking groups and individuals (interfaith groups, progressive businesses, NGOs, activist groups, people with lots of friends!) to host a table and get 10 people for their table.

Each table is responsible for coordinating and bringing their own food. We plan to make drinks (pomegranate/lemonade juice) for all, and perhaps a dessert, but the rest of the food is for each table to figure out. Of course, you could also make it a potluck where you all share. Here’s a link to some Iranian food if you want to experiment!

We’re going to contact the press several days before the event to let them know about it. We’ll send you a sample press release so you can too (email Michaela@codepinnk.org if you are going to plan an event)!

We've posted our event on the CODEPINK Action Calendar, and you should too!

Ideas:

Consider inviting speakers to talk about the issue and having some sort of entertainment for fun. Check out some Iranian music online!

If you’re hosting the event outside, consider having a backup indoor space or a rain date.

If you’d like to show a film after dinner, here’s a great list of Iranian movies.

Invite your elected officials at the city, state and national levels!

If you don’t have the time and/or energy to organize something separate like this, consider doing something smaller with your friends in your house, or after a religious service.