FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 13, 2024
Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | [email protected]
CODEPINK To Deliver Valentines to Congress, Asking, "Where is the love for humanity in Congress?"
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, February 14, peace activists from CODEPINK will be spreading a message of love and solidarity on Capitol Hill. In honor of Valentine's Day, they will be delivering heartfelt valentines to members of Congress, urging them to embrace compassion and demand an immediate ceasefire to end the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
“My heart has broken into thousands of pieces as I watch Israel murder Palestinians in Gaza in the most horrendous ways. I am flying across the country to spend Valentine's day in Congress calling on members to have a heart and stop this insane, inhumane and horrific violence. Nothing, absolutely nothing can justify what the world is watching,” explained CODEPINK co-founder Jodie Evans.
“They are monsters to even think of sending more money for weapons. This must end!" she continued.
Along with the Valentine cards is a nationwide petition signed by thousands of concerned citizens. The petition asks Congress to recognize the urgency of the situation and take decisive action to halt Israel's relentless murder and starvation of the Palestinian people. The petition reads:
Dear Congress,
On this Valentine's Day, we continue to ask, "Where is the love for humanity in Congress?"
In the spirit of love — love for humankind, love for Mother Nature — we are sending you, our lawmakers, our "Ceasefire in Gaza" message to end Israel's ongoing genocide that has already killed over 32,000 people in Gaza, the majority of whom are women and children.
Our hearts break for the people of Gaza who have no food, water, shelter, or healthcare. Our hearts break for the Palestinians who lost their Valentine due to Israel's brutal assault, whether it be their partners, mothers, fathers, children, or friends.
In a gesture of hope, we send you this heart to symbolize our desire for a ceasefire and an end to Israel's ongoing genocide in Palestine. We hope that you will show your constituents that you value all Palestinians' inherent right to life with dignity.
We also ask that you vote "NO" on the $118 billion supplementary funding bill and demand funding to UNRWA be restored as over 2 million Gazans are displaced by Israel's bombardment and 400,000 are experiencing famine. UNRWA is a lifeline for Gazans. Now is a time to increase our support for them, not fund even more weapons and war globally.
On this Valentine's Day, we ask our members of Congress to declare the national budget a moral document that elevates the needs of women and children instead of raining bombs on them.
Let our love find its way into the hearts of our elected leaders to resist the overtures of weapons dealers and oil lobbyists and instead commit our government to peace, justice, and human rights.
Let this Valentine's heart remind all those on Capitol Hill that love is not hatred; peace is not war.
The group plans to deliver the petition to members of the House of Representatives who are preparing to vote on the grotesque supplementary funding bill that was passed by the Senate.
The AP recently reported that Israel has now killed more than 12,300 Palestinian children and young teens since October 7th. Many more are expected to die due to Israel’s forced starvation of Gaza supported by the United States. The majority of people in the United States and across the world want this genocide to end. CODEPINK will continue to be a voice for the majority inside the halls of Congress until a ceasefire is achieved and the occupation of Palestine ends.
Photos from the action will be available here!
Videos from the action will be available here!
For more information, please contact Melissa Garriga at [email protected].
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