FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Melissa Garriga ! [email protected]
CODEPINK Disrupts DNC Brunch at Wrigley Field with Sen. Durbin, Sen. Duckworth, Rep. Quigley, and Rep. Schakowsky
“There’s a genocide happening and we are at brunch?!?
CHICAGO, IL – CODEPINK activists disrupted the Illinois DNC Brunch and Wrigley Field event, which featured Illinois elected officials including Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Representative Mike Quigley, and Representative Jan Schakowsky. Simultaneously, a group of protesters gathered outside to express their discontent with their elected representatives who are bought by pro-Israel lobbyists.
Disgusted by people casually having brunch while we are funding the genocide CODEPINK staff member and Chicago constituent Grace Siegelman disrupted the event at Wrigley Field with a “Free Palestine” banner.
“There is a genocide happening and your congresspeople are taking money zionist lobbies! They are enabling genocide! They are enabling the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people! Chicago has the largest Palestinian community in the United States and they (elected officials) are enabling the murder of Palestinians!” Siegelman shouted while on the field. She was eventually escorted off the field and out of the event by security and police.
You can watch the video here.
The four officials, who have collectively accepted nearly $3 million from the pro-Israel lobby, were met with demands from both inside and outside the event. The protesters called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the imposition of an arms embargo on Israel, and the removal of money from politics. They aimed to remind these politicians that their duty is to serve the people of Illinois, not the interests of a foreign government.
CODEPINK’s actions highlight growing concerns among constituents who believe their elected officials are prioritizing funding a genocide over serving the needs of the American people. The group will continue to disrupt business as usual throughout the rest Democratic National Convention advocating for peace and justice.
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