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== Criticism ==
== Criticism ==
=== Attendance at Hugo Chavez Rally in Venezuela ===
=== Attendance at Hugo Chavez Rally in Venezuela ===
The consistency of Code Pink's antiwar credentials and its values as an antiwar group is criticized because while it publicly opposes President Bush and his policies in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Code Pink's leaders have embraced Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} Most notably, Code Pink's three highest profile leaders, Medea Benjamin, Jodi Evans and Cindy Sheehan, visited Hugo Chavez in January 2006.<ref>http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=764</ref>{{offtopic | Cindy Sheehan}} After returning to the United States, Cindy Sheehan stated in an MSNBC interview that she would rather live under Hugo Chavez than President Bush and maintained that Chavez was not a dictator.<!--Youtube is generally not considered a reliable source for Wikipedia<ref>http://youtube.com/watch?v=t7K2HdFZiKw MSNBC Interview With Cindy Sheehan</ref>-->{{Refimprove|date=January 2008}}
The consistency of Code Pink's antiwar credentials and its values as an antiwar group is criticized because while it publicly opposes President Bush and his policies in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Code Pink's leaders have embraced Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} Most notably, Code Pink's three highest profile leaders, Medea Benjamin, Jodi Evans and Cindy Sheehan, visited Hugo Chavez in January 2006.<ref>http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=764</ref>


[[Medea Benjamin]] has often praised [[Hugo Chavez]] in various articles despite his alleged support for the communist FARC (the [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia]]),{{offtopic | FARC}} an organization of leftist guerrillas which have been responsible for about 750 kidnappings in [[Columbia]] and has fought the government in Columbia for forty years.<ref>http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/67/24780</ref><ref>http://www.alternet.org/story/19585/</ref><ref>http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=117</ref> <ref>http://codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=117</ref>FARC uses routes through Venezuela to import weapons, cash, and war material, and the United States State
[[Medea Benjamin]] has often praised [[Hugo Chavez]] in various articles despite his alleged support for the communist FARC (the [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia]]),{{offtopic | FARC}} an organization of leftist guerrillas which have been responsible for about 750 kidnappings in [[Columbia]] and has fought the government in Columbia for forty years.<ref>http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/67/24780</ref><ref>http://www.alternet.org/story/19585/</ref><ref>http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=117</ref> <ref>http://codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=117</ref>FARC uses routes through Venezuela to import weapons, cash, and war material, and the United States State

Revision as of 11:05, 25 January 2008

For the hospital emergency code, see Hospital emergency codes § Code Pink.

Code Pink: Women for Peace is a feminist anti-war group that started in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq. They describe themselves as a "grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education and other life-affirming activities."[1] [2] Wearing their signature color, they have conducted marches, protests, and high-visibility publicity stunts in order to achieve their goals, earning criticism from President Bush and others.

The name "Code Pink" itself is a play on the Bush Administration's Department of Homeland Security's color-coded alert system. In keeping with the name, participants at Code Pink events normally wear pink. While the group is initiated and led by women, men are welcome to participate at both the local and national level.

History

Code Pink began on October 2, 2002, on Gandhi's birthday, and in November they launched a 4-month vigil in front of the White House that culminated on March 8, International Women's Day, with a 10,000-person march.

Code Pink activists demonstrate in front of the White House on July 4, 2006.

In February 2003, just weeks before the invasion of Iraq, Code Pink organized its first trip to Iraq, and then led 5 delegations there. These included a trip with parents who lost their children in Iraq, and a trip with parents of soldiers. They also brought a group of 6 Iraqi women to the U.S. to tour the country, and published a report about how the US occupation has affected the status of Iraqi women. [citation needed] Code Pink also put out a book called "Stop the Next War Now," which included essays by Nobel laureates, elected officials and journalists, and supports the end to war in all countries except Sudan's Darfur region. [citation needed]

Ongoing Activities

Every year on Mothers Day, Code Pink organizes peace rallies. On Mother's Day 2006, Code Pink organized a 24-hour gathering in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, which was attended and supported by activists such as Cindy Sheehan, Susan Sarandon and Patch Adams.[3] Code Pink has also organized vigils at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C.. A Code Pink representative stated the purpose of the vigil was to gain increased veterans' benefits. A soldier in treatment at the facility accused them of displaying mock caskets".[4] , and others have questioned the label of "vigil" due to the displaying of signs such as "Maimed for Lies" and "Enlist Here and Die for Halliburton".[5]

On their official website, Code Pink has listed allegations of U.S. "war-crimes", and claimed thousands of civilians were killed in Fallujah in 2004 due to the actions of the U.S. military.[6] Along with other groups, they gave over $20,000 worth of supplies to the residents of Fallujah in 2004.

Code Pink encourages counter-recruitment in opposition to U.S. military recruitment in schools and at recruitment centers.[7]

Past activities

  • September 21, 2006: Code Pink staged a peace march which blocked traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge. Code Pink received permits allowing them to march after the morning commute hours at 10:00am. Instead, the group illegally began walking toward the center of the span as early as 7:30am. They left by 10:00am with no injuries or accidents reported.[8]
  • March 22, 2007: several Code Pink protestors were arrested outside the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi after announcing their intent to take over the office. Code Pink was protesting that the majority Democratic party had not stopped war funding.[11]
  • April 28, 2007: Code Pink held a nationwide protest for the impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney claiming the two "lied the nation into a war of aggression, are spying in open violation of the law, and have sanctioned the use of torture. These are high crimes and misdemeanors that demand accountability."[12]
  • September 10, 2007: Code Pink attended Gen. David Petraeus' testimony to Congress. Petraeus testified that security objectives in Iraq were largely being met and that a long-term effort there was needed. Members of Code Pink protested loudly, interrupting the general's testimony at least twice and were shown being forcibly removed. Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) banged his gavel and stated they would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.[13]
  • October 24, 2007: Desiree Ali-Fairooz approached Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice with red paint on her hands and shouted "The blood of millions of Iraqis is on your hands!" She was immediately arrested.[16]

Criticism

Attendance at Hugo Chavez Rally in Venezuela

The consistency of Code Pink's antiwar credentials and its values as an antiwar group is criticized because while it publicly opposes President Bush and his policies in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Code Pink's leaders have embraced Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.[citation needed] Most notably, Code Pink's three highest profile leaders, Medea Benjamin, Jodi Evans and Cindy Sheehan, visited Hugo Chavez in January 2006.[17]

Medea Benjamin has often praised Hugo Chavez in various articles despite his alleged support for the communist FARC (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia),

an organization of leftist guerrillas which have been responsible for about 750 kidnappings in Columbia and has fought the government in Columbia for forty years.[18][19][20] [21]FARC uses routes through Venezuela to import weapons, cash, and war material, and the United States State Department's position is that Chavez is complicit with FARC's activities.[22]

Moreover, Chavez has maintained close economic and diplomatic ties with Cuba and Iran. Chavez has also proclaimed his "brotherhood" with Saddam Hussein and has also favorably described the Taliban.[23]

While Benjamin has praised Chavez in a series of written articles, and considers herself a human rights and social justice activist[24], Benjamin associated the Venezuelan media with the elites who were opposed to Chavez. She wrote, "Infuriated by their loss of power, the elite use their control over the media to blast Chavez for destroying the economy, cozying up to Fidel Castro, antagonizing the US government, expropriating private property, and using dictatorial rule." Benjamin further wrote that President Bush and John Kerry, could learn a lesson from Hugo Chavez about winning the hearts and minds of the people.[25]

The organization Global Exchange, which Medea Benjamin is the founding director and co-director[26], describes Venezuela as being "..at the center of a new, progressive model of socioeconomic development that is shaping Latin America’s future.

There are few countries where everyday people actually receive the benefits of cooperation with multinationals: a redistribution of oil profit, a guarantee for health care written into the constitution, and record-breaking achievements in education. What's more, having been internationally ratified as a democracy during the August 2004 recall referendum, Venezuela has embarked upon some of the most innovative regional programs that Latin America has ever seen."[27]

Tucker Carlson Alleges Support of Alleged Venezuelan Crackdown on Free Expression

Despite the crackdown on free expression and civil rights in Venezuela, Medea Benjamin continued to support Hugo Chavez. She was quoted as saying that the crackdowns on free expression and civil rights in Venezuela are "myths."[28] In an interview with Tucker Carlson on MSNBC, Benjamin was asked, "Do you want to revise that given the news that Hugo Chavez has closed the last nationally broadcast opposition television station for criticizing him?" Benjamin replied that it was not true and that what happened was that Chavez simply did not renew the license because "it "participated in a coup against a democratically elected government, his [Chavez's] government."[29] Carlson responded that a 360 page Venezuelan government published book accused RCTV, the last independent television station closed by Chavez, as showing lack of respect for authorities and institutions. Carlson asked Benjamin, "I would think, as a self described liberal, you would stand up for the right of people to, quote, challenge authorities and institutions. And yet, you are apologizing for the squelching of minority views. Why could that be?" Benjamin replied that, "They [RCTV] falsified information. They got people out on the street. They falsified footage that showed pro Chavez supporters killing people, which did not happen. They refuse to cover any of the pro Chavez demonstrations." [30]

Some Claim Protests are Insensitive and in Poor Taste

Code Pink has been the subject of criticism for the protests it has held at military hospitals, most notably at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC. Demonstrators often schedule protests on Friday evenings during visiting hours. Code Pink contends that the vigils are in support of the troops and an encouragement to the Bush administration to bring them home safely.

Kevin Pannell, a member of the Army's First Cavalry Division who was recently treated at Walter Reed and had both legs amputated after an ambush grenade attack near Baghdad in 2004, considers the presence of the anti-war protesters in front of the hospital "distasteful." "We went by there one day and I drove by and [the anti-war prot esters] had a bunch of flag-draped coffins laid out on the sidewalk,” commented Pannell, “That, I thought, was probably the most distasteful thing I had ever seen. Ever. You know that 95 percent of the guys in the hospital bed lost guys whenever they got hurt and survivors' guilt is the worst thing you can deal with."[31]

They drew the criticism of President Bush on November 1, 2007 when he said "When it comes to funding our troops, some in Washington should spend more time responding to the warnings of terrorists like Osama bin Laden and the requests of our commanders on the ground and less time responding to the demands of MoveOn.org bloggers and Code Pink protesters." [2]


See also

References

  1. ^ Code Pink Homepage Accessed 22 January 2008.
  2. ^ Pink/ Code Pink: Women for Peace on the site of Global Exchange. Accessed 31 January 2007.
  3. ^ William Hughes, COMMENTARY: Code Pink Challenges White House, Baltimore Chronicle, May 15, 2006. Accessed online 17 October 2006.
  4. ^ 'Code Pink' protestors target Walter Reed Medical Center, Hannity & Colmes, Fox News, August 26, 2005. Accessed 28 June 2006
  5. ^ Anti-War Protests Target Wounded at Army Hospital, Marc Morano, CBS News, August 25, 2005. Accessed 6 February 2007
  6. ^ Families For Peace Delegation, Code Pink Website, accessed 03 July 2006
  7. ^ Home » Campaigns » Counter-Recruitment, Code Pink website, accessed 03 July 2006.
  8. ^ Code Pink's war protest jams bridge traffic, Marin Independent Journal, September 22, 2006. Accessed online 16 October 2006.
  9. ^ Clinton: 'It's Just Not Fair', The Hill, March 23, 2007. Accessed online 22 March 2007.
  10. ^ Teddy Davis, Code Pink Targets Clinton, ABC News Political Radar March 27, 2007. Accessed online 10 April 2007.
  11. ^ Anti-war protestors arrested at Pelosi's office, The Hill, March 22, 2007. Accessed online 22 March 2007.
  12. ^ Code Pink: Impeach President Bush, "Code Pink: Women for Peace", Accessed online 21 June 2007.
  13. ^ [1], "Washington Post article", Accessed online 25 October 2007.
  14. ^ local CBS affiliate report
  15. ^ Berkeley Daily Planet coverage
  16. ^ "`Bloodied' anti-war protester gets in face of `criminal' Rice". October 25, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=764
  18. ^ http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/67/24780
  19. ^ http://www.alternet.org/story/19585/
  20. ^ http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=117
  21. ^ http://codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=117
  22. ^ http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rm/2006/68968.htm
  23. ^ http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/177yckaw.asp
  24. ^ http://www.smartvoter.org/2000/11/07/ca/state/vote/benjamin_m/bio.html
  25. ^ http://www.counterpunch.org/benjamin08142004.html
  26. ^ http://www.smartvoter.org/2000/11/07/ca/state/vote/benjamin_m/bio.html
  27. ^ http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/americas/
  28. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18941438/
  29. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18941438/
  30. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18941438/
  31. ^ http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewSpecialReports.asp?Page=%5CSpecialReports%5Carchive%5C200508%5CSPE20050825a.html
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