Post Action: CODEPINK Brings "Out of Iraq" Message to Governor Huckabee Forum

Contact: Rae Abileah (415) 994-1723
Nancy Mancias (415) 342-6409
January 31st, 2008


While GOP Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee was speaking in San Francisco at the Fairmont Hotel today about the US economy, health, education, and Iraq, two women associated with the peace group CODEPINK stood up and attempted to unfurl their pink banners "Stop Killing In Iraq: Be Pro-Life" and "Who Would Jesus Bomb? End War." They were protesting Huckabee's unwillingness to call for a troop withdrawal from Iraq. "We're here to keep the anti-war message on the front burner for all presidential candidates." said Nancy Mancias of CODEPINK "If Huckabee says the Iraq war surge is working, why doesn't he include a timeline to bring the troops home."

"As a reverend, one would expect Huckabee to have a reverence for life, and to condemn the deaths of innocent Iraqi civilians and US soldiers in Iraq.  On the heels of the release of a report about a huge spike in military suicides, Huckabee continues to see putting our troops in harm's way as a viable solution to the mess the US has created in Iraq," Rae Abileah of CODEPINK stated.

As one of the activists was carried out of the forum by a staff member chanting "Governor Huckabee, Bring the Troops Home, Set a Timeline for Withdrawal", while the other remained standing with a peace sign to witness Huckabee's "celebration" of the protest, which he declared a symbol of free speech in America and juxtaposed with potential "life in prison" in countries like "Cuba and Iran."  The other activist was escorted out of the event after stating that if Huckabee is for cutting government spending, he should advocate an end to war funding and a withdrawal of troops.   She yelled  "There is no military solution!  Out of Iraq!" while being escorted out.

The activists are Nancy Mancias of CODEPINK Women for Peace and Global Exchange and Rae Abileah, National Grassroots Coordinator for CODEPINK Women for Peace.

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