Women Say Free Gaza! Download these printable signs for your Gaza actions! 8.5 x 11 | 11 x 17 "We who are mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and daughters, female workrs, students, teachers, healers, artists, writers, singers, poets and all outraged women will collectively rise up and oppose the siege of Gaza. Women have been the guardians of life — not because we are better or purer or more innately nurturing than men, but because the men have busied themselves making war. Because of our responsibility to the next generation, because of our own love for our families and communities, it is time we women devote ourselves — wholeheartedly — to the business of making peace." — adapted from Starhawk CODEPINK coordinated a contingent for the Gaza Freedom March which represented global women's voices for lifting the siege of Gaza. Members of our international contingent marched in solidarity with our sisters in Gaza in the Freedom March on December 31st.  Our Women's Contingent aimed to bring the creative life-force of women into vibrant visibility in the march. How? We carryied a large banner that said "Women Say Free Gaza!" and we brought brightly colored peace prayer flags made from fabric squares strung along a clothesline. You can gather with your friends to make peace flags for other events too. Squares should be 8.5" x 10" and ideally in shades of pink. This is a great project to do with kids or in the classroom! Here's how to make Peace Flags: Gather old bedsheets, banner remnants, or get new fabric in bright colors--ideally all shades of PINK! If you want to sew a hem: Cut the fabric into long strips 10" wide. Stitch a hem at the top so there is a 1" tall seam where rope can be strung through. Then, after the entire long strip has been hemmed, cut vertically into the width that you want the prayer flags to be, 8.5" (the width of a piece of paper). If you don't want to sew: Alternatively, for quick and easy construction, you can mail us your unstitched panels and we will staple them together around the rope. Simply cut the fabric into squares measuring 8.5" x 10" (to approximate you can just trace a piece of paper). Decorate! Use plastic tubes of paint, markers, or other art supplies to decorate your individual flags. You may want to include a peace prayer, a word, a picture, or a design. Let dry. Mail your completed flags to CODEPINK, 2010 Linden Avenue, Venice, CA 90291. Let us know you're making prayer flags by emailing pinkteam@codepink.org with subject FLAG. The Women's Contingent in the Gaza Freedom March met with women's groups in Gaza and worked together on the construction of a mosaic mural in Gaza City, designed by Kathleen Crocetti, on January 1, New Year's Day, 2010. This contingent was coordinated by CODEPINK cofounder Jodie Evans, and CODEPINK organizers Rae Abileah and Marina Barakatt. Check out more photos here!