What is CODEPINK?

CODEPINK emerged out of a desperate desire by a group of American women to stop the Bush administration from invading Iraq. The name CODEPINK plays on the Bush Administration's color-coded homeland security alerts — yellow, orange, red — that signal terrorist threats. While Bush's color-coded alerts are based on fear and are used to justify violence, the CODEPINK alert is a feisty call for women and men to "wage peace."

More About Us!

Click here for Co-Founders' bios.

Check out our FAQs.

Check out past campaigns in 2009. 

What is our mission?

CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities. CODEPINK rejects foreign policies based on domination and aggression, and instead calls for policies based on diplomacy, compassion and a commitment to international law. With an emphasis on joy and humor, CODEPINK women and men seek to activate, amplify and inspire a community of peacemakers through creative campaigns and a commitment to non-violence.

Why women?

CODEPINK is not exclusively women — we invite men to join us — -but we are particularly eager to see mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and daughters, female workers, students, teachers, healers, artists, writers, singers, poets and all outraged woman rise up and oppose the war in Iraq. 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.

How did it get started?

Medea Benjamin, Jodie Evans, Diane Wilson, Starhawk and about 100 other women kicked off CODEPINK on November 17, 2002. We set up for a 4-month all-day vigil in front of the White House during the cold of winter. The vigil inspired people from all walks of life, and from all over the country, to stand for peace. Many organizations joined us, including Global Exchange, Greenpeace, WILPF, WAND, Public Citizen, NOW, Women for Women International and Neighbors for Peace and Justice. The vigil culminated on March 8, International Women's Day, when we celebrated women as global peacemakers with a week of activities, rallies and a march to encircle the White House in pink. Over 10,000 people participated, and a group of 25 women, including Alice Walker, Maxine Hong Kingston, Susan Griffin, Starhawk, Jodie Evans and Medea Benjamin, were arrested for taking our peaceful protest right up to the White House gate.

Since then CODEPINK has become a worldwide network of women and men committed to working for peace and social justice. We have become famous for confronting the warmongers, whether in the halls of Congress, the national conventions of both the Republicans and Democrats, George Bush's fundraisers, Donald Rumsfeld and Nancy Pelosi's house.

How can you get involved?

Our Call to You:

"We call on women around the world to rise up and oppose the war in Iraq. We call on mothers, grandmothers, sisters and daughters, on workers, students, teachers, healers, artists, writers, singers, poets, and every ordinary outraged woman willing to be outrageous for peace.  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 and this country that we are a part of, we understand the love of a mother in Iraq for her children, and the driving desire of that child for life."—Starhawk

A Global Movement

The peace movement is global: CODEPINK has strengthened our international ties through peacemaking delegations to Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Beirut , Iraq, Italy, the war tribunal in Turkey, Britain's Stop the War assembly, a gathering in Thailand of women worldwide, and our participation in the World Social Forum in Brazil and Venezuela.

To join our upcoming peace delegations, click here!
  1. Sign up for our weekly e-alerts and invite your friends to sign up. Over 200,000 people now receive our weekly updates.

  2. Join a local CODEPINK or start one of your own. There are over 250 local CODEPINK groups throughout the US and overseas. Each groups acts autonomously and does its own dreaming and scheming. Groups may hold weekly vigils, unfurl banners over freeways or organize educational events, or hold sit-ins in the offices of elected officials.

  3. Educate yourself:

    - Learn about effective responses to violence and terrorism by reading CODEPINK's book, Stop the Next War Now.

    - See our current campaigns and stay informed about the real news.

    - Browse our resource toolbox to get inspired for more action!

  4. Get Pink Wear! Our CODEPINKon-line store has a wonderful array of CODEPINK t-shirts, scarves, buttons, bumper stickers, and books. It's a great way to increase our visibility-and they make great gifts.

  5. Make a donation. We are able to build this movement thanks to the generosity of our supporters. You can donate on-line or send a check toCODEPINK, 2010 Linden Ave, Venice, CA 90291. We are a non-profit organization and your donations are tax-deductible.

We thank you for your interest and look forward to working together for a world in which we relate to each other through compassion, generosity, kindness, love and joy.

Yes WE CAN Live in Peace!