Check it out! America looks great in pink

This video was originally posted on YES! Magazine’s site here.

The World Has Changed:
Wake up & smell
The possibility.
The world
Has changed:
It did not
Change
Without
Your prayers
Without
Your faith
Without
Your determination
To
Believe
In liberation
&
Kindness;
Without
Your
Dancing
Through the years
That
Had
No
Beat.
The world has changed:
It did not
Change
Without
Your
Numbers
Your
Fierce
Love
Of self
&
Cosmos
It did not
Change
Without
Your
Strength.
The world has
Changed:
Wake up!
Give yourself
The gift
Of a new
Day.
The world has changed:
This does not mean that
You were never
Hurt.
The world
Has changed:
Rise!
Yes
&
Shine!
Resist the siren
Call
Of
Disbelief.
The world has changed:
Don’t let
Yourself
Remain
Asleep
To
It.

But last night over a dozen CODEPINK activists from around the country gathered here and we celebrated our being together again at the PINK house.  We broke bread, made banners, talked about the amazing outcome of today’s action and and I was left wondering about all those college students who saw the most amazing thing at the Israeli Embassy earlier that day. 

With fifty others, I had braved the cold and headed out to the Israeli Embassy to protest the killing of innocent people in Gaza.  When I jumped into the pink-mobile, I searched through the window for Rae running down the stoop in front of the CODEPINK  house but she was no where to be seen.  Running late, we began to pull away from the house and my heart dropped as I knew how important this particular rally was for her. Four years ago, almost to the day, Rae had met the Rabbi Arthur Waskow prior to the 2004 Inauguration and on that same day, Jodie Evans had hired Rae to come and work with CODEPINK.  A monumental day in Rae’s life and today, she was to have the opportunity, again with the inauguration of a new president looming, to meet again the Rabbi who was traveling from Philadelphia to speak at this rally.

The wind whipped through us all when we arrived at the Israeli embassy and even the hardened northerners were shivering as we lined up on the sidewalk next to another large group.  I mistakenly thought they too were protesters but found out they were students visiting DC and several of the embassies in DC with their political science classes from universities in MA, NY and VA. Someone began to sing “Peace, sahlom, shalom” and then Medea took the megaphone and began to speak to the students.

With a smile and her infamous lightness, she began asking them, “How many of you are from Boston? From Pennsylvania? From Connecticut?” Only a few responded, so she asked, “Well, where are most of you from?”  “New York!” shouted a young man in the back, and half of the heads turned, smiled and echoed, “New York!”  They were engaged.  She explained to them why we were there, to protest the killing in Gaza and asked if any were taking political science at their universities. Again, several responded yes and most all of them shook their heads.  They were listening.  She said, “Then you probably agree that our citizens have the first amendment right to protest and have their voices heard.  Today, we are protesting the killing of innocent people in Gaza and asking the Israelis to stop the bloodshed and call for a Ceasefire in Gaza.”

The long slow line of students was suddenly expedited and within a few minutes they were all ushered inside the compound, away from our dialogue or the opinions of the peacemakers from Witness to Torture, CODEPINK and the Shalom Center.  I began to worry about Rae, wondering if she had caught a train over or would make it to the embassy before the rabbi began to speak.  But alas, I did not see her when she slipped up in line with the students and entered the Israeli Embassy undetected by security. 
As we listened outside to the eloquent and heartfelt words of Rabbi Waskow, Father Jacek, Sister Anne Montgomery, Col Ann Wright, and Judy Cooke from Pax Christi, Anna Brown and Sherrill Hogen, all persons of honor, courage and wisdom, little did I know that Rae was inside listening to the Israeli ambassador, defending his countries brutal and horrific actions to the students within.

Later I heard the real story of Rae’s brave experience, sitting in the back of the room, listening to the rhetoric and lies spewing the condemnation on the Palestinians and the Iranians, stating he basically had no hope for a peaceful solution with either country.  The students were asked to write down their questions on note cards and when the time came to collect them, Rae stood up and asked to speak as she needed to leave early. Security had just stepped out and the aides were all busy collecting the cards so they didn’t notice that she was walking to the stage whereupon she handed him a white rose and asked him to call for a ceasefire on Gaza.  Earlier he had stated “Hamas wants death, Israel wants life,” so Rae asked him to support a life-affirming call to stop killing innocent civilians and stop demonizing the other side.

If Israel wants to be a model Jewish state, Rae said to the group, it should follow “tikkun olam”  — which means to repair the world, not further violence and aggression.  In responding to the ambassador’s comments on Iran, during which he said there is a basket of reasons to make Iran an enemy or to be afraid of Iran, Rae said while Iran may be developing a peaceful nucleur energy program, they are not making nuclear weapons.  Iran is home to the oldest jewish population in the world, a population that seeks peace with their brother and sisters in Israel. After speaking about Gaza, half of the room erupted into applause. After handing the ambassador the rose, he thanked her and she quickly left the compound knowing she had way too much to do for the inauguration weekend to risk being detained.

I’m not sure the penalty for infiltrating an Israel embassy, but I’m glad Rae made it out safely and I know those students must have been quite surprised at her speaking truth to power.

WHAT: CODEPINK to CELEBRATE message of hope, peace promises at President-elect Barack Obama inauguration
WHEN:  Various times, Saturday, Jan. 17 to Tuesday, Jan. 20
WHERE: Various locations throughout Washington, D.C.; CODEPINK Convergence Space (Sidamo Coffee & Tea, 417 H St. NE)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — CODEPINK women can’t wait to dance the “Yes, we can-can” in Washington, D.C. next week.

In the days surrounding the historic inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, nearly 200 CODEPINK activists from across the country will gather there to CELEBRATE Obama, peace, and hope, and proclaim, “Yes, we can-can live in peace!”

In bright-pink ruffled “can-can” skirts, “Pink Police” and “Waitresses Servin’ Up Peace” costumes, they will energize the estimated crowd of two million outside balls, rallies and inauguration events to inspire them and remind Obama of the promises he’s made that the world would like him to keep. These “Promises to Keep!” are: End the war in Iraq; shut down Guantánamo; reject the Military Commissions Act; stop torture; work to eliminate nuclear weapons; hold direct, unconditional talks with Iran; abide by Senate approved international treaties. CODEPINK will also hand out to the crowd thousands of pink ribbons that read, “Obama, keep your promises for peace.” (Photos of parade-goers with their ribbons will be posted here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/remindobama/).

“At the inaugural, we’ll celebrate a grassroots and peace community success and remind Obama of his promises to end the war and restore civil liberties,” said Jodie Evans, CODEPINK co-founder. “We know the cost of war in lives, dignity and money. War is SO over.”

“We want Obama to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk,” added CODEPINK co-founder Medea Benjamin. “And we’ll walk beside him, moving him forward.”

Many of the CODEPINK women made personal sacrifices to attend the inauguration, taking days off from work, arranging childcare and saving up for plane tickets or gas — traveling from Seattle, Omaha, Orlando and many cities in between — eager to join in the same energy and organizing that gave Obama his victory, based on the hard work of millions within the progressive peace and justice movement within the past six years. Many women are active service members, veterans and relatives of American soldiers who’ve served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

CODEPINK will be spreading its message of hope and change to Obama, inspiring thousands to celebrate his promises, at specific CODEPINK organized events each day between Jan. 17 and 20 (listed below in bold). On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights CODEPINK women will also gather outside various balls and celebrations can-can dancing and handing out “Promises” ribbons. The CODEPINK calendar is available here, www.codepinkalert.org/inaugurationcalendar, where the downloadable comprehensive Google calendar is available as well.

Saturday, Jan. 17:
- 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. : Banner & prop making, strategy session at CODEPINK Convergence Space.
- 2:30 p.m. (tentative) : Train station action (details TBD) during Obama’s arrival at Union Station.

Sunday, Jan. 18:
- 9 to 11 a.m.: Banner & prop making, strategy session at CODEPINK Convergence Space.
- 2 p.m.: Can-can dancing and celebrating at Obama inauguration concert featuring Beyonce, Aretha Franklin. At Lincoln Memorial.

Monday, Jan. 19:
- 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: MLK Day Anti-oppression training and service projects at CODEPINK Convergence Space.
- 6 p.m.: “Send Bush Packing!” CODEPINK Says Goodbye to the Bush Years by sending him off with suitcases, show tunes, and a hearty wave goodbye during the “Sage-ing the White House” event with comedian Kate Clinton, a joyous spectacle of cleansing the White House. At White House perimeter on Lafayette Park side at DuPont Circle.
- 11 p.m.:  Camp-out on parade route (for the “adventurous” who want a route spot!)

Tuesday, Jan. 20:
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: CODEPINK activists hand out pink “promises” ribbons to crowd and photograph parade-goers with ribbons and signs along parade route (Specific location TBD).
- 3 to 5 p.m.: CODEPINK celebration at CODEPINK Convergence Space!
- 7 p.m. : Peace Ball! Join CODEPINK women and supporters including Howard Zinn, historian Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, Alice Walker, author (“The Color Purple”); Eve Ensler, playwright (“Vagina Monologues”); Bernice Johnson Reagon, vocal artist; Dick Gregory, political comedian and activist; and performers Michael Franti and Fertile Ground at Smithsonian National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.

After the inauguration, CODEPINK will continue to hold Obama to his promises through its “War is SO over” campaign, launched in November with a “Let’s talk!” initiative for diplomacy first (listen to Evans describe the initiative and her recent citizen diplomacy trip to Iran on Air America radio here). In addition, CODEPINK is launching an online video and Web site, RemindObama.org, to accompany its on-the-ground activities with tools for people to spread the “Promises” message online.

To learn more about CODEPINK’s “Yes, we can-can!” plans at the inauguration the week of Jan. 21, to find b-roll or photos, please contact Jean Stevens at 508-769-2138 or email at jean@codepinkalert.org.

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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. www.codepinkalert.org

Coming on today’s statement from Defense Secretary Gates on his plans for more troops to be sent to Afghanistan by summer, it’s even more clear that there’s no good war, and conditions in Afghanistan are about to get worse.

What can we do? Let’s talk with President-elect Obama and make diplomacy the answer! You can invite him to meet with the peace movement here and sign up here to join us in Washington during his inauguration to remind him of his promises to keep. War is SO over!