Code Pink

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CODEPINK: Women for Peace is a feminist anti-war group that started in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq. It seeks social change through proactive, creative protest and non-violent direct action.

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

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.

CODEPINK 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.

In February 2003, just weeks before the war began, CODEPINK 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 well-researched report about how the US occupation has affected the status of women. CODEPINK also put out a book called Stop the Next War Now, which included essays by Nobel laureates, elected officials and noted journalists.

Every year on Mothers Day, CODEPINK 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 notables such as Cindy Sheehan, Susan Sarandon and Patch Adams.^[1] Code Pink has also organized vigils at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. in order to gain increased veterans' benefits.^[2]

On their official website, Code Pink has listed allegations of US war-crimes, and claimed thousands of innocent civilians were killed in Fallujah in 2004 due to the actions of the US military.^[3] Along with other groups, they gave over $600,000 worth of supplies to the residents of Fallujah in 2004.

Code Pink encourages counter-recruitment in opposition to US military recruitment in schools and at recruitment centers.^[4]

Code Pink staged a peace march on September 21, 2006 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 began walking toward the center of the span as early as 7:30am. They left by 10:00am with no injuries or accidents reported.^[5]