Dear CODEPINKer, Four years ago, CODEPINK founders spent
inauguration night in a miserable jail call, charged with disorderly conduct for unfurling a “Stop the War” banner during the ceremony.
This year, instead of handcuffs, we got front row seats--and hugs and kisses from the crowd as we unfurled peace banners,
danced the can-can while singing “Yes we can-can end war” and handed out thousands of pink ribbons calling on President Obama to keep his
peace promises.
As The Washington Times noted, “You know things have
changed in Washington when CODEPINK gets seats up front at the inauguration.” You know things have changed when Army Chief of
Staff General Casey enthusiastically let us tie a Promises for Peace ribbon on his wrist and pledged to join us in working for peace. You really know things have
changed when Obama, on day one, started addressing some key promises--#2 (Shut down Guantanamo), #3 (Reject the Military Commissions Act) and #4 (Stop Torture).
It's a new era indeed, and your activism helped make it so. And thanks to you, CODEPINK just
received a thrilling honor from The Nation Magazine--being named the Most Valuable
Progressive Organization of the entire Bush-Cheney era!
CODEPINK was never merely a protest group. It was a community of hope, and the
election of Barack Obama serves as least to some extent as a realization of that hope. But CODEPINK activists have always leavened their
hope with realism. They know that Obama will need prodding. So the Most Valuable Progressives of the Bush era are already putting their mark on what will be the Obama
era.
Please help us make that mark by
pledging to remind Obama to keep his promises, including an end to the occupation of Iraq and direct talks with Iran, and inviting five friends to join you.
Check out this week's USA
Today editorial by Medea Benjamin called “End
the Occupation.” After you read it, be sure to sign our pledge
and pass it along!
Thank you for being one of the Most Valuable Progressives of the
Bush years. Here's to a brighter four years!
Keeping our promises for peace every day, Audrey, Dana, Deidra, Desiree, Farida, Gael, Gayle, Janet, Jean, Jodie, Liz, Lori,
Lydia, Medea, Nancy, Paris, and Rae
p.s.
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