Code Pink

Symbols of Motherhood

In addition to intrinsically associating women with mothers by stating, “Women have been the guardians of life,” they define war as a male activity and therefore its protest a female one. In addition to playing upon symbols of motherhood and femininity, many of their statements support both difference feminism and the social belief that maternal-ism is inherently pacifistic. Their 2009 Mother's Day protest outside of the White House was, “We will not raise our children to kill another mother's child,” and included the unveiling of a knitted banner quilted by mothers and children all over the world. In their protest, Code Pink represents grieving mothers of dead children, and also include children dressed in pink in their photos. Their calls for peace are targeted toward mothers, grandmothers, and daughters, situating notions of motherhood's inherent moral connotation with a moral imperative to protest war.

Code Pink became a recognizable protest movement when a rotating group of roughly 100 women activists held a four-month peace vigil outside of the White House from November 2002 through March 2003. Through their book and public protests they have associated themselves with public figures such as Starhawk, Alice Walker, Diane Wilson, Maxine Hong Kingston, and Cindy Sheehan, and organizations such as the National Organization of Women.

Expanding Nework, Causes, and Slogans

Medea Benjamin, head of the human rights organization Global Exchange; Jodie Evans, democratic staffer and former adviser to Jerry Brown; and peace activist Gael Murphy are the principal founders of what has since become an expanded [Page 230]network of groups and causes. These include protesting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, military recruitment in public schools, advocating for the closure of Guantánamo prison and unconditional negotiations with Iran, and publicizing the plight of Sudanese, Iraqi, and Pakistani refugees. Their web of causes continues to grow. By 2009, their campaigns had extended to an Israeli Ahava Cosmetics boycott, health care reform, “green” jobs, Congressional economic policy, and microfinancing.

Code Pink leads travel trips in coordination with Global Exchange to conflict zones, sell Code Pink-branded merchandise and their edited book through their online store, publish multiple blogs and a related radio show, stage loud, dramatic protests in sexy pink attire, and issue “pink slips”—scanty pink lingerie—to politicians who do not adhere to their demands. Their Web-distributed resources also include reading and movie lists, song sheets, logos, and party planning tips for events like a Valentine's Day “Make Love, Stop War!” fundraiser. Slogans such as “War Is SO Over!” “Remind Obama,” “Counter-recruitment,” and “War Is Not Green” reveal distinct campaigns with their own Web addresses, graphic designs, and potential activist populations.

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