Sweet Victory: Code Pink

In her Mother's Day Proclamation of 1870, Julia Ward Howe--the woman who is credited with founding the holiday--wrote : "In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask...that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed...to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace."

A hundred and thirty-five Mother's Days later, the feisty and fiercely intelligent women of Code Pink--the largest women-initiated, antiwar activist group in the country--are fulfilling Howe's call to action. Founded in 2002 during the run-up to war in Iraq, Code Pink has grabbed the nation's attention with some of the boldest, most direct, creative (and good-humored) protests against the war.

Among our favorite Code Pink actions: their four-month vigil in front of the White House; the "pink slip" campaign; crashing the RNC three nights in a row; interrupting hearings to demand the firing of Donald Rumsfeld, and, later, to protest the nomination of John Bolton.

Code Pink's antiwar message is resonating with more and more Americans. The most recent opinion poll indicates that only 44 percent believe it was worth going to war in Iraq--the lowest levels since the invasion in 2003.

"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," Code Pink's mission statement reads. "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."

To honor the radical, anti-war origins of Mother's Day, don't just buy a Hallmark card--instead, click here and participate in Code Pink's "Mother's Day Call for Peace."

We also want to hear from you. Please let us know if you have a sweet victory you think we should cover by e-mailing nationvictories@gmail.com.

Co-written by Sam Graham-Felsen, a freelance journalist, documentary filmmaker and blogger (www.boldprint.net) living in Brooklyn.

Comments (3)

1. Welcome to The Nation's redesigned site. I think it looks fabulous-- clean and elegant. Look forward to opening up the site to your comments, ideas. Onward.

   cheers,Katrina

   Posted by Katrina vanden H at 05/06/2005 @ 5:56pm

2. I have always admired JWH so much, to this day her contributions can still be found woven throughout the fabric of our great nation, so I thought I would post one of my favorite of her works: Battle Hymm of the Republic

   Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on. Glory Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, His truth is marching on. I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; They have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; His day is marching on. Glory Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, His day is marching on. I have read a fiery gospel, writ in burnished rows of steel: "As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal; Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel, Since God is marching on." Glory Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Since God is marching on." He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment-seat; Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer him! be jubilant, my feet! Our God is marching on. Glory Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Our God is marching on. In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me: As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, While God is marching on. Glory Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, While God is marching on. § God Bless America

   Posted by EdSpecial at 05/07/2005 @ 5:24pm

3. The women of Code Pink New York, with support from the Harlem Arts Alliance, Uptown Youth for Peace & Justice, and the Harlem Tenants Council, held a Mother's Day Peace Protest outside the Armed Forces Recruitment Center on 125th Street on May 7th. We distributed flyers with Julia Ward Howe's proclamation, as well as important information about the realities of -- and alternatives to -- recruitment into the Armed Forces. Feel free to send an email to newyork@codepinkalert.org if you'd like to get involved with this group locally, or be informed about upcoming actions.

   Posted by CLAJR at 05/08/2005 @ 11:44pm