WASHINGTON - January 21 - On Day One of a new presidential era, a new era for the world, the leading peace activist group CODEPINK will begin an inspiring next era of its own -- one reflecting the greater political context of hope and the potential for a world with peace -- at 3 p.m. today outside the White House, sending the message to Obama that CODEPINK will remind him, and help him, keep his campaign promises for peace.

WHAT: CODEPINK on Day One of new era: "Yes, we can-can create peace"!
WHEN: 3 p.m., Jan. 21
WHERE: In front of White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. (please call for exact location).

About two dozen CODEPINK women from around the country will host the group's first action of the Obama Administration. Wearing the same incredibly cheerful skirts, tutus, sparkling headbands and feather boas that charmed thousands of Americans for the past few days, gathered here for the Inauguration ceremonies, they will can-can dance, sing and inspire the message, "Yes, we can-can stop war!" (view photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/codepinkalert/sets/72157612647235583/).

The women will also pass out hot pink ribbons that read "Obama, keep your promise," designed to inspire wearers to push Obama to keep his campaign promises for peace. Various banners of CODEPINK's six years of work will describe those promises, including "Pull Troops Out of Iraq," "Talks with Iran," "Shut down Guantanamo" and "No war in Afghanistan."

CODEPINK formed in 2003 in the months before the Iraq War as a creative, action-oriented group dedicated to ending war and creating peace. It was recently named the "Most Valuable Progressive Group" of the Bush administration by The Nation magazine (read it here: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/398667/most_valuable_progressives...)
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"Code Pink was never merely a protest group," Nichols writes. "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 Code Pink activists have always leavened their hope with realism. They know that Obama will need prodding."

For more information, please call Jean Stevens at 508-769-2138.