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For Immediate Release
Contact:

Medea Benjamin 415-235-6517, medea@codepink.org

Protest at White House Against John Brennan as Head of CIA

When: 1pm, Monday, January 7

Where: White House

As President Obama is nominating John Brennan to head the CIA, CODEPINK will be outside the White House protesting his nomination. Some protesters will be in orange jumpsuits representing US policy of torturing prisoners and others will carry a large model drone. Both torture and drone strikes represent John Brennan's legacy.

WASHINGTON

When: 1pm, Monday, January 7

Where: White House

As President Obama is nominating John Brennan to head the CIA, CODEPINK will be outside the White House protesting his nomination. Some protesters will be in orange jumpsuits representing US policy of torturing prisoners and others will carry a large model drone. Both torture and drone strikes represent John Brennan's legacy.

"It is tragic that the person who is responsible for the counterproductive, illegal drone strike strategy that has killed so many innocent people and unleashed such fierce anti-American sentiment around the world is being tapped to head the CIA," said CODEPINK cofounder Medea Benjamin. "We condemn President Obama for making this nomination and call on the Senate to reject it."

CIA veteran Ray McGovern, who will be at the protest, said, "Killing American citizens without due process, kidnapping, black prisons, torture, indiscriminate eavesdropping on us all - you name it, Brennan has been a strong advocate. Not to mention his connivance in the fraudulent 'intelligence' leading to war on Iraq; or the increased use of drones and his lying about civilian casualties from them. He certainly should not be rewarded for these crimes."

Matt Daloisio of Witness Against Torture will be outside the White House in an orange jumpsuit. "Obama has nominated someone who has a history of justifying torture and refusing to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. This nomination represents another failure of the Obama administration to change direction from the disastrous policies of the Bush years," said Deloisio.

CODEPINK is a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs.

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