November, 11 2008, 11:00pm EDT
Citizen Diplomats Visit D.C. Cuban, Syrian, Venezuelan, Bolivian and Iranian Embassies
Bring flowers, pies and message "'YES, WE CAN'...Live in Peace"
WASHINGTON
Acting as citizen diplomats, CODEPINK Women for
Peace will present flowers, apple pies and cards to the embassies of
five countries the Bush administration has had antagonistic relations -
Cuba, Syria, Venezuela, Bolivia and Iran - to enact the mandate for
peace that emerged out of President-elect Barack Obama's victory.
WHAT: Citizen diplomats door-to-door presentation of peace, diplomacy to Cuban, Syrian, Venezuelan, Bolivian and Iranian Embassies
WHEN: 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13 (see specific times below)
WHERE: CODEPINK headquarters,
712 5th St. NE and various embassies: Cuban Interest Section (2630 16th
St. NW, Washington), Syrian Embassy (2215 Wyoming Ave. NW), Venezuelan
Embassy (1099 30th St. NW), Bolivian Embassy (3014 Massachusetts
Ave. NW), Iranian Interest Section (2209 Wisconsin Ave. NW)
CODEPINK will lead this tour on behalf of the American people to
reflect the policies they would like to see in the new administration.
At the Cuban Embassy, they will call for a lifting of the U.S. embargo.
At the Syrian Embassy, they will apologize for the recent U.S. military
incursion that resulted in the loss of civilian lives. At the
Venezuelan and Bolivian Embassies, CODEPINK diplomats will call for
their ambassadors to return to Washington and for the U.S. to stop
interfering in their internal affairs by supporting opposition groups.
At the Iranian Embassy, CODEPINK will call for direct talks as soon as
President-elect Barack Obama takes office.
"With this election, the American people have shown their desire for
friendly relations with our neighbors, and we are echoing the motto of
Obama's campaign, 'Yes, we can!,'" said Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK
cofounder. "As citizen diplomats, we are taking the lead in shaping the
policies we want to see from the Obama administration by making a
'pre-emptive strike for peace.'"
The tour schedule:
10:30 a.m. Gathering CODEPINK house, 712 5th St. NE
11:00 a.m. Cuban Interest Section, 2630 16th St. NW
11:45 a.m. Syrian Embassy, 2215 Wyoming Ave. NW
12:30 p.m. Venezuelan Embassy, 1099 30th St. NW
1:15 p.m. Bolivian Embassy, 3014 Massachusetts Ave. NW
2 p.m. Iranian Interest Section, 2209 Wisconsin Ave. NW
"The days of calling entire nations 'evil' are behind us," said Gael
Murphy, CODEPINK cofounder. "The American people are ready to
reestablish international partnerships, and today we are paving the
way."
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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