The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact: Melissa Garriga: melissa@codepink.org

CODEPINK Women to Join Thousands at Capitol Power Plant Mass Civil Disobedience Action Today

WASHINGTON

Joining thousands of Americans from across the country, women of
CODEPINK will participate in a mass act of civil disobedience TODAY at
the Capitol Power Plant in Washington.

WHAT: Mass civil disobedience at coal-fired Washington power plant, Capitol Power Plant


WHEN
: 1 p.m. TODAY
WHERE: Spirit of Justice Park @ C St. SW and Capitol St. SE (rally) followed by march to Capitol Plant

CODEPINK, in solidarity with the predicted 2,500 activists, will
brave the snow and say "No to Coal," proclaiming the use of coal a war
on the health and sustainability of our own communities.

"Some people gathered here today come from cities and towns where
corporations and industrialists have blown off the top of the oldest
mountain range in the country," said Jodie Evans, co-founder of
CODEPINK. "Their water is black, their children have cancer, the earth
has been destroyed, all in the name of greed. There is no such thing as
clean coal."

The devastating effects of our dependence on coal here in the
United States mirrors the same devastating effects on Iraqis, through
war, from U.S dependence on oil.

The 99-year-old Capitol Power Plant, according to the Associated Press,
burns coal to heat and air condition the buildings of Congress, and
accounts for one-third of the legislative branch's greenhouse gas
emissions.

Most of the 2,500 activists protesting the plant participated in
Power Shift 2009, a conference of 10,000 young people nationwide to
organize real, progressive energy policy change, will risk arrest in a
peaceful act of civil disobedience. Many more will choose not to engage
in civil disobedience but will be part of the overall event and rally.

For more information, please call Jodie Evans at 310-621-5635 or Jean Stevens at 508-769-2138.

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.

(818) 275-7232