December, 21 2012, 11:20am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK coordinator, (415) 235-6517
Mobbie Tazamal, CODEPINK coordinator, (571) 345-4155
CODEPINK Protesters Unfurl Banners "NRA KILLING OUR KIDS" and "NRA BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS" at first NRA Press Conference after Newtown Shooting
Today as the National Rifle Association held its first press conference since the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, two activists with the peace group CODEPINK stood up and unfurled banners that read "NRA KILLING OUR KIDS" and "NRA BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS". The activists, Medea Benjamin and Tighe Barry, were held, questioned, and then released.
WASHINGTON
Today as the National Rifle Association held its first press conference since the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, two activists with the peace group CODEPINK stood up and unfurled banners that read "NRA KILLING OUR KIDS" and "NRA BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS". The activists, Medea Benjamin and Tighe Barry, were held, questioned, and then released.
"It's time for our government to finally stand up to the NRA. It's time for them to protect our children, not their guns," says CODEPINK co-director Medea Benjamin. "The NRA spokesperson was talking about 'reckless behavior' of the media and I stood up and said, 'We need to stop the reckless behavior of the NRA, ban assault weapons, and have less guns on our streets, not more!'"
"From the wars the American government is perpetuating abroad, especially with killer drone strikes, to the glorification of murder in our pop culture, it's no surprise that violence is prevalent in our society," said CODEPINK co-director Rae Abileah. "We need a comprehensive plan to address weapons in our communities and it starts with holding the NRA accountable."
"The NRA is out of touch, and showed a lack of remorse today. By advocating for armed guards, they want to put more guns in our schools, rather than protect our children," Tighe Barry went on to say. "The NRA uses Washington as a way to bypass the wishes of the American public. We need to end the violence now."
Earlier this week, CODEPINK visited the office of Senator Reid and told him it's time to take a stand for gun control and stand up to the NRA.
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) 275-7232LATEST NEWS
Privacy Defenders Decry 'Spy Draft' in Section 702 Renewal Advanced by Senate
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Civil liberties defenders on Thursday decried the U.S. Senate's advancement of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, which critics say lawmakers are trying to ram through without protection against warrantless surveillance and with a provision that would effectively make every American a spy whether they like it or not.
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