Three En Marcha articles: DR Congo in the grip of crisis, Ukraine War negotiations, and the party of the proletariat

Originally posted February 27th at:  www.pcmle.org/EM/spip.php?article13649  A rough machine translation from Google, checked against some translations I received:

Congo in the grip of crisis

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a 21st-century example of the fate of countries rich in natural resources in the midst of a savage capitalism that expropriates them and plunges their inhabitants into misery.

A prison where prisoners escape but first rape and burn female prisoners alive, in February 2025; Mbox, monkeypox, spreads in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) without a health system to deal with it, August 2024; the eruption of a volcano that leads to the disappearance of hundreds of children, in May 2021, are just some of the tragedies experienced by the population of the DRC in the midst of the world's largest reserves of coltan, more than 40%, the mineral from which tantalum is extracted, which is very rare and is used in the manufacture of cell phones and other technological equipment.

The Tutsis, an ethnic group that suffered the Rwandan genocide in 1994, formed a defense group, the M23, which questions the government but does not define its political position. It took over the city of Goma, with a population of one million people, controls part of the coltan production, earning about USD 800,000 a month, which it uses to equip its soldiers and which has the support of Rwanda. It is now the main military force that disputes the government for control of the country, which is headed by Félix Tshisekedi, who has the support of the PPRD, a party located on the right, which among its achievements shows the decision to execute bandits and the prosecution of Apple, the multinational cell phone company, who it accuses of benefiting from the natural resources of the DRC without sharing its profits.

The multinationals of Switzerland, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and above all China own the vast majority of mines in the DRC. China controls 70% of the world's copper and 50% of its cobalt. The DRC is the largest producer of coltan, and its largest exporter is neighbouring Rwanda.

In addition to the M23, which does not claim to be a political movement, there are several political parties, most of which define themselves as centre-left. It faces 120 other armed groups, including one identified with the Hutus, a declared enemy, and another with the Islamic State.

Some history

In 1884 and 1885, the Berlin Conference was held, where the European countries shared out Africa, and it was the personal property of King Leopold II of Belgium until 1908, when it became a Belgian colony.

In 1960, supposedly, Belgian influence culminated, Patrice Lumumba, a Congolese social activist with a Marxist tendency, was appointed Prime Minister, but his leadership was short-lived, the DRC army assassinated him and took power in a coup d'état, with the support of the Kingdom of Belgium, i.e. Belgian influence remained.

In 1965 Ernesto, El Che, Guevara tried to organize armed groups to take power, but his efforts were unsuccessful, deciding to leave RCD and go to neighboring Angola.

The population of the DRC lives in poverty, its more than 102 million inhabitants, of which seven million live as displaced persons, fleeing from areas of conflict between armed groups and ethnic massacres, 75% of Congolese do not have access to drinking water, great difficulties in obtaining food, one in 12 children dies before the age of 12, the DRC is one of the five poorest countries on the planet.

However, the DRC is a very rich country in minerals, apart from its natural beauty and its native species. Its current riches are the attraction of tantalum, tungsten, cobalt, copper, gold, diamonds and the list goes on. A wealth estimated at 24 billion dollars.

The tragedy of the millions of Congolese is that they are the owners of an extraordinary wealth that has been the attraction of the capitalists of the world who, with false offers, with gigantic corruption, have extracted these riches, leaving their owners in a serious situation of survival.

Originally posted February 27th at:  www.pcmle.org/EM/spip.php?article13647 and translated with Google:

Negotiations between imperialist powers 

The European elites received a hard political blow from the decision of American imperialism; the snub by the Americans shows the servile attitude of European imperialism. 

The talks between Trump and Putin, in which they agreed to start talks to end the war in Ukraine, are moving forward at an accelerated pace, without involving Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, or the European Union. 

Donald Trump announced a new phase of negotiations for a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine between the American and Russian delegations. The talks would take place in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on February 25, a week after the first round that took place in the same city on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. 

How to understand this change in the position of the United States? The answer must be found in the sharpening of inter-imperialist contradictions. Apparently, the United States is seeking to get out of a conflict that did not develop as they wanted and that has cost them millions of dollars. 

On February 14, at the Security Conference in Munich, Germany, US Vice President JD Vance said that the main threat to Europe was not Russia or China, but “the threat from within, Europe’s retreat from some of its most fundamental values, values ​​shared with the United States of America.” The Europeans received a hard political blow from the decision of US imperialism, the snub of the Americans shows the lackey attitude of European imperialism, they will have no choice but to turn a blind eye and throw away the money and ink invested in escalating a confrontation with Moscow, which could have been resolved by other means. 

The European leaders led by Olaf Scholz (Germany), Emmanuel Macron (France) and Donald Tusk (Poland) refused to accept Ukraine’s defeat. The trio said they would do everything possible to prevent Russian imperialism from winning the war, when the Ukrainians could no longer bear it. The three leaders decided to acquire more weapons, expand the production of military equipment and advance in the manufacture of long-range rocket artillery. The decision to confront the Russians at any cost led the EU to commit economic suicide by renouncing the cheap energy supplied by Russia. 

Ukraine lost the opportunity to reach a peace agreement with Russia in Istanbul in March 2022, just a month after the military intervention began and which would have meant better conditions for it, since it had the initiative, after having stopped the lightning invasion. The pressure of imperialism from the United Kingdom, the United States and others, guaranteed the supply of weapons and safe entry into NATO, thus sealing its future. After three years of war, the economy in tatters, with millions of dollars in debt and thousands of young people dead, the powers are negotiating their future behind Ukraine's back. 

Russia is waiting calmly and, in the meantime, is moving forward with the conquest of Ukrainian territory in order to improve the positions on the border that will be fixed in the agreement with the United States. 

Originally posted February 27th at:  www.pcmle.org/EM/spip.php?article13651 (see for links to related articles from En Marcha); roughly translated through Google (with clear errors?); slightly edited:

The Communist Party, class party of the proletariat

"The stronger our Party organisations are, the more effective Social Democrats are, the less hesitation and instability there is within the Party, the broader and more multifaceted, the richer and more fruitful will be the influence of the Party on the elements of the working masses surrounding it and which it leads..."

Maintaining the class character of the party and its status as a revolutionary vanguard are fundamental elements of the Marxist-Leninist communist party. Only an organization that keeps these aspects in mind and works constantly to affirm and develop them is in a position to lead the struggle of workers, youth and peoples for revolution and socialism to victory.

Like many other aspects related to revolutionary theory and practice, the elements mentioned at the beginning of this article have also motivated deep and heated discussions since the beginning of the international communist movement. It is enough to note that, when the Second Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party (1903) debated how to understand the party of the working class and who can be considered its militants, it split between the supporters of V.I. Lenin and the followers of Yuli Martov, thus giving rise to the separation between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.

Lenin wrote an entire book in which he analyses the events of that congress and, above all, argues his views on how to understand what the class Party of the proletariat is and who can be a member of it. The text in question is entitled One Step Forward, Two Steps Back, which was published in 1904.

The first point of disagreement at the Congress occurred when they were discussing point 1 of the statute. Lenin proposed an article that said: "Anyone who accepts its programme and supports the Party both with material resources and with personal participation in one of its organisations will be considered a member of the Party." Martov, for his part, presented the following text: "Anyone who accepts its programme, supports the Party with material resources and lends it personal collaboration on a regular basis under the direction of one of its organisations will be considered a member of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party."

If not given due attention, the difference between one proposal and the other would seem minor; However, there is a marked difference between the understanding of party militancy and what the revolutionary party of the working class is in itself. Lenin, in the cited work, says that disagreement "reveals nuances of a principled nature," but that "every small disagreement can acquire enormous importance, if it serves as a starting point for a turn towards erroneous concepts..." The fact is that Lenin's proposal subordinates the condition of party militant to someone who is part of one of its organizations, while Martov believed that it was sufficient to occasionally help from outside with material resources or grant personal collaboration.

We make a brief digression to present what the statute of our Party says on this subject: «Art. 1.- Any person who does not live off the exploitation of the labor of others, especially workers, agricultural wage earners, poor peasants, employees, revolutionary intellectuals who accept the Declaration of Principles, the Political Line, the Program and the Statute of the Party, who is part of one of its organizations and works actively in it, complies with the decisions of the Party, observes its discipline and pays dues according to the established norms, can be a member of the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Ecuador. As can be seen, our Party adheres to the Leninist conceptions of party organization.

Continuing with the reading of Lenin, we find a fundamental statement: «The Party must be a sum (and not a simple arithmetic sum, but a complex) of organizations. …[And] I make my wish, says Lenin, I demand that the Party, as the vanguard detachment of the class, be as organized as possible and that it should only include those elements that admit at least a minimum degree of organization. Here, it is necessary to make the same clarification that Lenin establishes when analyzing this subject. “The word “organization,” Lenin clarifies, is usually used in two senses: broad and narrow. In the narrow sense, it designates a cell of a human collectivity, as soon as it has acquired even the most minimal form. In the broad sense, it means a sum of these cells, united into a whole. […] a party is also an organization, it must be an organization (in the broad sense of the word); but, at the same time, a party must consist of a series of diverse organizations (in the strict sense of the word).

Lenin advocates that the working-class party militant be dedicated to revolutionary work, and this is possible only for those who develop particular qualities. Not every striker can be a member of the Party, says Lenin himself, not because he devalues ​​the quality of the fighter, but because to be a member of the vanguard detachment of the revolution it is not enough to go out and protest. “The stronger our Party organisations are, composed of effective Social-Democrats, the less hesitation and instability there is within the Party, the broader and more multifaceted, the richer and more fruitful will be the influence of the Party on the elements of the working masses that surround it and that it leads. For one cannot, in truth, confuse the Party as the vanguard detachment of the working class with the entire class.”

[This is the 901st post on DS.] 

Attacks on CodePink in the Capitol over Palestine and more news

 

consortiumnews.com/2024/05/23/a-brutal-suppression-of-speech/

An alleged member of the Zionist mob that attacked the UCLA encampment has been arrested, the only person arrested for the attack, though it was carried out about a month ago, April 30th/May 1st:  www.commondreams.org/news/ucla-attack-protesters-arrest

www.counterpunch.org/2024/05/24/set-the-killers-free-the-pardoning-of-daniel-perry/

www.counterpunch.org/2024/05/24/at-western-sahara-visiting-a-forgotten-people/

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/22/4-000-soldados-marroquies-participan-en-la-masacre-de-la-poblacion-palestina-de-gaza/

diario-octubre.com/2023/07/18/israel-confirma-su-reconocimiento-a-la-soberania-de-marruecos-sobre-el-sahara-occidental/

diario-octubre.com/2023/06/28/sahara-la-ultima-colonia-africana-es-un-polvorin-a-punto-de-explotar/

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/23/continua-el-montaje-contra-los-hermanos-kononovich-y-la-represion-a-la-juventud-comunista/

May 18th trucker strike over mobilization in Ukraine (?):  diario-octubre.com/2024/05/22/huelga-de-los-camioneros-ucranianos-contra-la-ley-de-movilizacion-militar/  In Ukraine, Haiti, and the Palestinian Authority the USA and EU are fine with leaders who stay in power far beyond their legal term in office. 

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/18/los-aliados-de-la-otan-estan-cada-vez-mas-cerca-de-enviar-tropas-a-ucrania/

www.aaronmate.net/p/how-10-years-of-us-meddling-in-ukraine

[ diario-octubre.com/2024/05/24/rusia-senala-a-los-responsables-del-atentado-en-el-crocus-city-hall-y-revela-sus-intenciones/ ]

[ diario-octubre.com/2024/05/25/incidente-fronterizo-entre-rusia-y-estonia/ ]

NOAA Predicts 'Extraordinary' Atlantic Hurricane Season as Ocean Temperatures Soar:  www.commondreams.org/news/hurricane-season-2024

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/22/la-cia-utiliza-las-app-de-los-telefonos-inteligentes-para-espiarnos/

May 10th speech by PFLP Deputy Secretary-General Jamil Mezher:  www.workers.org/2024/05/78636/

www.counterpunch.org/2024/05/24/boeing-university-how-the-california-state-university-became-complicit-in-palestinian-genocide/

www.workers.org/2024/05/78763/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=philadelphia-cafe-vandalized-after-support-for-palestine

www.workers.org/2024/05/78696/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=agitacion-exterior

www.counterpunch.org/2024/05/24/top-ten-ways-to-soften-a-genocide/

www.workers.org/2024/05/78798/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=palestinian-resistance-denounces-u-s-floating-pier-in-gaza

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/22/contra-la-equidistancia-entre-victimas-y-verdugos/

www.workers.org/2024/05/78772/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hamas-denounces-icc-decision-on-warrants-against-its-leaders

[ diario-octubre.com/2024/05/24/la-arana-atrapada-en-su-propia-tela/ ]

www.normalisland.co.uk/p/the-icc-decides-netanyahu-and-gallant

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/23/asi-vive-el-ex-presidente-de-iran-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-luego-de-su-segundo-mandato/

The BRICS Games, June 11th-23rd:  diario-octubre.com/2024/05/22/brasil-ve-los-juegos-de-los-brics-como-una-oportunidad-para-profundizar-la-cooperacion/

[ diario-octubre.com/2024/05/24/mas-infiltraciones-policiales-en-madrid/ ]

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/22/amazonia-brasilena-con-mayor-degradacion-forestal-de-ultimos-15-anos/

[Google's machine translation -- The Sun is insubordinate:  The coming geomagnetic storm -- diario-octubre.com/2024/05/24/el-sol-se-insubordina-la-tormenta-geomagnetica-que-viene/ ]

Rocks and soil electrified by the superstorm [and more may be coming in June]:  spaceweather.com

[On Nicaraguan revolutionaries German Pomares/El Danto and Blanca Arauz Pineda:  diario-octubre.com/2024/05/24/parlamento-de-nicaragua-recordo-a-destacado-guerrillero-sandinista/ ]

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/19/vietnam-conmemora-aniversario-134-del-natalicio-de-ho-chi-minh/

www.workers.org/2024/05/78712/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=malcolm-x-ho-chi-minh-presente-3

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/19/cuba-evoca-a-heroe-nacional-jose-marti-a-129-anos-de-su-muerte/

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/19/la-canciller-coreana-felicita-a-lavrov-por-su-renombramiento-alcanzo-logros-notables/

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/22/la-democracia-segun-la-ue/

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/19/a-polonia-solo-puede-salvarla-su-clase-obrera/

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/22/por-que-la-inexplicable-moda-por-el-filosofo-evald-ilienkov-equipo-de-bitacora-m-l-2024/

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/22/fiscal-de-la-cpi-habla-de-las-amenazas-que-ha-recibido-por-investigar-a-israel/

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/19/un-espectaculo-de-calidad-y-alegria-infinitas-para-celebrar-al-general-augusto-c-sandino/

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/18/rosario-murillo-sandino-vive-y-todas-las-luchas-siguen/

www.workers.org/2024/05/78769/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ww-solidarity-with-the-iranian-people

www.commondreams.org/news/college-antisemitism-hearing

[NPR gave John Otis what seemed like over 5 minutes after 5pm on the 26th to say that the US and the ICC are basically going to get Venezuelan president Maduro, unless he leaves his country, as the US ordered Saddam Hussein to leave his country around spring 2003, or else.  NPR often has Latinos voice its US government propaganda against Latin America countries, and so on by ethnicity.  Otis quoted someone from the Atlantic Council pointing out that Maduro wouldn't have an incentive to give up power if that means imprisonment; as with Netanyahu and other US allies, they didn't mention.  They assume that Maduro will lose, citing a poll.  Polls indicate that bloody and not very democratic warmonger Biden is heading to a loss in November, after all of the talk about "democracy," including at 4pm today.  There were even quotes from the US-appointed "president" Juan Guaido, etc.  They ended by quoting that 'no good' Diosbado Cabello of the PSUV saying that the only transition coming in Venezuela is the transition to socialism, though it has stayed capitalist throughout the Bolivarian period.  If they can give up on prosecution, are they admitting that they don't have a real case?  Otis brought up how "dictators" used to go into exile, without noting that in Latin America those leaders were just about all US-backed rightists, and they often fled to the USA.   Someone claimed that they had offered to let Maduro and anyone else flee the country, but that it is too late now, and here Maduro says that he has been threatened:  diario-octubre.com/2024/05/25/presidente-maduro-revelo-que-el-imperialismo-le-ofrecio-riquezas-para-que-entregara-la-patria-jamas-caere/

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/25/sin-la-represion-en-europa-las-matanzas-israelies-en-gaza-serian-imposibles/

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/25/a-los-capitalistas-les-sobran-millones-de-vidas-solo-les-queda-el-fascismo/

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi:  notorious terrorist or American agent? -- thecradle.co/articles-id/24084  The Battle of Fallujah was in April 2004 and al-Zarqawi is supposed to have been assassinated June 7, 2006.

www.normalisland.co.uk/p/tories-to-bring-back-national-service

Jill Stein became the GPUS' official presidential candidate May 25th [by the delegate count].  The BBC and NPR didn't report about that, but they have played a recording of Trump being booed at the Libertarian convention this weekend.  RFK Jr also spoke there.  I haven't heard the media say anything about the actual Libertarian candidates. 

Apparently May 25th is Geek Pride Day and May 26th is Paper Airplane Day, etc., according to the National Day Calendar website.  Africa Day is May 25th.  The Confederate Army of Trans-Mississippi surrendered May 26, 1865?  May 24th is Brother's Day, Escargot Day, Road Trip Day, Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, Wyoming Day, etc. and Pluto was given its name in 1930?  May 22, 2017 Trump became the first president to go to the Western Wall in Jerusalem while in office; he also went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  The Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, was born May 22, 1942, and Arthur Conan Doyle in 1859.

Julia Ward Howe was born May 27, 1819; Wild Bill Hickok was born May 27, 1837; Rachel Carson was born May 27, 1907;  May 27, 1931 humans first flew into the stratosphere, by balloon; light from the star Arcturus in Bootes, up now, inaugurated the Chicago World's Fair May 27, 1933; pedestrian traffic began on the Golden Gate Bridge May 27, 1935; and May 27, 1999 Discovery became the first Shuttle to dock at the ISS.  The Battle of Cempoala [1520], US Memorial Day, Grape Day, Cellophane Tape Day, etc.?

There are reports that Hamas fired rockets from Rafah, some of which hit in Israel, for the first time in a while and there are reports that more Israeli soldiers have been captured and taken underground.  Perhaps in return, Biden-backed Israel bombed a supposedly safe camp for displaced civilians.

From Balance and Accuracy in Journalism, slightly edited:

Born of skepticism over war talk in 1991,

our BAJ programs have consistently given voice to

those working for equality and cooperative existence

rather than chaos and bloodshed or simple passivity 

while global issues need however much or little we can do.

    Details follow.

The Orange County Peace Coalition and Eisenhower Chapter

of Veterans For Peace have invited former Marine captain and

State Department officer Matthew Hoh, to speak this Monday.                

Hoh publicly resigned his Afghanistan post in protest in 2009, .

He has shared his insights at our BAJ programs and recently 

at the UN Security Council.

Our local Raging Grannies will sing, and NC orthopedic surgeon

Mark Perlmutter, just back from emergency room service in Gaza, 

sends us a brief video with his views, and our role in stopping genocide.

 [photo]

Th program centers on all the victims of war, 

including needs unmet at home.

     For Balance and Accuracy in Journalism

     Jerry Markatos  [ ]

     ——

 

A Memorial Day Commemoration for ALL Victims of War

Monday, May 27 • 2 - 3:30 p.m. 

Extraordinary Ventures (200 S. Elliott Rd. Chapel Hill)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: MATTHEW HOH [photo]

Now an independent analyst, his writings have appeared in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA

Today, and many other national and international publications. Most recently, he presented

a Briefing before the UN Security Council on “Threats to International Peace and Security." 

Songs of Peace and Justice: Triangle Raging Grannies

Municipal Proclamations: Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough Reflections from Gaza: Dr. Mark Perlmutter

Memorial Day Message: Douglas Ryder for Veterans For Peace Poetry Reading: Jeremy Berggren
Taps: Christopher Megli ]

[I had planned to post again last week about the 13-year cicadas, which or who are still going May 26th, though many have died.  Annual cicada species will beginning calling in a few weeks, in late June.]

diario-octubre.com/2024/05/22/criminal-de-guerra-activistas-interrumpen-discurso-de-blinken/

CodePink actions:  www.codepink.org/palestine

www.codepink.org/burchettlie

CODEPINK Demands Rep. Burchett Retract Lie Told In Foreign Affairs Hearing

[Photo]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 24, 2024

Media Contact: Melissa GArriga | melissa [at codepink ] 

CODEPINK Demands Retraction of Representative Tim Burchett’s Deflamatory Claim in House Foreign Affairs Committee

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, during the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing with Secretary of State Antony Blinken,Tennessee Rep Tim Burchett falsely claimed that someone from CODEPINK threatened to kill his wife and daughter. That is a dangerous  and horrific accusation from someone in power. 

When pressed on this outrageous lie, a staffer for Burchett claimed it happened two days ago. Knowing that no one from CODEPINK would ever threaten to kill anyone, the D.C. team continued to ask questions about the alleged encounter. The staffer could not identify the person and said he had no witnesses. The congressman also did not file any report about receiving a death threat. 

CODEPINK spends countless hours in Congress trying to stop the U.S. support of the murder of innocent people, like mothers and daughters in Gaza . We would never threaten the lives of mothers and daughters here in the United States. However, what we often do is ask these elected officials who wholeheartedly support the ongoing genocide to consider how they would feel if their own families were bombed and starved to death. That is an attempt to appeal to their humanity. We are asking for empathy, not threatening violence. It is a shame that Rep. Burchett would take such an appeal to humanity and twist it into a death threat. 

We ask Representative Burchett to retract his unfounded claim. He does not have to agree with us about Israel’s actions, but it is unacceptable for him to defame our organization and the passionate volunteers who try to hold our elected officials accountable. 

We know that wars, genocides, and occupations are driven by hate and lies. With all that is happening in the world, all the death and destruction, we need peace and cooperation now more than ever. CODEPINK remains committed to promoting diplomacy and disarmament through creative, nonviolent actions to address issues of militarism, injustice, and inequality.

[video]

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Take Action:  Congress Must Stop Threatening the ICC

May 23, 2024 | adc.org | Washington, DC — Within hours after ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, US laws scrambled to find ways to attack the ICC.    Speaker of the House Mike Johnson announced his pursuit of legislation to sanction the ICC. On the Senate side, in testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his willingness to work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to sanction the ICC.   ADC calls on members of Congress to denounce recent rhetoric and legislative efforts aimed at sanctioning the International Criminal Court (ICC).    The threats coming from Congress that vilify and delegitimize the ICC are completely abhorrent . We urge all members of Congress to reject such delegitimizing speech and oppose any legislative efforts to undermine the ICC's authority.   Urge members of Congress to do the right thing and issue a clear statement supporting the ICC's arrest warrants by clicking here   At this pivotal moment in history, we must choose between doing what is right and what is not. Today, we ask Congress to make the moral decision to uphold international institutions by publicly supporting the ICC Prosecutor's applications for arrest warrants.   Take Action: Congress Must STOP Threatening the ICC

www.codepink.org/juliaunjustarrest

Capitol Police Arrest CODEPINK Staff Member Without Just Cause

[Photo]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 21, 2024

Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | melissa [at codepink ] 

CODEPINK Condemns Repression by Capitol Police: Staff Member Arrested for Quietly Exiting Hearing Room

WASHINGTON – A CODEPINK staff member was arrested this afternoon after she quietly exited a room where a hearing was taking place. At CODEPINK, we routinely risk arrest at congressional hearings while we disrupt warmongering politicians – but that was not the case in this instance. Our staff member awaits a court date for a previous arrest and did not intend to be arrested today. At the time of her arrest, she was exiting a hearing room without saying anything or holding up any signs, just holding up her hands for a brief moment. This symbolic action alone has never resulted in an arrest in our last 20 years of protesting on Capitol Hill. No disruption was taking place.  According to the police, she will be held overnight or potentially until her court date in June. 

"The Capitol Police know our faces well at this point; we are there daily. Julia's arrest today is nothing short of political repression and intimidation. Earlier today, they assaulted our members at a hearing, and now they are threatening to hold our members in jail for doing nothing at all." Danaka Katovich, the National Co-Director of CODEPINK. "In what democracy do police forces arrest recognizable activists? Julia's arrest and assaults on our activists earlier today signal a larger state of repression we are entering in our fight for a free Palestine. We will continue to stand by our staff and all activists against political repression," she continued. 

Today, as well, police forces at the University of Michigan raided a student encampment, using pepper spray and landing several people in the hospital. More and more arrests are taking place at peaceful protests for Palestine all over the country. And now, in our very own congressional buildings that our tax dollars pay for – activists are assaulted and arrested for interrupting politicians and holding up signs, or even, in Julia's case – for just being a recognizable activist who is doing nothing illegal. 

We condemn all acts of political repression against advocates for peace and justice, whether it's attacks on our non-profit staff or students from Columbia to Michigan.  

You can watch footage of her arrest here.

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www.codepink.org/blinkendisruptmay21

BREAKING: Four Peace Activists Arrested, One Left Bleeding After Disruption of Antony Blinken

[Photo]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 21, 2024

Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | melissa at codepink ]

Peace Activists Face Charges of Resisting Arrest During a Disruption of Secretary Blinken’s Testimony in a Senate Foreign Affairs Committee

WASHINGTON -- Peace activists with CODEPINK and American Muslims for Palestine disrupted war criminal Antony Blinken this morning in the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on American Diplomacy and Global Leadership. In the United State’s true authoritarian and anti-democratic fashion, two activists face charges of resisting arrest and were threatened with charges of assaulting a police officer.” There were plenty of witnesses who can attest that neither activists assaulted anyone. 

The only people assaulted today were the disrupters. CODEPINK member Ann Wright received an injury to her wrist when the police violently removed Mohamad Habehh from American Muslims for Palestine. Mohamad, disrupted Blinken by evoking the name of Hind Rajab, a 6-year victim of Israel’s 7-month long genocide of Gaza. Hind is one of tens of thousands of children murdered by Israel with the aid and support of the United States. 

“Hind Rajab was 6 years old when Israeli soldiers killed her. Over 35,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Gaza with American taxpayer dollars. Their blood is on your hands. You will be remembered as the butcher of Gaza. Your legacy is genocide. You’re just as guilty as Netanyahu. You’re killing our families, Blinken,” charged Mohamad. 

 “As a retired US diplomat, I am horrified by what Tony Blinken is doing a secretary of state and being a part of the genocide the Israeli genocide of Gaza, Tony Blinken, and the state department should be ashamed of themselves for assisting in the destruction of Gaza and the killing of 10 of thousands of Palestinians,” explained Ann Wright who was there to also disrupt Secretary Blinken. 

We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where over 35,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, with American taxpayer dollars funding this violence. Secretary of State Antony Blinken bears direct responsibility for these atrocities and will be remembered as the "Butcher of Gaza." His legacy is one of genocide, on par with the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

CODEPINK volunteer, Tina, reminded Blinken of the war crimes he is purposely turning a blind eye to when she disrupted. She yelled to the “undiplomatic” diplomat, "There have been 7 mass graves outside of hospitals. This is sick. This is deranged. You are a war criminal. Shame on you!" 

Secretary Blinken is actively funding and financing this genocide. As the Secretary of State, it is his duty to ensure that U.S. weapons supplied to foreign militaries are used in accordance with international law. This obligation has been egregiously neglected, as evidenced by the continued bombing and starvation of hospitals, schools, mosques, churches, and refugee camps. Blinken's actions constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. This cannot be allowed to continue.

Olivia DiNucci, who alongside Mohamed is being charged with resisting arrest, made it clear that the United States is responsible for death and destruction around the globe - not diplomacy and leadership as the hearing titled implied. 

“The U.S. has given billions to Israel, but our country urgently needs these funds for healthcare, housing, and addressing climate change. We must end our complicity in this destruction and focus on building a just and equitable society at home,” DiNucci explained. 

For more information about the disruption and arrests, including access to videos, please contact Melissa at melissa [ at codepink ]. 

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www.codepink.org/peaceweekpressconference

PRESS CONFERENCE: Peace Activists to Address Dangers of Fleet Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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May 20th ADC email:

Community Pulse: Presidential Survey Results

Washington, D.C. |  adc.org | May 20, 2024 - ADC and the Truth Project have launched Community Pulse - an initiative to gauge Arab American perspectives on issues that directly impact the community. Between the dates of May 17 - May 18, ADC and the Truth Project conducted a survey to measure vote choice in the upcoming Presidential election among Arab American voters, and our allies.    The results show that only 7% of Arab American voters plan on voting for President Biden in the upcoming general election. GOP Candidate Donald Trump has less support, with only 2% committed to casting a ballot for the Former President this November.    Since the start of the genocide many have speculated about who Arab Americans would vote for – Biden or Trump. The answer is neither, with third party candidates getting substantial support.    Dr. Jill Stein, the Green Party Candidate received the most support at 25% . Dr. Stein is running on an anti-genocide platform, and has been a strong and vocal supporter of Palestine her entire career. Dr. Cornel West, who is running as an independent, is at 20% support. Dr. West has also stood for Palestine and Palestinian human rights throughout his entire career.

The Uncommitted option received 23% support. Currently 19% of respondents plan on voting in November, but are undecided about who they will vote for. 3% of voters plan on not voting, however, that number increases to 5% in battleground states.    The same remains consistent in battleground states , with Dr. Jill Stein and Dr. Cornel West receiving 25% and 17% of the vote, respectively. Biden and Trump received 7% and 2% respectively.    36,139 Arab American and allied voters all matched to the voter file were asked a simple question: Who are you voting for in November? Within hours 2,196 responded (6%) indicating a high level of enthusiasm among our community to engage on this topic.   As the 2024 Presidential election approaches, it is evident that Arab American and allied voters are supporting candidates that are listening to our concerns and demands.  Sign up for the Community Press and make your voice heard. What is Community Pulse? Community Pulse is opinion and sentiment research designed by Arab Americans to understand the issues that most affect Arab Americans. Grounded in the principle of “For Community, By Community” Community Pulse is not just about research; it's about strengthening our community and ensuring that our voices, stories and issues are heard and addressed.

May 20, 2024

Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | melissa [at codepink ]

CODEPINK San Pedro and San Pedro Neighbors For Peace and Justice to Hold Press Conference During Fleet Week to Counter The Week's Celebration of War

SAN PEDRO, CA—We invite you to attend a press conference hosted by CODEPINK San Pedro and San Pedro Neighbors For Peace and Justice. This conference aims to address the sponsors of Fleet Week and raise awareness about the objections from many seaside communities regarding the propagation of war propaganda. In a time when diplomacy and democracy should prevail, war and conflict stand as antithetical forces.

Press Conference Details:

• Notable speakers: 
  • Jack Eidt is the Founder and Publisher of WilderUtopia, a platform for his work as a novelist, urban planner, environmental journalist, and climate advocate. He also produces the EcoJustice Radio show and podcast, which is nationally syndicated, and co-founded SoCal 350 Climate Action.
  • John Parker is a prominent anti-war organizer and founder of the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice. He is a member of the Socialist Unity Party and contributes to StruggleLaLucha.org. Last November, Parker was detained in Egypt for 37 hours while participating in the Global Conscience Convoy, protesting U.S. and Egyptian policies to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
• Location: 3rd and Harbor Blvd., USS Iowa
• Date: Saturday, May 25, 2024
• Time: 11:00 AM

This press conference is part of the week-long actions of the 9th Annual L.A. Harbor Peace Week. We aim to resist the normalization and promotion of war during the U.S. military's "L.A. Fleet Week." Instead of sponsoring Fleet Week, we believe communities should advocate for peace and democracy, both locally and globally. We hope our message resonates and inspires you, igniting a spark to join us in this cause.

Your attendance and coverage of this event are crucial in amplifying our message of peace and solidarity.

For more information about the press conference or the 9th Annual Peace Week, please get in touch with Melanie Cohen at melaniecohen372 [ gmail ].

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www.codepink.org/househearingunrwaarrest

BREAKING: Medea Benjamin and Others Arrested For Telling Truth at House Foreign Affairs Hearing on US Aid

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | melissa [at codepink ]

CODEPINK Members Arrested at House Committee on Foreign Affairs Hearing on US Aid

Washington, D.C. - Four members of CODEPINK were arrested today at a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing focused on eliminating U.S. aid to entities designated as terrorists.

CODEPINK member Julia Norman challenged the testimonies presented during the hearing, accusing those testifying of disseminating false information. Another member, Mary Beth, vocally confronted the participants, asserting that their actions were directly responsible for the starvation of children in Gaza.

After the meeting adjourned, Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK, addressed the room, stating that she had visited Gaza seven times. She emphasized that she has personally witnessed the operations of UNRWA schools and distribution centers and refuted claims made during the hearing that U.S. aid intended for Gazans is going to Hamas. Benjamin emphasized that the allegations made in the hearing were without evidence. CODEPINK member Pua Ali’i Lum echoed her sentiments. 

Despite the hearing being officially over and no signs being used, Medea Benjamin and Pua Ali’i were detained and arrested in the hallway for "demonstrating in a federal building." The arrest decision appeared to have been made by Capitol police rather than the committee chair.

The sham hearing featured three witnesses, yet failed to entertain any testimony from witnesses on behalf of UNRWA. The actual criminal act is when elected officials and their "witnesses" lie under oath in the people's house. It is even especially heinous when those lies are directly contributing to the death by starvation of innocent men, women, and children. 

Despite the oppressive tactics today, CODEPINK will continue to speak truth to power that lies. We will continue to call out those who are directly contributing to war crimes. 

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For more information about the arrests, please contact Melissa at melissa [at codepink].

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