Internationally acclaimed peace activist to speak in Athens

Medea Benjamin’s 20 years of experience in international activist organizing has made her one of the most recognizable leaders of the anti-war movement (and an “Anti-American” target for right-wingers). Benjamin received an infamous reputation in the mainstream media when she protested the Iraq War by interrupting the speeches of President Bush, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and others. Refusing to allow her advocacy for peace to be confined to “free-speech zones,” Benjamin’s direct approach has inspired women from around the world to raise their collective voices in protest.

In 2002, Benjamin and several other co-founders of CODEPINK, a women-initiated grassroots organization, called on “mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and daughters, on workers, students, teachers, healers, artists, writers, singers, poets and every ordinary outraged woman willing to be outrageous for peace.” The group has been an important component of a movement that continues to grow.

Along with countless protests in the states, CODEPINK has organized women internationally. A delegation of 15 women traveled to Iraq to forge relationships and understanding with Iraqi women, whose stories are being shared across the United States. The accomplishments of CODEPINK, including the distribution of over $600,000 in aid to Iraq, continue to initiate peacemaking coalitions in Iran, Italy, Turkey, Great Britain, Thailand, Brazil and Venezuela.

Benjamin recently teamed up with Jodie Evans to edit a book entitled “Stop the Next War Now,” which features essays by a diverse group of women who offer criticism, insight and reflections about international violence and terrorism.

Benjamin’s work for peace has received international recognition. In 2005, Benjamin was nominated alongside 1,000 women from 140 countries to collectively receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Benjamin is also the Founding Director of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Global Exchange, which aspires to create awareness about the relationship between international injustice and corporate globalization. Campaigns include increasing economic fair-trade and environmental advocacy, ending US occupation of Iraq, and increasing partnership among other NGOs.•

Kelsey is a staff reporter for The InterActivist.