FAQs

WHAT IS CODEPINK?

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. Join us!

WHAT WE DO

Founded in fall 2002 as a grassroots effort to prevent the US war on Iraq, we continue to organize for justice for Iraqis and to hold war criminals accountable. We actively oppose the continuing U.S. war in Afghanistan, torture, the detention center at Guantanamo, weaponized and spy drones, the prosecution of whistleblowers, U.S. support for the Israeli occupation of Palestine and repressive regimes.

HOW WE DO IT

Rooted in a network of local organizers, online supporters and generous donors, with an emphasis on joy and humor, our tactics include satire, street theatre, creative visuals, civil resistance, and directly challenging powerful decision-makers in government and corporations. And of course, wearing pink!

Learn more about our mission, history and action principles.

People* committed to creative protest against militarism and injustice are CODEPINK. People who want to influence a shift in the focus of world society and governments from militarism to life-affirming endeavors are CODEPINK. People who are not ashamed to wear a big pink button, and thereby encourage conversation are CODEPINK. People who are not afraid to be unreasonable or to be called un-patriotic in the name of peace and social justice are CODEPINK. People who realize that you must be the change you want to see in this world are CODEPINK.

*People includes all people regardless of their gender. Though initiated by women and composed primarily of women, CODEPINK does not discriminate on the basis of gender, sex, ethnicity, age, religion, or social-economic status. (This answer written by CODEPINKOrlando.)

Yes! There are many men in CODEPINK who are supportive and respectful of women taking on leadership roles.

Your money will fund our programs, and every little bit helps! The bulk of our funding comes from individual donors, like YOU. We are a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Your contribution will help us get the anti-war message out by unfurling pink slips, organizing marches to end the war in DC, collecting humanitarian aid for innocent civilians in Iraq, rebuilding New Orleans, and working for peace.

Real support for the troops means bringing them home, taking care of them when they get here, and making sure they do not have to be in harm's way unnecessarily. CODEPINK partners with Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace in our collective work to end the long occupation in Iraq. Additionally we support the work of the Service Women's Action Network, which develops the leadership of female veterans, mentors young women considering military service, and provides and promotes services that are healing to women after their military service experience and especially those who have been raped and traumatized during their service in the military.

Many of our activists and local organizers are military moms and family members, all trying to get their families home safely. While we support our soldiers, we also look forward to a day when the primary way to serve our country is not through violence and killing; when organizations such as AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps take equal priority with the military in advertising and funding.

We support those brave soldiers who refused to fight in Iraq and become war resisters or conscientious objectors, and have cosponsored numerous actions with Courage to Resist and the Canadian War Resisters network. We also call attention to the very serious lack of benefits for our military veterans.

We especially support our National Guard being able to do what they signed up to do--protect us here at home in the case of natural disasters and emergencies, as opposed to fighting and dying abroad in an illegal war. At CODEPINK, we believe the best way we can do this is by speaking out, often in coalition with IVAW, Vets for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, and other organizations.

CODEPINK is grounded in the understanding of the power of love and maintains a commitment to nonviolence in all of our actions. We understand that any violation of this commitment to nonviolence—no matter how small—may seriously damage our movement.

We define nonviolence to include the following elements:

• We will use no violence, verbal or physical, toward any person.
• We will maintain an attitude of openness and respect toward all people we encounter in our actions.
• We will not destroy any property.
• We will carry no weapons.
• We will exercise personal and collective responsibility to ensure all participants adhere to these commitments.