See Jane Do Joins CodePink to Celebrate All Mothers & Women This Mother's Day

This Mother's Day, hundreds of women traveled from around the world to celebrate mothers and honor the original Mother's Day Proclamation made by Julia Ward Howe in 1870 calling for an end to war at CODEPINK’s 3rd annual 24-hour vigil in Lafayette Park across from the White House.  

Jesse Locks and Maya Parker Knitting With Other Women

On Saturday afternoon, women of all ages and backgrounds sprawled out along sidewalks around the park and in front of the main stage to participate in radical knitting circles.  They were sewing the more than 8,000 pink and green square cozies together to create a quilt with the message “We Will Not Raise Our Children to Kill Another Mother’s Child.”

 
Lindsey Campbell and Colonel Ann Wright

On many of them were messages pinned by the person who had originally knit the square to honor their own mother or child.  Women read these aloud, which would spark another woman’s story, followed by lively discussion, laughter, tears, and even singing.     

   
Rae Abileah, Group Coordinator at CodePink and Dana Balicki, Campaign Manager of CodePink

CODEPINK co-founders Jodie Evans, Medea Benjamin and Gael Murphy, actress Mimi Kennedy, Colonel Ann Wright, Sweeta Noori with Women for Women International Afghanistan, Cynthia Benjamin a mother of an Iraq deployed soldier, Iraq War Veteran and mother Lindsey Campbell, Veteran and spoken word artist Lori Perdue, among many others took the mic to share their own experiences as peace     organizers, former soldiers, and mothers and women living under occupation.                                                                                 

Jodi Evans of CodePink

Medea Benjamin of CodePink

Actress and Activist Mimi Kennedy

Lindsey Campbell Performing While Daughter Ruby Rose Watches

Attendees were encouraged to participate in learning circles with experts and facilitators on various issues including Gaza, Truth in Recruitment, Nuclear Disarmament, Economic Crisis, Women and War, Legislative Strategy and Being an Empowered Mama. 

No Nukes Workshop

Maya Parker and a Friend Enjoy a PediCab for Peace

Festivities continued on into the night with more music, poetry, a film screening of Kathleen Foster’s “Afghan Women: A History of Struggle”, and a Pink Pajama Party in the park. 

Sunday morning began with an Interfaith Ceremony lead by women of many ritual and religious traditions, which included singing, dancing and a silence for those loved ones lost at the hands of war.  Dr. Patch Adams entertained the children and those young at heart.

Elisa Parker Interviewing a Mom With Her Family From Philadelphia

After 24 hours of continuous knitting, the quilt had reached over 100 feet long.  In the closing ceremony hundreds of women, men and children singing “Peace Shalom Shalom” and chanting quotes like “We will march until our feet are pink” offered the quilt and a message of peace to President Obama in front of the White House along with thousands of roses.  Onlookers, some from as far away as Korea, were there to visit the White House, found themselves eagerly joining in by distributing roses, singing, taking photos, or writing the message “We Will Not Raise Our Children to Kill Another Mother’s Child” down, to share with others later.  We're sure Julia Ward Howe would be proud. 

The Quilt Too Long to Fit in One Photo  

Julia Ward Howe Would Be Proud

Comments

[Rae Abileah]

Thank you See Jane Do for joining us for Mother's Day! Your energy, listening, enthusiasm, and creativity added so much! Love your pink website too!
Cheers to sisterhood and women's leadership and voices!

[miko unclesam]

i thank all the code pink mothers and code pink supporters who are not mothers who gathered to honor mothers' day in the true spirit of this noble holiday. may peace prevail on the earth!

[Sharon Hess]

I think it's wonderful that the code pink ladies highlight our universal desire for peace. The roses and beautiful quilt accentuate the desires of every mother's heart, that her family can enjoy living in a free country without war. I am dissapointed that one of the women got herself arrested at the arms exhibit, however. This is an old ploy that was used in the 1960's at anti-Vietnam demonstrations, to extract attention and sympathy. This woman sent the message, "peace...but on my terms..." with little regard to the military that put on that display, and that protects our nation. It undermined all of the great things that Code Pink has represented.