FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 28, 2012 CONTACT: Medea Benjamin, 415-235-6517, rae@codepink.org Alli McCracken, 860-575-5692, alli@codepink.org Follow @codepink WHAT:
Public Speak Out on Women's Issues with local artists and national
political activists reacting to Ann Romney's comments at the RNC opening
night WHEN: 10pm, Tuesday, August 28 WHERE: Hamburger Mary's, 1600 E. 7th Ave., 2nd Floor, Ybor City, Tampa FL Details:
A creative forum for women's issues, speaking out against war &
violence, supporting marriage equality, and more during the week of
Republican Convention protests in Tampa. VISUALS: Dancing giant vagina puppets, Banners, Performances, Drag Show
VIDEO: Performance of “Take Your Vagina to the RNC” song Monday, August 27 in Ybor City: http://youtu.be/8Oh15BNNHgk CODEPINK
and Art 2 Action will host an open mic to speak out on the GOP war on
women and will have a live response to Ann Romney's comments at the
opening night of the RNC. The evening will include live commentary in
response to Ann Romney with CODEPINK and Global Exchange cofounder Medea
Benjamin, as well as performance, comedy, poetry, song by local and
visiting artists. Tampa-based artists Andrea Assaf, founder of
Art2Action and Sage Crump, Art Is Change, will cohost the show. “Ann
Romney contributed to Planned Parenthood in the past and yet her
husband would cut off federal funding to it. A balanced budget should
not come at the cost of inequality and injustice to women's bodies,”
said Medea Benjamin. “We want reproductive rights and healthcare for
all.” “As
a young woman, I am appalled at the right-wing attacks on my body and
the censorship on body parts that should be respected and protected. If
they can't say the word ‘vagina' then they shouldn't legislate it,” said
29 year old Rae Abileah, co-director of CODEPINK. CODEPINK
collaborated with Eve Ensler, author of the Vagina Monologues, and VDAY
to bring vagina-themed protests to the RNC to demand an end to the GOP
war on women. The “vaginas bloc” have been in the streets of Tampa all
week and will join the Planned Parenthood rally in Tampa on Wednesday
afternoon, August 29. For the latest photos of CODEPINK at the RNC protests see here: www.codepink.org/rncphotos See videos here: www.codepink.org/rncvideos Read latest news here: www.codepink.org/rncnews CODEPINK,
founded in 2002, is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social
justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and
redirect our resources into health care, education and other
life-affirming activities. www.codepink.org |