Code Pink for Peace Marches Against War
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Today is another weekend of protests all around the world. Activists are observing International Women's Day with anti-war demonstrations in Washington, D.C. The organizers say instead of an attack on Iraq, the U.S. should use its war chest to improve conditions in this country. Let's go to CNN's Maria Hinojosa, who is covering the event, and she joins us now with more. Is it still going on there, Maria?</s>MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're in Malcolm X Park, which is on upper 16th Street. So about an hour or so ago, they left here. It was probably anywhere from 3,000 to 4,000 women, mostly women. But interestingly, all of them wearing lots of pink. And not just regular pink, but pink flamingo, bright pink. They are saying that they call themselves the Code Pink Women for Peace. And they're kind of playing off of this code orange alert, that they just say that what they need to be doing is spreading out pink and love and peace throughout the world. So lots of women from several parts of the country were here. They heard from lots of different speakers. They, again, are trying to celebrate International Women's Day by drawing the allegiances between women here in this country and the women in Iraq, saying that the women there are living in a tremendous amount of fear, and that they should be thinking more about trying to find a diplomatic solution to this. Now, this was part of a national coordinated effort by women's groups. There were groups that were protesting in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Laramie, Wyoming. All of them, again, coming out and saying that they want the president to heed their calls, that as women, as mothers, they have a specific interest in trying to avoid the loss of life. They were some celebrities here today and this is what they had to say at the Code Pink demonstration.</s>JANEANE GAROFALO, ACTOR/ACTIVIST: I guess I want to be in any kind of a rally that supports finding a diplomatic solution to this situation in Iraq. I don't think that the administration is being particularly honest with the American people about what this is going to cost in life and dollars, what the dangers are of retaliatory strikes once it happens. This is not a war that needs to happen immediately, if ever.</s>HINOJOSA: Now, some of the groups that were here were not only those who just in general are against war, but some who were specifically tied to this, a group called Military Families Speak Out Against War. These are people who have family members in the military. They spoke here, as well as September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. These are people who lost families on September 11 but who are against a possible war in Iraq. Back to you.</s>WHITFIELD: Now, Maria, I know this protest was organized by and produced mostly for women, but were there any men in the crowd?</s>HINOJOSA: Lots of men. Definitely lots of men, but they were all wearing pink. So they were kind of in the theme of the demonstrations today, wearing pink.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, pretty in pink and passionate about no war. Thanks very much, Maria.