Sen. Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at Madison GOTV Event

CODEPINK Madison Disrupted the GOTV Rally to Keep Attention on the Crisis in Gaza

On Monday Oct. 28, CODEPINK and Students for Justice in Palestine organizers from Madison made their voices heard at a WisDems Get Out the Vote (GOTV) event, disrupting a rally featuring Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to call attention to the U.S. supported genocide in Gaza. Members of CODEPINK unfurled banners reading "Free Palestine" and "Stop Arming Israel" while posing the question, “If Trump’s the bigger evil, why are the Democrats bombing Gaza?” The general public started to walk out of his event, with some also shouting throughout his speech “how will you get us an arms embargo?”, “when will you talk about the war?”, “talk about Palestine!” 

The protest highlighted CODEPINK Madison’s commitment to ending U.S. military support for Israel amidst escalating violence in Gaza, drawing attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The CODEPINK chapter, in a majorly blue county of a purple state, has used public forums, like campaign rallies, to remind the public and elected officials that many Americans oppose U.S. policies that are enabling violence in Gaza, particularly policies that provide unconditional military support to Israel.

“Sure, Bernie is disapproving of Israel, but he is not an anti-Zionist supporting the complete end to Israeli occupation.”, says CODEPink Madison organizer Shahayra Majumder. “He is campaigning for Harris while not amplifying, and indeed - ignoring - the voices of those calling for justice and peace for Palestinians, yet wants to be understood as a progressive on this issue. We need Bernie to actually help get an arms embargo done, and then get real about the only thing that will free Palestine: an end to Israeli occupation and apartheid.”

CODEPINK’s disruption is part of a broader campaign to raise awareness and pressure political leaders to address U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, where millions are calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza and the illegal occupation of Palestine.