March 9, 2003

The Honorable George W. Bush

President

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

Re: War in Iraq

Dear President Bush:

As this week, a week of activities celebrating International Women's Day comes to a close, a time we had once marked to end our vigil outside the White House, I am deeply distressed by the disrespect we have received from you. Since October we have knocked at your door, called your office, written letters and sat outside your window asking you to listen to the women. To listen to our concerns that a war with Iraq will further destabilize the Middle East, unleash more terrorism in the U.S. and Europe, kill innocent civilians in Iraq, and unjustifiably risk the health and lives of our military personnel. Your door has never been opened, our calls have never been returned and our invitations never acknowledged.

Yesterday we marched with over 10,000 to show you the energy, the beauty and the passion behind our call for peace, behind our cries to stop the rush to war. A war we as women find immoral, undemocratic, unconscionable and irresponsible to the needs of our families and our communities, and the needs for our security now and for the lives of our children and grandchildren. We were not allowed near the White House and those who did get inside the police barricade were arrested, including many women with strong voices celebrated and respected by women around the country and the world.

You have never acknowledged our requests, our initiations to tea, our Christmas cards, our petitions, our valentines messages, These messages have been requests sent by women from around the country who have come to sit in our vigil. They have been hand written and from the hearts of women of all ages, religions, and cultural backgrounds, women who have traveled far to tell you their fears and concerns.

Some of us went to Iraq recently and met with the people there, our experience of Iraq and of the people there have no relationship to the message you deliver to American people in your State of the Union and press conferences. We were there when you irresponsibly delivered the message "The game is over". I watched, in a matter of hours, terror wash over the hearts and eyes of the people I had grown to love. I watched the country I live in and love, threatening innocent civilians, half of whom are children with shock and awe.

Yesterday was something of a last straw for us; many women had come from around the country to bring their hearts of peace, and the depth of their wisdom that knows this call for war that comes from your office is not what they want. Every poll has shown over 50% of the women in this country are against this war. Not only didn't you receive us, you are not listening to our cries from outside. What are you so afraid of? Women desiring peace outside your window? Why do you show so much disrespect to our requests just to be heard?

Perplexed,

Jodie Evans

Co-founder

CODEPINK; A Women's Preemptive Strike for Peace