Jodie Evans is co-founder of the women’s anti-war activist organization CODEPINK. Jodie is a political activist, author, and documentary film producer whose work focuses on peace and justice, environmental causes, and women’s rights. She has traveled extensively, promoting conflict resolution by peaceful means—including leading “citizen diplomacy” delegations to Iran, the Gaza Strip, and Afghanistan.
Her CODEPINK protest activities have been highly newsworthy, including disrupting Sara Palin’s speech at the Republican National Convention in 2008, leading a protest in Santa Monica against Israeli cosmetics company Ahava in 2009, and trying to make a citizens arrest of Karl Rove at his book signing in 2010. She was arrested in 2011 at a Rancho Mirage hotel while leading a protest against the Koch brothers. She was arrested again with actress and activist Jane Fonda in a series of weekly rallies and acts of civil disobedience, called Fire Drill Fridays, at Washington DC’s Capitol to highlight the global climate crisis.
Jodie first became interested in what she terms social justice activism as a teenager when she worked as a maid in a major Las Vegas hotel. She took part with her co-workers in a march to support a living wage.
She currently also serves as the board chair of the Rainforest Action Network, an organization whose mission is to preserve forests, protect the climate and uphold human rights by challenging corporate power and systemic injustice through frontline partnerships and strategic campaigns.
She served in California Governor Jerry Brown’s cabinet and managed his 1992 campaign for the presidency.
