New York, November 8, 2018 — Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) and Free Speech TV (FSTV) are premiering CODEPINK: Town Hall on Militarism on Sunday, November 11 at 8:00 pm ET on the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. The special will air on on both MNN-FSTV (Spectrum channel 1301 and FiOS channel 39 for Manhattan viewers or streaming online worldwide at mnn.org) and Free Speech TV (DISH 9415, DIRECTV 348, and streaming on Roku, Apple TV, Sling TV and at freespeech.org).

“From 17 years of U.S. engagement in Afghanistan to the Saudi-led war on Yemen, and the resulting humanitarian crisis so severe a child dies every 10 minutes from malnutrition, it is easy to become discouraged in these dark times. But concerned citizens around the world are continuing to speak out and act for a world that values human needs over the profits of weapons manufacturers. CODEPINK is honored to partner with Free Speech TV and the Manhattan Neighborhood Network to provide this important Town Hall that looks at the disastrous effects of militarism and the committed work being done to divest from war,” said Ariel Gold, CODEPINK National Co-Director.

CODEPINK, Free Speech TV and Manhattan Neighborhood Network’s Town Hall on Militarism looks at the current wars America is involved in, the enormous Pentagon budget, and the scope of the U.S. military industrial complex, as well as the ways people in the U.S. and around the world are building a more just and peaceful world.

“The increasing militarization of society and America’s massive and unaccountable defense spending are seldom discussed in mainstream media outlets. For years, CODEPINK has been one of the most effective and powerful voices sounding the alarm and we are honored to join them in this special town hall event,” said Ron Williams, Executive Director of Free Speech TV.

Hosted by Ariel Gold, CODEPINK National Co-Director, this town hall discusses the costs of militarism, weapons and war, and features panelists William Hartung, director of the Weapons and Securities Project at the Center for International Policy; Ciara Taylor, membership manager of The People’s Forum; Ann Wright, former U.S. Army Colonel and State Department diplomat; and Angelo Pinto, senior attorney working with The Advancement Project’s Ending Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Track and Justice Project.

“CODEPINK is excited to partner with Free Speech TV and MNN for the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, the day to ‘End All Wars!’ This town hall gave us the opportunity to have a conversation that is rarely in the media about war, weapons, militarism, and the effects at home and abroad. Our Divest From War campaign has a coalition of 80 groups, and it was great to pull together voices that represented the broad spectrum of that coalition,” said Jodie Evans, co-founder of CODEPINK.  

As CODEPINK hits the streets on Armistice Day (more commonly called Veterans Day) in New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Philadelphia and around the country to say “No More War,” the organization also encourages viewers to gather friends and allies to watch this town hall, plan local #DivestFromWar actions and join the post-premiere Twitter conversation using #DivestFromWar. Contact [email protected] for more information and support.  

Taped at the MNN’s 59th Street Studios in Manhattan before a live audience, CODEPINK: Town Hall on Militarism is a co-production of Free Speech TV and Manhattan Neighborhood Network.

“The 100th anniversary of Armistice Day marks an important day of remembrance for all those who perished in the Great War and a salutary reminder for why voices for peace are so necessary and urgent at this time of endless war. MNN is pleased to be working with FSTV and CODEPINK to amplify these critical voices for peace whose message is now more important than ever,” said MNN President and CEO Dan Coughlin.

Broadcasts are scheduled as follows (ET)

• Sunday, November 11 – 8pm ET (Premiere)
• Monday, November 12 – 4 pm
• Monday, November 12 – 9pm
• Tuesday, November 13 – 8 pm
• Wednesday, November 14 – 4 pm
• Thursday, November 15 – 1:00 am
• Friday, November 16 – 3:00 am
• Saturday , November 17 – 8:00 pm
• Sunday, November 18 – 3:00 pm

About CODEPINK

CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end U.S.-funded wars and occupations, to challenge militarism globally and to redirect our resources into health care, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities. Our programs include campaigns to Divest from the War Machine and Build a Local Peace Economy.

About Free Speech TV

Free Speech TV is a national, independent, nonprofit news network committed to advancing progressive social change. As the alternative to media networks owned by billionaires, governments and corporations, Free Speech TV elevates unique perspectives through daily news programs, independent documentaries and special events coverage.

Free Speech TV reaches more than 38 million households nationally on DISH (channel 9415), DIRECTV (348), Sling TV, and over 150 community cable affiliates. Free Speech TV streams live 24/7 at freespeech.org, is available on-demand and streaming on Roku and Apple TV, and maintains an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Free Speech TV believes a more just and democratic world is possible when the media empowers people with the information they need to fight for what matters.  

About Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Founded in 1992, Manhattan Neighborhood Network  is New York City’s free public-access cable network. Operating seven channels (Community, Lifestyle, Spirit, Culture, HD Community, MNN-FSTV and NYXT.nyc) and reaching over 600,000 cable subscribers in the Manhattan area, MNN is the largest public-access cable network in the nation, with programs airing in more than 40 languages. Find MNN on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and at mnn.org.

In 2012, MNN opened a state-of-the-art community media center at the old Engine Co. 53 Firehouse on East 104th Street in East Harlem. The facility features three HD production studios, including a three-camera studio, as well as editing services and a Youth Media Center. The Firehouse offers classes in English and Spanish and hosts community events throughout the year.

MNN also produces the cable and digital channel NYXT.nyc (pronounced next dot N.Y.C.). Presented in partnership with more than 60 Manhattan community-based organizations, NYXT.nyc shines a spotlight on groups that are working to connect people and build neighborhoods. NYXT.nyc is available on TWC 1992, FiOS 38, and online at nyxt.nyc.

PANELIST BIOS:

Ariel Gold is the national co-director for CODEPINK and specializes in campaigns for Palestinian rights. Ariel has been published in The Forward, Tikkun, Mondoweiss, Huffington Post and more.

William Hartung is the director of the Weapons and Securities Project at the Center for International Policy. He is the author of Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military Industrial Complex, co-editor, along with Miriam Pemberton of Lessons from Iraq: avoiding the next war, author of And Weapons for All, as well as numerous other publications. Bill specializes in issues of weapons proliferation, military spending and alternative approaches to national security. He has been published in The New York Times, Washington Post, The Nation, World Policy Journal and more and has been a featured expert on 60 Minutes, CNN, NBC Nightly News, Fox News and more.

Ciara Taylor is the membership manager for the People’s Forum, a movement incubator for working class and marginalized communities to build unity across historic lines of division at home and abroad. She is a political educator with the People’s Education Project (PEP), a collective of organizers and popular educators who have experience working in diverse communities of struggle. She was the Special Project Coordinator for CODEPINK’s Iraq War Tribunal and is a founding member of the Dream Defenders, an organization that formed in the aftermath of the shooting of Trayvon Martin to fight against systemic racism and the oppression of black and brown people.

Ann Wright is a former U.S. Army colonel and U.S. State Department diplomat. In 2003 she was one of three State Department officials who resigned in protest over the U.S. invasion of Iraq. She received the State Department Award for Heroism in 1997, after helping to evacuate several thousand people during the civil war in Sierra Leone. She has sailed with and is a member of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Women Cross the DMZ, Veterans for Peace and CODEPINK. Ann spends her time tirelessly traveling around the world participating in protests and conferences against war and militarism.

Angelo Pinto is a senior attorney with the Ending Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Track and Justice Project at the Advancement Project. From 2012-2016, he served as the campaign manager for the Juvenile Justice Project at the Correctional Association of New York, overseeing the Association’s Raise the Age Campaign to increase New York State’s age of criminal responsibility and keep children from being housed in adult jails and prisons. He is also a founding member of the Justice League NYC, a task force of criminal justice experts, direct service providers, activists, advocates, artists and formerly incarcerated individuals.