Jodie Evans
Encyclopedia
Jodie Evans is a political activist, author, and documentary film producer. She characterizes her activism as working for peace and justice, environmental causes and women’s rights. She has traveled extensively promoting what she terms the conflict resolution by peaceful means—including leading "citizen diplomacy" delegations to Iran, the Gaza Strip, and Afghanistan. She served in California Governor Jerry Brown
’s cabinet and managed his 1992 campaign for the presidency. She also became a co-founder of the left-wing activist organization, Code Pink
. Evans currently serves as the chairperson of the board of the Women's Media Center
, an organization that describes its goals as working to amplify the voices of women in the media through advocacy, media and leadership training, and creation of original content.
She was married to Max Palevsky
until his death and currently lives in Venice, California.
. She first became interested in social justice activism when she worked as a maid in a major Las Vegas hotel as a teenager—as her coworkers organized, she marched in favor of what she termed a living wage.
, she and other Code Pink members caused disruptions. At one point, Evans charged the stage towards Rove with a pair of handcuffs, declaring that she was making a citizen's arrest.
In the summer of 2010, controversy arose over Evans' alleged 2008 remark to Debbie Lee, the mother of an American soldier killed in Iraq that “Your son deserved to die in Iraq if he was stupid enough to go over there.” Republican candidate Meg Whitman repeated this charge in her 2010 California gubernatorial campaign, demanding that Jerry Brown return money from a fundraiser that Evans hosted. Later during the controversy, Lee told the San Francisco Chronicle that she could not identify Evans and was not sure who made the insulting remark.
On January 30, 2011, Evans was arrested for disruptive behavior at a Rancho Mirage hotel where she was leading a protest against David H. Koch
and Charles G. Koch
over their financial involvement in the Tea Party Movement
.
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
’s cabinet and managed his 1992 campaign for the presidency. She also became a co-founder of the left-wing activist organization, Code Pink
Code Pink
Code Pink: Women for Peace is an anti-war group that is mainly composed of women. It has regional offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, and Washington, D.C., and many more chapters in the U.S. as well as several in other countries...
. Evans currently serves as the chairperson of the board of the Women's Media Center
Women's Media Center
Women's Media Center is a 5013 nonprofit women’s organization in the United States founded in 2005 by writers/activists Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem...
, an organization that describes its goals as working to amplify the voices of women in the media through advocacy, media and leadership training, and creation of original content.
She was married to Max Palevsky
Max Palevsky
Max Palevsky was an American art collector, venture capitalist, philanthropist, and computer technology pioneer.-Early life:...
until his death and currently lives in Venice, California.
Early life
Evans was born and raised in Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. She first became interested in social justice activism when she worked as a maid in a major Las Vegas hotel as a teenager—as her coworkers organized, she marched in favor of what she termed a living wage.
Controversies
Her Code Pink protest actions include disrupting Sarah Palin's speech at the Republican National Convention in 2008, and, in 2009, leading a protest in Santa Monica against Israeli cosmetics company Ahava. Upon returning from Afghanistan, she delivered signatures from women in that country and the US to President Obama asking him to send no new troops into the conflict there. In March, 2010, during a book signing by Karl RoveKarl Rove
Karl Christian Rove was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush until Rove's resignation on August 31, 2007. He has headed the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives...
, she and other Code Pink members caused disruptions. At one point, Evans charged the stage towards Rove with a pair of handcuffs, declaring that she was making a citizen's arrest.
In the summer of 2010, controversy arose over Evans' alleged 2008 remark to Debbie Lee, the mother of an American soldier killed in Iraq that “Your son deserved to die in Iraq if he was stupid enough to go over there.” Republican candidate Meg Whitman repeated this charge in her 2010 California gubernatorial campaign, demanding that Jerry Brown return money from a fundraiser that Evans hosted. Later during the controversy, Lee told the San Francisco Chronicle that she could not identify Evans and was not sure who made the insulting remark.
On January 30, 2011, Evans was arrested for disruptive behavior at a Rancho Mirage hotel where she was leading a protest against David H. Koch
David H. Koch
David Hamilton Koch is an American businessman, philanthropist, political activist, and chemical engineer. He is a co-owner and an executive vice president of Koch Industries, a conglomerate that is the second-largest privately held company in the U.S...
and Charles G. Koch
Charles G. Koch
Charles de Ganahl Koch is co-owner, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Koch Industries Inc., the second-largest privately held company by revenue in the United States according to a 2010 Forbes survey...
over their financial involvement in the Tea Party Movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
.
Films
- Stripped and Teased: Tales from Las Vegas Women (1999)
- The Ground Truth: After the Killing EndsThe Ground TruthThe Ground Truth is a 2006 documentary film about veterans of the Iraq War...
(2006) - South Central Farm: Oasis in a Concrete Desert (2008)
- The People SpeakThe People Speak (film)The People Speak is a documentary feature film that uses dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries, and speeches of everyday Americans. The film gives voice to those who, by insisting on equality and justice, spoke up for social change throughout U.S...
(2009) - The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon PapersThe Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon PapersThe Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers is a 2009 documentary film directed by Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith...
(2009)
Organizations and boards
Evans is a member of a number of organizations and boards including:- CODEPINK: Women for PeaceCode PinkCode Pink: Women for Peace is an anti-war group that is mainly composed of women. It has regional offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, and Washington, D.C., and many more chapters in the U.S. as well as several in other countries...
(Co-founder) - Drug Policy AllianceDrug Policy AllianceThe Drug Policy Alliance is a New York City-based non-profit organization, led by executive director Ethan Nadelmann, with the principal goal of ending the American "War on Drugs"...
- Rainforest Action NetworkRainforest Action NetworkRainforest Action Network is an environmental organization based in San Francisco, California, USA. The organization was founded by Randy "Hurricane" Hayes and Mike Roselle in 1985, with the financial help of Fund for Wild Nature....
- Institute for Policy StudiesInstitute for Policy StudiesInstitute for Policy Studies is a left-wing think tank based in Washington, D.C..It has been directed by John Cavanagh since 1998- History :...
- World Festival of Sacred MusicWorld Sacred Music FestivalThe World Festival of Sacred Music brings together performers from every corner of our planet for a week of artistic show in Fes, Morocco's ancient holy city. It was first held in 1994.-Los Angeles:...
- 826LA826LA826LA is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills and helping teachers inspire their students to write. Programs are structured around the beliefs that great leaps in learning can happen with...
- Office of the AmericasOffice of the AmericasThe Office of the Americas is a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, California and founded in April, 1983 by Theresa Bonpane, who along with her husband Blase Bonpane, continue as the Director and Founding Director, respectively, of the organization....
- Sisterhood is Global Institute
- Women's Media CenterWomen's Media CenterWomen's Media Center is a 5013 nonprofit women’s organization in the United States founded in 2005 by writers/activists Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem...
- Global Girl Media