Jodie Evans (born September 22, 1954) is an American political activist, author, and documentary film producer.

Jodie Evans
Evans campaigning in 2009

Evans was a Democratic Party political activist who managed the 1992 U.S. presidential campaign of former California governor Jerry Brown.[1][2] Evans co-founded the women's anti-war activist organization Code Pink with Medea Benjamin and others.[3] She is the former board chair of Rainforest Action Network.

In 2023, The New York Times published an article detailing the connections between her husband since 2017, Neville Roy Singham, and the Chinese Communist Party, stating that Evans was critical of China's authoritarian government in 2015. Since 2017, 25% of Code Pink's funding has come from groups connected to Singham. Evans stated in 2023 that she now strongly supports China and regards it as a defender of the oppressed and a model for economic growth without slavery or war.[1]

Early life edit

Evans was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 a living wage.[4]

Activism edit

Her CODEPINK protest actions include disrupting Sarah Palin's speech at the 2008 Republican National Convention,[5][6] and a 2009 protest in Santa Monica against Israeli cosmetics company Ahava.[7] Upon returning from Afghanistan, she delivered signatures from women in that country and the US to President Barack Obama asking him to send no new troops into the conflict there.[8]

In March, 2010, during a book signing by Karl Rove, 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.[9] 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 support of part of the Tea Party Movement.[10]

She is the co-founder and president of the People’s Support Foundation, a non-profit which was established in 2017 with support of former staff of software company ThoughtWorks.[11]

In 2019, Evans joined 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, where Evans was arrested on multiple occasions along with Fonda.[12]

She was an editor of the books Twilight of Empire: Responses to Occupation (2004) (Co-Editor)[13] and Stop the Next War Now: Effective Responses to Violence and Terrorism (2005) (Co-Editor).[14]

China edit

Jodie Evans was once critical of China's authoritarian government, making statements such as: "We demand China stop brutal repression of their women’s human rights defenders". In a 2023 article, The New York Times wrote that Evans was now a strong supporter of China and regards it as a defender of the oppressed and a model for economic growth without slavery or war. In 2021, Evans described Uyghurs as "terrorists". When asked if she had anything negative to say about China, Evans initially replied, "I can't, for the life of me, think of anything", but later said she had trouble using China’s phone-based payment apps.[1] In a March 2023 interview with the Chinese Communist Party tabloid Global Times, Evans stated that Americans "have been watching US propaganda, which drives hatred and fear around China."[15] In a podcast for China Global Television Network, Evans stated "China took everyone out of poverty."[15]

Personal life edit

She was married to Max Palevsky until his death on May 5, 2010.[citation needed] She currently lives in Venice, California.[needs update]

In 2017, Evans married tech entrepreneur Neville Roy Singham who the New York Times claims has close ties to the Chinese Government.[11][1]

Films edit

Organizations and boards edit

Evans is a member of a number of organizations and boards including:

Awards edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Hvistendahl, Mara; Fahrenthold, David A.; Chutel, Lynsey; Jhaveri, Ishaan (2023-08-05). "A Global Web of Chinese Propaganda Leads to a U.S. Tech Mogul". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  2. ^ "Jodie Evans speaks at 1992 DNC". YouTube. 2008-07-16. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
  3. ^ Code Pink "About Us" page Archived February 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  4. ^ "PureWow: Women's Fashion, Beauty, Life Hacks & Recipes". Archived from the original on 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
  5. ^ Marinucci, Carla (2008-09-04). "CodePink at the RNC: The Tradition Continues : Politics Blog". Sfgate.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
  6. ^ "CODE PALIN - Sarah's RNC Speech Interrupted by Protest". YouTube. 2008-09-04. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
  7. ^ "Welcome to the Santa Monica Daily Press". Smdp.com. 2009-07-29. Archived from the original on 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
  8. ^ "Code Pink Delivers Afghan Petition To President - News Story - KTVU San Francisco". Ktvu.com. 2009-10-16. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
  9. ^ "Karl Rove heckled, called 'war criminal' at book event". CNN. 2010-03-30. Archived from the original on 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
  10. ^ Pilkington, Ed (30 January 2011). "Greenpeace protests at Koch brothers' rally". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  11. ^ a b Reid Ross, Alexander; Dobson, Courtney (January 18, 2022). "The Big Business of Uyghur Genocide Denial". New Lines. Fairfax University of America. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
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  13. ^ Levine, Mark; Addario, Lynsey; Mortensen, Viggo; Perez, Pilar (2003). Twilight of Empire: Responses to Occupation. Perceval Press. ISBN 0972143696.
  14. ^ Benjamin, Medea; Evans, Jodie (2005). Stop the Next War Now: Effective Responses to Violence and Terrorism. New World Library. ISBN 1930722494.
  15. ^ a b Bandurski, David (August 16, 2023). "Code Pink, Code Red". China Media Project. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
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  20. ^ "The People Speak (2009) - IMDb". www.imdb.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  21. ^ "Rooted in Peace (2016) - IMDb". www.imdb.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-25. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  22. ^ a b "The Square (2013) - IMDb". www.imdb.com. Archived from the original on 2014-01-23. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
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  25. ^ "The Yes Men Are Revolting (2014) - IMDb". www.imdb.com. Archived from the original on 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
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  28. ^ "Always in Season (2019) - IMDb". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2020-03-11. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
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  30. ^ "Press Releases". arts.ca.gov. Archived from the original on 2019-06-19.
  31. ^ "The People's Forum". The People's Forum. Archived from the original on 2020-04-12. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  32. ^ "Board". Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  33. ^ "Board of Directors | Rainforest Action Network". Ran.org. Archived from the original on 2010-04-08. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
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  38. ^ "Sisterhood Is Global Institute". Sigi.org. Archived from the original on 2010-01-21. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
  39. ^ "Women's Media Center". Womensmediacenter.com. 2011-06-17. Archived from the original on 2009-08-03. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
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