University of Florida Homepage

November 6-7, CODEPINK co-founder Medea Benjamin to speak on drone warfare in Gainesville

10467040_719145041476553_4320364999952836155_oCODEPINK co-founder Medea Benjamin will speak at UF Ustler Hall and Wild Iris Bookstore with new book on drone warfare.

  • Thursday, November 6, 6:30 pm “Empowering Women in the Peace Movement” speaking at University of Florida campus Ustler Hall. Sponsored by UF Women Studies Department, NOW, Vets for Peace, (and others).
  • Friday, November 7, 11 am – 2 pm “Justice In Palestine” discussion at the Mennonite Meeting House, 1236 NW 18th Av, Gainesville, with Students for Justice in Palestine.
  • Friday, November 7, 3 pm- 5pm PROTESTING DRONE WARFARE at Main St. and University Av., downtown Gainesville. Join CodePINK, Vets for Peace, Occupy Gainesville, Students for Justice in Palestine and others for peaceful protest against drone warfare!
  • Friday evening, November 7, 6 pm – 9 pm, “Drone Warfare, Killing by Remote Control” new book by Medea Benjamin discusses her latest book at Wild Iris Bookstore, 22 SE Fifth Avenue.

GAINESVILLE, FL – Increasing alarm is widespread among activists and intellectuals nationwide about the use of killer drones in modern warfare. Medea Benjamin will address this in a presentation of her new book Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control, a comprehensive look at how drones are being used to assassinate people around the world, the legal and moral implications, and how to build a movement to rein in the drones. It also looks at how drones are coming to local police departments, and what that means for our privacy rights.

“In this remarkably cogent and carefully researched book, Medea Benjamin makes it clear that drones are not just another high-tech military trinket,” Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed, wrote about the book. “Drone Warfare sketches out the nightmare possibilities posed by this insane proliferation.”

Drone Warfare explores the growing menace of robotic warfare, with an extensive analysis of who is producing the drones, where they are being used, who “pilots” these unmanned planes, who are the victims and what are the legal and moral implications. In vivid, readable style, the book also looks at what activists, lawyers and scientists are doing to ground the drones, and ways to move forward.

“In reality”, writes Benjamin, “the assassinations we are carrying out via drones will come back to haunt us when others start doing the same thing—to us.”

Benjamin’s talks will take place at Ustler Hall, at 6:30 pm November 6. It is [open to the public and press is welcome.

Benjamin will discuss the Palestinian issue along with students for Justice in Palestine from 11am-2pm, November 7 at the Mennonite Meeting House.

Benjamin will discuss her book, Drone Warfare at Wild Iris Bookstore from 6-9 pm Friday evening, November 7. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information about the book tour, organized by the peace group CODEPINK, please contact Alli at 860-575-5692. Local contact Jacque Betz, 352-514-2557. Photo from Medea Benjamin’s official Facebook page.