Medea Benjamin, co-author of “War in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict,” will come to Fresno State on Dec. 2 as part of her national book tour thanks to Peace Fresno and Fresno State’s support.
During the free event, Benjamin, co-founder of both the women-led peace group CODEPINK and the international human rights organization Global Exchange, will lead a presentation titled “Ukraine War and the Nuclear Threat.”
Fresno State alumnus Ken Hudson, president and co-founder of Peace Fresno, helped organize the book tour’s visit to Fresno State. He spoke with The Collegian about his organization and its interest in sponsoring the event.
“[Peace Fresno is] a group that started after 9/11 because we realized that the U.S. was going to go to war against somebody. Turned out to be Afghanistan and Iraq. We’ve been an anti-war group since then,” Hudson said.
There will be a table at the event with information about the organization where attendees can meet with Peace Fresno representatives.
According to Hudson, Benjamin’s organization, CODEPINK, contacted Peace Fresno’s vice president and presented the offer of sponsoring a presentation as part of the national book tour and the organization “jumped at it.”
Multiple Fresno State departments and programs co-sponsored the event with Peace Fresno, including Africana Studies, Anthropology, Asian American Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Political Science, Sociology and the Ethics Center.
Hudson credited these partnerships with the ability to move from their original venue at a local church to Fresno State’s campus.
“Without them it would be difficult for us to have a venue at Fresno State. It would be extremely costly. But since they are co-sponsors, that allows us to use this venue and provide a space for students to see [Benjamin],” he said.
Benjamin will be using the time on campus to present a recent history and analysis of the Ukraine War and calling on President Joe Biden to use diplomacy to negotiate peace, according to Hudson.
“It’s not this clear dichotomy of good versus evil that we see in the media. It’s much more complex than that, and she will address that,” he said.
The presentation will last 45 minutes, followed by a Q&A with Benjamin and a book signing in the foyer where students will get a chance to meet with the author herself.
Hudson highlighted this opportunity, noting that the event will be open to the general public as well. He said he expects people to show up due to Benjamin’s fame and the relevancy of her book and presentation topic.
“Benjamin is one of America’s leading anti-war activists, and she has been for the past 30 years,” Hudson said.
The event will be held on Friday, Dec. 2, in the Grosse Industrial Tech Building, Room 101, from 12:30-2 p.m.
Parking at the event will be free with the permission code 339413 at the permit dispenser outside the University Police Station on the southeast corner of Barstow and Jackson avenues.
Benjamin’s book, which will be published on Nov. 15, will be available for purchase for $17. The book can also be purchased ahead of time online for $17 plus shipping and taxes with the code “CODEPINK.”
Peace Fresno meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Fresno Center for Nonviolence, which is located across the street from Fresno City College at 1584 N. Van Ness Avenue.
Students and community members interested in joining Peace Fresno can contact Hudson at [email protected].
The next meeting will be four days after the event on Tuesday, Dec. 6