Editing Medea Benjamin

{{Short description|American political activist and author (born 1952)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Medea Benjamin
| image              = Medea Benjamin 1.JPG
| image_size         = 
| caption            = 
| birth_name         = Susan Benjamin
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1952|09|10}}
| birth_place        = [[Freeport, New York]], U.S.
| nationality        = American
| education          = [[Tufts University]]<br />[[Columbia University]]<br />[[New School for Social Research]]
| occupation         = Political activist, author
| spouse             = [[Kevin Danaher (activist)|Kevin Danaher]]
| partner            = 
| children           = 2
| parents            = 
| relatives          = 
| signature          = 
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Medea Benjamin''' (born '''Susan Benjamin''' on September 10, 1952) is an American political activist who, along with [[Jodie Evans]] and others, co-founded [[Code Pink]].<ref name="cpab">[http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?list=type&type=3 Code Pink "About Us" page] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212061706/http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?list=type&type=3 |date=February 12, 2008 }}. Retrieved October 4, 2011.</ref> She also co-founded, along with her husband [[Kevin Danaher (activist)|Kevin Danaher]],  the [[fair trade]] advocacy group [[Global Exchange]]. Benjamin was the [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]] nominee in the [[2000 United States Senate election in California]], running under the name Medea Susan Benjamin.

== Early life ==
Medea Benjamin was born Susan Benjamin on September 10, 1952, daughter of Alvin and Rose Benjamin. She grew up in [[Freeport, New York]], on [[Long Island]], and is of Jewish descent. Her father, Alvin Benjamin (1920-2012), was a wealthy real estate developer, president of The Benjamin Companies.<ref>{{cite news|last=Garofoli |first=Joe |url=https://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1026-04.htm |title=S.F. Woman's Relentless March for Peace |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=October 26, 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618045700/http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1026-04.htm |archive-date=June 18, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.benjamindevco.com/founder.html|title=Our Founder|website=The Benjamin Companies}}</ref><ref name="InfluenceWatch">{{cite web|url=https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/benjamin-fund/|title=Benjamin Fund|website=[[InfluenceWatch]]}}</ref>

During her first year at [[Tufts University]], she renamed herself after the [[Greek mythology|Greek mythological]] character [[Medea]]. [[Samuel Moyn]] wrote that Benjamin "liked how the name sounded, and she had heard a [[feminist]] interpretation of the Greek tragedy suggesting that Medea had never killed her children and was only blamed for it by [[patriarchal]] [[tradition]]s".<ref name="moyn2021">{{cite book |last=Moyn |first=Samuel |title=Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War |publisher=[[Picador]] |date=2021|isbn=9781250858719}}</ref>{{rp|268}}

She also joined the [[Students for a Democratic Society]].  Later she dropped out of school and [[hitchhike]]d through Europe and Africa, teaching English classes to earn money. She later returned to the United States and received master's degrees in public health from [[Columbia University]] and in economics from [[The New School]]. Benjamin worked for ten years as an [[economist]] and [[nutritionist]] in Latin America and Africa for the [[United Nations]] [[Food and Agriculture Organization]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.codepink.org/medea_benjamin|title=Medea Benjamin|newspaper=Codepink|access-date=2017-01-26}}</ref> the [[World Health Organization]], the [[Swedish International Development Agency]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalexchange.org/blogs/peopletopeople/author/medea/|title=People to People Blog|website=People to People Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-13}}</ref> and the [[Institute for Food and Development Policy]].{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

== Career ==

=== Organizations ===
[[File:Medea Benjamin 5.jpg|250px|thumbnail|right|Benjamin speaking at a Code Pink rally in 2004.]]
In 1988, with her husband, [[Kevin Danaher (activist)|Kevin Danaher]], and Kirsten Moller, Benjamin co-founded the San Francisco-based [[Global Exchange]], which [[advocate]]s [[fair trade]] alternatives to what she describes as corporate globalization. In 2002, with [[Jodie Evans]] and others, she co-founded the [[feminism|feminist]] [[anti-war]] group [[Code Pink: Women for Peace]], which advocated for an end to the [[Iraq War]], the prevention of future wars, and [[social justice]]. Benjamin has been involved with the anti-war organization [[United for Peace and Justice]].

She later created the Occupation Watch Center in [[Baghdad]] (IOWC) to monitor the United States military, and the war's effect on civilian populations. Through this center, she brought U.S. military family members to see the  conditions under which enlisted personnel served, and to speak out against the war, in Congress and at the [[United Nations]], in 2003.<ref name="Peace Memorial">{{cite web |url=http://www.uspeacememorial.org/Registry.htm |title=US Peace Registry: Individuals |publisher=US Peace Memorial |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref>

She is a member of the Board of Directors of [[Liberty Tree]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberty Tree Foundation for the Democratic Revolution|url=https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/liberty-tree-foundation-for-the-democratic-revolution/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314165008/https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/liberty-tree-foundation-for-the-democratic-revolution/|archive-date=March 14, 2024|website=[[InfluenceWatch]]|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Politics ===
In 2000, Benjamin [[2000 United States Senate election in California|ran]] as a [[Green Party of California|Green Party]] candidate challenging [[incumbent]] [[List of United States Senators from California|US Senator from California]], [[Dianne Feinstein]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Nieves|first=Evelyn|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/07/us/2000-campaign-greens-this-time-nader-promises-it-s-serious-run-for-president.html|title=The 2000 Campaign: The Greens; This Time, Nader Promises, It's a Serious Run for President|work=The New York Times|date=March 7, 2000|access-date=March 16, 2020}}</ref> She advocated a [[living wage]], [[universal healthcare]] and delaying [[Genetically modified food|genetically engineered foods]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Nolde|first=Haley|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2000/07/out-streets-senate/|title=Out of the Streets, Into the Senate?|work=Mother Jones|date=July 20, 2000|access-date=March 16, 2020}}</ref> During the campaign, Benjamin and her Republican rival [[Tom Campbell (California politician)|Tom Campbell]] participated in joint events, including a joint press conference, touting their opposition to Feinstein (but also disagreeing with each other on many issues).<ref>{{cite news|last=Krikorian|first=Greg|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-20-mn-7551-story.html|title=Political Rivals Join Forces in Race to Unseat Feinstein|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 20, 2000|access-date=March 16, 2020}}</ref> Benjamin garnered 99,716 votes, 74%, in the Green Party primary,<ref>[http://sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2000_primary/us_senate_summary.pdf Link to primary results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814132943/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2000_primary/us_senate_summary.pdf |date=August 14, 2008 }}, [[California Secretary of State]].</ref> and 326,828 votes, 3.08% of the general election total ballots.<ref>[http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2000_general/us_sen.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127065046/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2000_general/us_sen.pdf|date=November 27, 2007}}</ref> Since then she has remained active in the Green Party and has also supported efforts by the Progressive Democrats of America.<ref name="Orgs 1">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0723-09.htm 
 |title=An Open Letter to Progressives: Vote Kerry and Cobb 
 |date=July 23, 2004 
 |last1=Benjamin|first1=Medea
 |last2=Coyote|first2=Peter|author2-link=Peter Coyote
 |last3=Eder|first3=John|author3-link=John Eder
 |last4=Ellsberg|first4=Daniel|author4-link=Daniel Ellsberg
 |publisher=[[CommonDreams]] 
 |display-authors=etal 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050215162318/http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0723-09.htm 
 |archive-date=February 15, 2005 
 |df=mdy 
}}</ref><ref name="Orgs 2">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.progressivevote.org/articles/events/summit-2005-benjamin.php
 |title=Medea Benjamin to Speak at Summit 2005 
 |access-date=September 1, 2006 
 |publisher=Progressive Democrats of America 
 |url-status=usurped
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114003122/http://www.progressivevote.org/articles/events/summit-2005-benjamin.php 
 |archive-date=January 14, 2006 
 |df=mdy 
}}</ref>

In 2015, the Green Party created a [[shadow cabinet]], naming Benjamin as the shadow Secretary of State.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://greenshadowcabinet.us/members|title=Green Shadow Cabinet Members|access-date=2015-04-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330010626/http://greenshadowcabinet.us/members|archive-date=March 30, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

== Protest actions ==
[[File:Medea Benjamin at 2007 State of the Union protest.jpg|right|thumb|Benjamin speaks at a rally during the [[2007 State of the Union Address]] in Washington, D.C.]]
From 2002 to 2009, Benjamin engaged in numerous protests involving members of the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] (Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]]; President [[George W. Bush]]; Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]]); [[Iraqi Prime Minister]] [[Nouri al-Maliki]], and others. Benjamin engaged in protest actions at the [[2004 Democratic National Convention]] and the [[2004 Republican National Convention]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thinkprogress.org/2006/07/26/maliki-protest/|title=VIDEO: Maliki Speech Interrupted By War Protester |publisher=Think Progress Blog|date=July 26, 2006}}</ref> On December 4, 2007, she was arrested by plainclothes police in [[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]], detained by the [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] for eight hours, and deported after protesting the [[house arrest]] of lawyers (including [[Aitzaz Ahsan]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/1204-08.htm  |title=Update: US peace activists released  |publisher=[[Common Dreams]].org  |date=December 4, 2007  |url-status=dead  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224123209/http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/1204-08.htm  |archive-date=December 24, 2007  |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9683&Itemid=88|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721222613/http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9683&Itemid=88|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2011|title=Pakistani police arrest activists|publisher=Khabrein.info|date=December 5, 2007}}</ref> In 2009, Benjamin joined the steering committee for the [[Gaza Freedom March]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.egyptindependent.com/gaza-protest-planned-cast-lead-anniversary/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730133316/http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/gaza-protest-planned-cast-lead-anniversary|archive-date=July 30, 2012|url-status=dead|title=Gaza protest planned on Cast Lead anniversary|date=December 5, 2009|website=Egypt Independent}}</ref> In February 2012, Benjamin was arrested and deported<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=323958 |title=Thugs attack police after funeral |newspaper=[[Gulf Daily News]] |date=February 18, 2012}}</ref> for illegal entry to [[Bahrain]] and her participation in an illegal protest.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=323959 |title=Rioters on rampage |newspaper=[[Gulf Daily News]] |date=February 18, 2012}}</ref>

During 2005–2010, she worked to oppose United States threats of a possible impending war with Iran, including lobbying Congress, taking [[peace]] [[delegation]]s to Iran, and bringing Iranian youth to Congress.

Benjamin repeatedly interrupted a major speech by President [[Barack Obama]] regarding United States policy in the [[War on Terror]] at the [[National Defense University (Washington, D.C.)|National Defense University]] on May 23, 2013.<ref name="Medea Benjamin v. President Obama">{{cite web |url= http://www.democracynow.org/2013/5/24/medea_benjamin_v_president_obama_codepink|title= Medea Benjamin v. President Obama|website= [[Democracy Now!]]|date= May 24, 2013|access-date=May 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name=business_insider_obama_speech_heckle>{{cite web |first=Brett |last=LoGiurato |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-heckled-guantanamo-bay-heckler-protester-2013-5 |title=Here's The Protester Who Heckled Obama in the Middle of His Big Speech on Terrorism |website=[[Business Insider]] |date=May 23, 2013 |access-date=March 29, 2015}}</ref> After Benjamin was removed for her actions, President Obama then went off script. "The voice of that woman is worth paying attention to," he said. "Obviously I do not agree with much of what she said. And obviously she wasn't listening to me and much of what I said. But these are tough issues. And the suggestion that we can gloss over them is wrong." Benjamin responded by telling [[The Daily Beast]], "If he had indeed made significant policy changes, I wasn't going to say anything. I would have preferred that option, but given that he didn't make those kind of changes I was looking for, I was glad to be given the opportunity to speak out."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/24/medea-benjamin-the-woman-who-heckled-obama.html#sthash.r8nEIp1d.dpuf|title=Medea Benjamin, the Woman Who Heckled Obama, Is Not Sorry|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|access-date=November 20, 2014}}</ref>

On July 21, 2016, Benjamin [[heckle]]d [[Donald Trump]]'s acceptance speech at the [[2016 Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]] with a sign that read "Build bridges not walls".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gupta|first1=Prachi|title=Meet the 63-Year-Old Woman Who Crashed Donald Trump's Speech at the RNC|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/news/a61683/code-pink-medea-benjamin-rnc-trump-speech/|work=[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]|access-date=July 22, 2016|date=July 22, 2016}}</ref>

She joined other activists on the [[2024 Gaza freedom flotilla]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Benjamin |first1=Medea |title=Opinion {{!}} Will the Freedom Flotilla Sail to Gaza? {{!}} Common Dreams |url=https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/will-freedom-flotilla-sail-gaza |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=www.commondreams.org |language=en}}</ref>

== Organization efforts ==
=== Labor rights and corporate responsibility ===
During the 1990s, Benjamin focused on countering what she believed was un[[fair trade]] as promoted by the [[World Trade Organization]]. She participated in an [[anti-sweatshop movement]], initiating campaigns against Nike and clothing companies such as the GAP. In 1999, Benjamin helped expose the problem of [[indentured servitude]] among [[garment worker]]s in the United States territory of [[Saipan]] (the Marianas Islands), which led to a billion-dollar lawsuit against 17 United States retailers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goodman|first1=Amy|last2=Benjamin|first2=Medea|url=http://www.democracynow.org/2000/4/3/medea_benjamin_runs_for_u_s |title=Medea Benjamin Runs for U.S. Senate on Green Party Line |publisher=Democracy Now |date=April 3, 2000 |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=February 2016}} In 1999, she produced the documentary ''Sweating for a T-Shirt'' about the sweatshop industry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yorku.ca/laps/soci/video/videos/sweating.html |title=Sweating for a t-shirt |publisher=The Sociology Video Project |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref>

During the World Trade Organization meeting in [[Seattle]] in December 1999, Benjamin's organization, [[Global Exchange]], helped organize the [[1999 Seattle WTO protests]].<ref name=Bogardus>Bogardus, Keven (September 22, 2004). [http://projects.publicintegrity.org/oil/report.aspx?aid=383 Venezuela Head Polishes Image With Oil Dollars: President Hugo Chavez takes his case to America's streets.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004222044/http://projects.publicintegrity.org/oil//report.aspx?aid=383 |date=October 4, 2011 }} [[Center for Public Integrity]]. Retrieved February 22, 2010.</ref>

In 2000, she helped a campaign to pressure [[Starbucks]] to carry [[fair trade coffee]] in all their cafes. In October 2000, Starbucks introduced whole bean Fair Trade Certified coffee at more than 2,300 stores.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalexchange.org/fairtrade/coffee/starbucks |title=Starbucks Campaign |publisher=Global Exchange |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref>

For 2001, Benjamin focused on California's [[energy crisis]], assisting low-income ratepayers and small businesses. She headed a [[coalition]] of [[consumer]], [[Environmentalism|environmental]], union and business leaders working for clean and affordable power under public control.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wimnonline.org/WIMNsVoicesBlog/?author=7&profile |title=Medea Benjamin |publisher=WIMN's Voices |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref>

In September 2003, Benjamin was in [[Cancún]], Mexico challenging the policies of the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO) and in November, she was in Miami protesting the proposed [[Free Trade Area of the Americas]] (FTAA) while trying to bring attention to global peace and economic justice movements.<ref name="globalexchange1">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalexchange.org/events/speaker/medea-benjamin |title=Medea Benjamin |publisher=Global Exchange |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref>

After several fact-finding visits to China, Benjamin co-sponsored with the [[International Labor Rights Fund]] an initiative to improve the labor and environmental practices of United States multinationals in China. The ensuring [[Human Rights]] Principles for US Businesses in China have been endorsed by major companies such as [[Cisco]], [[Intel]], [[Reebok]], [[Levi Strauss]] and [[Mattel]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fresnostatenews.com/archive/2002/April/Activist.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104744/http://www.fresnostatenews.com/archive/2002/April/Activist.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-04-02 |title=Activist, Green Party Candidate to Speak at Middle East forum on Wednesday |newspaper=Fresno State News |date=April 2002 |access-date=January 10, 2013 }}</ref>

=== Israel-Palestine ===
{{Update section|date=April 2025}}
In 2006, Benjamin organized humanitarian aid for war refugees in Lebanon and spoke out against Israeli bombing. In 2008 during the [[Gaza War (2008–2009)|Gaza War]] and Israeli invasion of [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]], she organized a daily protest at the hotel where President-elect Barack Obama was staying, and then visited Gaza to see the immediate effects of the bombing. She brought humanitarian aid and helped put together six other delegations to Gaza. She was one of the lead organizers of the [[Gaza Freedom March]], where 1,350 people from dozens of countries came together in Cairo to try to march to Gaza. Benjamin criticized the United States government for passing legislation to send Israel $3 billion in aid, lobbied Congress and sailed on the U.S. Flotilla to Gaza in November 2011. Days after Israel launched its [[Pillar of Defense]] operation targeting sites in Gaza during November 2012, Benjamin led a delegation to deliver medical supplies to the Shifa hospital and the Palestinian [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Crescent]] in Gaza.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.codepink4peace.org/section.php?id=478 |title=Codepink: Support Gaza! |publisher=Codepink4peace.org |access-date=January 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124125149/http://www.codepink4peace.org/section.php?id=478 |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref> She also helped to organize an annual gathering in Washington, D.C., with the objective of exposing the "negative influence" of the United States lobby group [[American-Israel Public Affairs Committee]] (AIPAC).{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

In January 2018, it was announced that activists from 20 American groups, including Code Pink, were banned from entering Israel because of their support for the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] (BDS) movement.<ref>{{cite news|last=Benjamin|first=Meda|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/15/i-am-american-jewish-and-banned-from-israel-for-my-activism|title=I am American, Jewish and banned from Israel for my activism|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=January 15, 2020|access-date=March 16, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Algemeiner Journal|The Algemeiner]]'' reported in April 2014 that Benjamin's charitable foundation, which was worth $12&nbsp;million, had shareholdings in [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]], a company targeted by the BDS movement, as well as the oil company [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]] and the tobacco conglomerate [[Altria|Phillip Morris]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Levitt|first=Joshua|url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2014/04/11/major-bds-donor-owned-shares-of-caterpillar-while-campaigning-to-divest-the-stock-to-punish-israel/|title=Major BDS Donor Owned Shares of Caterpillar While Campaigning to Divest the Stock to Punish Israel|work=The Algemeiner|date=April 11, 2014|access-date=March 16, 2020}}</ref>

In November 2023, Benjamin conducted an [[ambush interview]] with US Senator [[Marco Rubio]], and asked him if he would "call for a ceasefire in Gaza." Rubio responded "No I will not. On the contrary, … I want Israel to destroy every element of [[Hamas]] they can get their hands on."<ref>{{cite news|title='Make Sure You Post That!' Marco Rubio Gets Right In Activists' Faces When They Try To Ambush Him Into Calling For Ceasefire|url=https://www.mediaite.com/news/make-sure-you-post-that-marco-rubio-gets-right-in-activists-faces-when-they-try-to-ambush-him-into-calling-for-ceasefire/|first=Caleb| last= Howe| date=November 30, 2023|publisher=[[Mediaite]]}}</ref>

=== Iraq ===
After the United States [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invaded Iraq in 2003]], she created the Occupation Watch Center in Baghdad<ref name="globalexchange1" /> to monitor the United States military and the war's effect on civilian populations. Through this center she brought Iraqi women to the United States to speak about the occupation, organized delegations of U.S. military family members to see the conditions of their children serving in Iraq, and documented United States abuses, including at [[Abu Ghraib prison]] before the scandal involving it broke in the United States media. She also organized medical aid delegations to Iraq to civilians harmed by the United States military.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} She testified in Congress and the United Nations against the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/magazine/03Hillary-t.html|title=Hillary Rodham Clinton - Elections - Democratic Party - Jeff Gerth - Don Van Natta Jr.|last1=Gerth|first1=Jeff|date=2007-05-29|last2=Natta|first2=Don Van Jr.|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2017-01-26}}</ref>

In 2005, she was involved in the Hammering Halliburton campaign which was concerned with the abuses of United States military contractors such as [[Halliburton]], the goal of which was to expose the awarding of corrupt no-bid contracts to corporations with close ties to the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]]. Along with this, Benjamin also exposed [[Blackwater Worldwide]]'s illegal activities, including protests at the headquarters of the International Association of War Contractors. She was arrested outside the home of Blackwater's CEO.<ref name="Peace Memorial"/>

In opposition to indefinite detention in [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp|Guantanamo]], in 2007, Benjamin organized a delegation of prisoners' family members to Guantanamo Naval Base prison camp in Cuba, demanding its closing.<ref>{{cite web|last=Glantz |first=Aaron |url=http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0109-03.htm |title=On Guantanamo Prison Camp's Fifth Birthday, New Pressure to Shut It Down |publisher=Common Dreams |date=January 9, 2007 |access-date=January 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927041643/http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0109-03.htm |archive-date=September 27, 2012 }}</ref> In 2007 as well, she continued to protest weekly outside the Justice Department concerning water boarding and indefinite detention, and called for the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} She was arrested many times for protests in Congressional hearings.

On October 31, 2009, Benjamin led a group of Code Pink protestors at a protest aimed at military families queued up for a White House Halloween Party hosted by President Obama and First Lady [[Michelle Obama]].<ref name="Code Pink Press Release">{{Cite web|url=http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=5147|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019150739/http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=5147|url-status=dead|title=Code Pink Press Release, accessed 14 Nov 09|archive-date=October 19, 2014}}</ref> The event raised controversy when a Reuters News photo showing the protesters (dressed as wounded soldiers), including one identified as Benjamin, were described as "taunting" the children.<ref name="Reuters photo & blog">{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/gbu/2009/11/02/taunting-children/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105204712/http://blogs.reuters.com/gbu/2009/11/02/taunting-children/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2009|title=Taunting children?|first=Robert|last=Basler|date=November 2, 2009}}</ref>

=== Drones ===
In 2009, Benjamin began her efforts to bring attention to the effects of [[Drone attacks in Pakistan|drone warfare]], participating in demonstrations at United States bases where drones are piloted and at headquarters of drone manufacturers. On April 28, 2012, in Washington, D.C., she was responsible for organizing the first International Drone Summit with lawyers, scientists, academics, and activists to kick off an international campaign to rein in the use of drones in the U.S. and abroad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.droneswatch.org |title=Drones Watch |access-date=November 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217071827/http://droneswatch.org/ |archive-date=December 17, 2014 |df=mdy }}</ref>

On April 30, 2012, Benjamin interrupted a speech on United States counterterrorism strategy given by [[John O. Brennan|John Brennan]] at the [[Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars|Woodrow Wilson Center]], to ask about civilians casualties of US [[Drone attacks in Pakistan|drone strikes in Pakistan]], [[Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa#Drone attacks|Somalia]], and [[Terrorism in Yemen#US air attacks|Yemen]].<ref>{{cite web|title='Shame on You': Why I interrupted Obama counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan |url=http://mondoweiss.net/2012/05/shame-on-you-why-i-interrupted-obama-counter-terrorism-adviser-john-brennan.html |last=Benjamin |first=Medea |date=May 2, 2012 |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713021938/http://mondoweiss.net/2012/05/shame-on-you-why-i-interrupted-obama-counter-terrorism-adviser-john-brennan.html |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>

In October 2012, she organized a 34-person delegation to Pakistan to protest U.S. drone warfare. While in Pakistan she allegedly met with drone victims, family members, lawyers, academics, women's groups, and Pakistani leaders, as well as the [[U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?id=6174 |title=Codepink Peace Delegation to Pakistan |publisher=Codepink4peace.org |access-date=January 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209210943/http://codepink4peace.org//article.php?id=6174 |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref> The delegation made international headlines when they joined a [[Imran Khan#Rally in South Waziristan|caravan to Waziristan]] organized by prominent political leader and former [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistani cricket]] captain [[Imran Khan]], a staunch opponent of American involvement in Pakistan. (See [[CNN]] video,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3u1wAJt1mo  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/u3u1wAJt1mo |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=CNN Coverage of Codepink Stop Drones Delegation in Pakistan |date=October 8, 2012 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=January 10, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'',<ref>{{cite news|last=McDonald |first=Mark |url=http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/u-s-peace-activists-in-pakistan-decry-drone-strikes/ |title=Western Peace Activists Protest in Pakistan Against Drone Strikes |newspaper=International Herald Tribune |date=October 7, 2012 |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Leiby|first= Richard |url=http://codepink.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=6rAg2DAPQld%2B7zqnP6AwUH8FRTBsqRFh |title=Imran Khan and Codepink blocked from tribal area |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 7, 2012 |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> [[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://codepink.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2B6WyipnBrfKVCQzEaLXnm38FRTBsqRFh |title=Medea Benjamin interviewed on Al Jazeera about Codepink Delegation in Pakistan |publisher=Drones Watch |date=October 8, 2012 |access-date=January 10, 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> the [[BBC]], and more than 100 major news outlets,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://codepink.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=XAHM%2B%2BCkt%2BWTlPPm%2B9Fwfn8FRTBsqRFh |title=Pakistan Delegation News |publisher=Code Pink |access-date=January 10, 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> September 28 – October 14, 2012). She also organized a public fast in [[Islamabad]] in sympathy with alleged drone victims.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/21/codepinks_medea_benjamin_brings_voices_of|title=Codepink's Medea Benjamin Brings Voices of Pakistani Drone Victims to Obama's Inauguration|website=Democracy Now!|access-date=2017-01-26}}</ref>

In 2012, she authored ''Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control'', published by [[OR Books]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://codepink.org/article.php?id=6064 |title=NEW Book: Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control |publisher=Code Pink |access-date=January 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108033455/http://codepink.org/article.php?id=6064 |archive-date=January 8, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref> and toured the country speaking out against drone warfare.

=== Other campaigns ===
As part of Code Pink's mission, Benjamin helped organize many [[International Women's Day]] Marches and [[Mother's Day (United States)|Mother's Day]] Calls for Peace, the latter to bring back the original intent of Mother's Day as women mobilizing against war. These included bringing women from war torn countries such as [[Iraq]], [[Palestine]] and [[Afghanistan]] to the U.S. to speak about their experiences. Between 2003 and 2010, Benjamin helped organized anti-war mass mobilizations in Washington, D.C., New York City and San Francisco.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

Benjamin organized the campaign Bring Our War Dollars Home,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bringourwardollarshome.org/index.html |title=Bring Our War $$ Home |publisher=Bringourwardollarshome.org |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> which fought to divert money from [[the Pentagon]] into social programs at home.

=== WTO protest violence ===
During the 1999 [[anti-globalization movement]] [[1999 Seattle WTO protests|protests]] against the [[WTO]] in [[Seattle]], a quote from Benjamin was published by the ''[[New York Times]]'', which implied that she was calling for the arrest of those who destroyed property during the protests. Benjamin later clarified that, while she did not approve of the tactics of destroying property, she did not want the arrest of those responsible.<ref name="Quote 2">{{cite web |url=http://www.zmag.org/benjamin.htm |title=Window-Smashing Hurt Our Cause |first=Medea |last=Benjamin |publisher=[[ZMag]] |access-date=September 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20070807070111/http://www.zmag.org/benjamin.htm |archive-date=August 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy}}</ref>

=== Anybody But Bush ===
Benjamin has been criticized by some Greens for her support for "Anybody But Bush" in 2004. Explaining why she supported this movement, she said that "maybe it's time for the people who voted for Bush in 2000, the people who didn't vote at all in 2000, and yes, people like myself who voted for [[Ralph Nader]] in 2000, to admit our mistakes. I'll say mine&nbsp;— I had no idea that [[George W. Bush|George Bush]] would be such a disastrous president. Had I known then what I know now, and had I lived in a swing state, I would have voted for [[Al Gore|Gore]] instead of Ralph Nader."<ref name="Quote 3">{{cite web |url=http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1011-29.htm |title=Bush Can't Admit Mistakes, But We Can |first=Medea |last=Benjamin |date=October 11, 2004 |publisher=CommonDreams |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050718080458/http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1011-29.htm |archive-date=July 18, 2005 |df=mdy }}</ref>

Todd Chretien, a member of the [[International Socialist Organization]], responded:
{{blockquote|Medea Benjamin&nbsp;... and many other liberal and [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] leaders tell us that a [[John Kerry|Kerry]] regime "would be less dangerous" than Bush&nbsp;... But, even ''if'' Kerry is "less dangerous", he will be ''more'' capable of wreaking havoc on Iraq, Palestine, Venezuela, abortion, gay rights, civil rights and unions ''if'' we sacrifice our political movement to getting behind him&nbsp;... any movement that ever aims to win, must learn to stand up for itself precisely when it is darkest.<ref name="Quote 4">{{cite magazine
|url=http://www.counterpunch.org/2004/07/26/believing-in-a-green-resistance/
|title=Believing in a Green Resistance: A Reply to Norman Solomon & Medea Benjamin
|author=Todd Chretien
|magazine=[[CounterPunch]]
|date=July 26, 2004
|access-date=March 29, 2015
}}</ref>}}

=== Views on United States involvement in the Middle East ===
Benjamin writes in ''[[HuffPost|The Huffington Post]]'' that the U.S. needs to end [[military interventionism]] and that the "U.S. military should close all foreign military bases and use our soldiers to protect us here at home."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/medea-benjamin/10-steps-to-wean-us-foreign-policy-off-militarism_b_7950638.html |title=10 Steps to Wean U.S. Foreign Policy Off Militarism |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date= August 6, 2015 |first=Medea |last=Benjamin}}</ref>

Benjamin also writes in ''The Huffington Post'' that the United States never had any "justification for invading Iraq", that there is no "justification for continuing the war in Afghanistan", and that in Pakistan, the United States "drone attacks are only fueling the violence and creating more [[Osama bin Laden]]s". Regarding the [[killing of bin Laden]], she says: "Let us not sink into a false sense of triumphalism in the wake of Bin Laden's passing."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/medea-benjamin/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-l_b_856408.html |title=Osama Bin Laden Is Dead; Let the Peace Begin |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date= July 2, 2011|access-date=August 25, 2011 |first=Medea |last=Benjamin}}</ref>

=== Arrest In Egypt ===
On March 3, 2014, Benjamin was arrested in [[Egypt]]. She had flown there en route to participating in a women's conference in the Palestinian territory of [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]]. Upon her arrival at [[Cairo International Airport]], Benjamin was detained by airport police and held overnight, during which time she said she was assaulted by police officers, resulting in a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder. She was later deported to Turkey. Questions arose regarding the role of the United States Embassy in her detention, as embassy spokesman Mofid Deak said that Benjamin left the country following assistance from the embassy, while Code Pink's Alli McCracken said the embassy did not help Benjamin.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-activist-codepink-co-founder-medea-benjamin-says-egypt-police-have-broken-her-arm-in-jail/|title=U.S. activist, Codepink co-founder Medea Benjamin held overnight in Egypt jail, claims abuse|date=March 4, 2014|publisher=CBS News |access-date=November 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/05/world/middleeast/medea-benjamin-cairo-airport.html | work=The New York Times | first=David D. | last=Kirkpatrick | title=U.S. Activist Says Egyptian Police Assaulted Her | date=March 4, 2014}}</ref>

=== Venezuela ===
In 2006, Benjamin said that it was a myth that [[President of Venezuela|Venezuelan President]] [[Hugo Chávez]] had limited freedom of speech and eroded civil rights in Venezuela. In May 2007, Benjamin appeared as a guest on talk-show host [[Tucker Carlson]]'s show, which was then part of [[MSNBC]]'s schedule. Carlson criticized Benjamin for her statement and asked her: "Do you want to revise that given the news that Hugo Chávez has closed the last nationally broadcast opposition television station for criticizing him?" Benjamin replied that Chávez had not renewed the license of [[RCTV]] because the station "participated in a coup against a democratically elected government, his [Chavez's] government". Benjamin also said: "[[Peru]] recently did not renew a license. [[Uruguay]] didn't renew a license. Why do you hold Venezuela to a different standard?"<ref name="Carlson">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna18941438|date=May 30, 2007|title='Tucker' for May 29|work=[[NBC News]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|archive-date=December 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213162100/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/18941438|url-status=live}}</ref>

Carlson responded that a 360-page Venezuelan government-published book accused RCTV of showing lack of respect for authorities and institutions. Carlson asked Benjamin: "I would think, as a self-described liberal, you would stand up for the right of people to 'challenge authorities and institutions.' And yet you are apologizing for the squelching of minority views. Why could that be?" Benjamin replied: "They [RCTV] falsified information. They got people out on the street. They falsified footage that showed pro-Chavez supporters killing people, which did not happen. They refuse to cover any of the pro-Chavez demonstrations."<ref name="Carlson" />

In January 2019, in a ''[[Democracy Now!]]'' interview, Benjamin said she was against "US intervention in Venezuela", which had the potential to "create a civil war leading to tremendous violence".<ref>{{cite news |title=CodePink's Medea Benjamin Disrupts Pompeo Speech to Denounce U.S. Regime Change Agenda in Venezuela |url=https://www.democracynow.org/2019/1/25/codepinks_medea_benjamin_disrupts_pompeo_speech |access-date=14 November 2019 |publisher=Democracy Now |date=25 January 2019}}</ref>

In April and May 2019, Benjamin was part of an "Embassy Protection Collective" formed by groups that include CodePink, [[ANSWER Coalition]], [[Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign|Poor People's Army]], [[People's Power Assembly]], [[Revolutionary Alliance]] and [[Kevin Zeese|Popular Resistance]], which occupied the [[Embassy of Venezuela, Washington, D.C.|Venezuelan Embassy in Washington]]. Benjamin said the group had the permission of the Maduro government to stay in the embassy.<ref name="t582">{{cite web | agency=Associated Press | title=Police arrest activists squatting in Venezuelan Embassy | website=POLITICO | date=16 May 2019 | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/16/venezuelan-embassy-activists-arrested-1328561 | access-date=6 February 2025}}</ref><ref name="p851">{{cite web | last=Adrienne Winston | first=Eli Watkins | title=CNN Politics | website=CNN | date=14 May 2019 | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/13/politics/venezuelan-embassy-washington-dc/index.html | access-date=6 February 2025}}</ref><ref name="f211">{{cite news | last=Lang | first=Marissa J. | title=Venezuelan Embassy goes dark as standoff intensifies on streets of Washington | newspaper=Washington Post | date=9 May 2019 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/venezuelan-embassy-goes-dark-as-standoff-intensifies-on-streets-of-washington/2019/05/09/e6263124-7272-11e9-9eb4-0828f5389013_story.html | access-date=6 February 2025}}</ref>

==Awards and accolades==
In 2010, Benjamin received the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Prize from the [[Fellowship of Reconciliation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://codepink.org/article.php?id=51 |title=Founders & Staff: Medea Benjamin |publisher=Code Pink |access-date=January 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209152341/http://www.codepink.org/article.php?id=51 |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref> In 2012, she won the Marjorie Kellogg National Peacemaker Award and the [[Thomas Merton Center Peace Award]]. Also in 2012, she was awarded [[The US Peace Prize]] "in recognition of her creative leadership on the front lines of the antiwar movement".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uspeacememorial.org/PEACEPRIZE.htm |title=Medea Benjamin Awarded 2012 Peace Prize |publisher=US Peace Memorial |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> In 2014, she received the [[Gandhi Peace Award]] from [[Promoting Enduring Peace]] "to honor her for her unyielding advocacy for social justice of more than 30 years".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://peacenews.org/2014/02/medea-benjamin-receive-2014-gandhi-peace-award-peacenews-org/|title=Medea Benjamin to Receive the 2014 Gandhi Peace Award |work=peacenews.org|access-date=November 20, 2014}}</ref>

In 2003, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' described her as "one of the high profile leaders" of the peace movement.<ref name="LAtimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-27-war-medea27-story.html|title=Devotion to Life of Political Activism in Family's Blood|newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=February 21, 2016}}</ref>

==Controversies==
In 2014, Benjamin attended the second annual New Horizon conference in [[Tehran]], which hosted several fascists and Holocaust deniers. The [[Anti-Defamation League]] criticized Benjamin for attending the conference. Benjamin responded saying she was "uncomfortable" with many of the attendees but learned a lot and had nothing to apologize for.<ref name="Anti-Defamation League 2014">{{cite web | title=Iranian Hatefest Promotes Anti-Semitism, Draws Holocaust Deniers and U.S. Anti-Israel Activists | website=Anti-Defamation League | date=2014-10-01 | url=https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/iranian-hatefest-promotes-anti-semitism-draws-holocaust-deniers-and-us-anti | access-date=2024-03-14}}</ref><ref name="Tablet Magazine 2014">{{cite web | first=Todd | last=Gitlin | author-link=Todd Gitlin | title=Why Would a Famous Peace Activist Fly to Iran With Sept. 11 Truthers and Other Crackpots? | website=Tablet Magazine | date=2014-10-14 | url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/israel-middle-east/articles/medea-benjamin-iran | access-date=2022-01-28}}</ref><ref name="Gray 2014">{{cite web | last=Gray | first=Rosie | title=Antiwar Activists, 9/11 Truthers Gather In Tehran For Anti-Zionist Conference | website=BuzzFeed News | date=2014-10-01 | url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rosiegray/antiwar-activists-911-truthers-gather-in-tehran-for-anti-zio | access-date=2022-01-28}}</ref><ref name="Gray 2014b">{{cite web | last=Gray | first=Rosie | title=U.S. Journalist Regrets Attending Conspiracy Conference In Tehran | website=BuzzFeed News | date=2014-10-06 | url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rosiegray/us-journalist-regrets-attending-conspiracy-conference-in-teh | access-date=2022-01-28}}</ref>

[[Peter Camejo]] claims that, at the 2004 [[Green Party of the United States]] national convention, a supermajority of members had voted for endorsing the [[Ralph Nader|Nader]]-Camejo ticket, but a conspiracy involving Benjamin caused a slight majority of delegates to instead endorse the [[David Cobb 2004 presidential campaign|Cobb-LaMarche]] ticket.<ref>{{cite book |title=North Star: A Memoir |first1=Pedro |last1=Camejo |author1-link=Peter Camejo |date=2010 |publisher=Haymarket Books| page=275}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Benjamin has been married twice.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=1999-04-22|title=Students Give Sweatshop Fight the College Try|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-22-fi-29862-story.html|access-date=2020-12-31|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|quote=“It was horrible,” said Arlen Benjamin-Gomez}}</ref> Her second marriage is to activist [[Kevin Danaher (activist)|Kevin Danaher]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2003-03-27|title=Devotion to Life of Political Activism in Family's Blood|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-27-war-medea27-story.html|access-date=2020-12-21|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> She has two daughters, Maya Danaher and Arlen Gomez, who respectively serve as treasurer and secretary of the Benjamin Fund, an organization for which she serves as president.<ref name="InfluenceWatch"/>

Benjamin lives in [[Washington, D.C.]], and in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jay|first1=Paul|title=Obama Sucked the Steam Out of the Anti-War Movement - Medea Benjamin on Reality Asserts Itself|url=http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=11495|access-date=22 April 2016|agency=The Real News Network|date=17 February 2014|archive-date=May 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508050052/http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=11495|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lacy|first=Akela|date=2020-09-25|title=Progressives Wrestle With How to Address Allegations of Mistreatment in San Francisco Race|url=https://theintercept.com/2020/09/25/shahid-buttar-dsa-san-francisco-allegations/|access-date=2020-12-31|website=The Intercept|language=en}}</ref>

== Books ==
* {{cite book | title=Bridging the Global Gap: A Handbook to Linking Citizens of the First and Third Worlds | year=1989 | first1=Medea | last1=Benjamin | first2=Andrea | last2=Freedman | publisher=Global Exchange / Seven Locks Press | isbn=0-932020-73-9}}
* {{cite book | title=No Free Lunch: Food and Revolution in Cuba Today | year=1989 | first1=Medea | last1=Benjamin | first2=Joseph | last2=Collins | first3=Michael | last3=Scott | publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] | isbn=0-935028-52-8}}
* {{cite book | title=Don't Be Afraid, Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks From The Heart: The Story of [[Elvia Alvarado]] | year=1989 | first=Medea | last=Benjamin | publisher=[[Harper Perennial]] | isbn=0-06-097205-X}}
* {{cite book | title=Greening of the Revolution: Cuba's Experiment with Organic Agriculture | year=1995 | first1=Medea | last1=Benjamin | first2=Peter | last2=Rossett | publisher=Ocean Press | isbn=1-875284-80-X}}
* {{cite book | title=Cuba: Talking About Revolution: Conversations with Juan Antonio Blanco | year=1996 | first1=Medea | last1=Benjamin | first2=Juan | last2=Antonio Blanco | publisher=Inner Ocean Publishing | isbn=1-875284-97-4}}
* {{cite book | title=Benedita Da Silva: An Afro-Brazilian Woman's Story of Politics and Love | year=1997 | first1=Medea | last1=Benjamin | first2=Benedita | last2=da Silva | author-link2=Benedita da Silva | first3=Maisa | last3=Mendonca | publisher=[[Institute for Food and Development Policy]] | isbn=0-935028-70-6}}
* {{cite book | title=The Peace Corps and More: 175 Ways to Work, Study and Travel at Home & Abroad | year=1997 | first1=Medea | last1=Benjamin | first2=Miya | last2=Rodolfo-Sioson | publisher=Global Exchange / Seven Locks Press | isbn=0-929765-04-4}}
* {{cite book | title=I, Senator: How, together, we transformed the state of California and the United States | year=2000 | first=Medea | last=Benjamin | publisher=Green Press}}
* {{cite book | title=The Nuts Baked In: My Life as a Fruitcake | year=2003 | first=Medea | last=Benjamin | publisher=Non Compos Press | isbn=978-0451163967}}
* {{cite book | title=How to Stop the Next War Now: Effective Responses to Violence and Terrorism | year=2005 | editor-first1=Medea | editor-last1=Benjamin | editor-first2=Jodie | editor-last2=Evans | publisher=Inner Ocean Publishing | isbn=1-930722-49-4}}<ref name="Peace Memorial"/>
* {{cite book | title=Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control | year=2012 | first=Medea | last=Benjamin | publisher=[[OR Books]] | isbn=978-1-935928-81-2}}
* {{cite book | title=Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S. – Saudi Connection | title-link=Kingdom of the Unjust | year=2016 | first=Medea | last=Benjamin | publisher=OR Books | isbn=978-1-682190-46-3}}
* {{cite book | title= inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran| year=2018 | first=Medea | last=Benjamin | publisher=[[OR Books]]| isbn=978-1-682191-40-8}} 
* {{cite book | title=War in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict | first1=Medea | last1=Benjamin | first2=Nicolas J. S. | last2=Davies | publisher=OR Books | year=2022 | isbn=978-1-68219-371-6}}
* {{cite book | title=NATO: What You Need to Know | first1=Medea | last1=Benjamin | first2=David | last2=Swanson | publisher=OR Books | year=2024 | isbn=978-1682195208}}

==See also==
*[[List of peace activists]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Medea Benjamin}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060222161532/http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?list=type&type=14 Code Pink biographical page]
* {{IMDb name|71337}}
* {{C-SPAN|87691}}

{{Gandhi Peace Award laureates}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamin, Medea}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women writers]]
[[Category:Activists from the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:American anti-war activists]]
[[Category:American anti–Iraq War activists]]
[[Category:American anti–nuclear power activists]]
[[Category:American community activists]]
[[Category:American democracy activists]]
[[Category:American environmentalists]]
[[Category:American feminists]]
[[Category:American foreign policy writers]]
[[Category:American nonviolence advocates]]
[[Category:American political activists]]
[[Category:American political writers]]
[[Category:American women columnists]]
[[Category:American women environmentalists]]
[[Category:American women founders]]
[[Category:American women human rights activists]]
[[Category:American women non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Anti-corporate activists]]
[[Category:Anti-globalization activists]]
[[Category:California Greens]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2000 United States elections]]
[[Category:Consumer rights activists]]
[[Category:Green Party of the United States politicians]]
[[Category:HuffPost writers and columnists]]
[[Category:Jewish American anti-Zionists]]
[[Category:Jewish American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Jewish feminists]]
[[Category:Jewish human rights activists]]
[[Category:Jewish women writers]]
[[Category:People from Long Island]]
[[Category:Writers from the San Francisco Bay Area]]