Jodie Evans

Jodie Evans – Life, Activism, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life of Jodie Evans (born September 22, 1954) — American activist, author, and documentary film producer. Learn about her early life, major campaigns (especially co-founding CODEPINK), her philosophy and key quotes.

Introduction

Jodie Evans is an American political activist, author, and documentary film producer known for her peace, social justice, environmental, and feminist work. She is perhaps best known as a co-founder of CODEPINK: Women for Peace, a grassroots movement opposing U.S. wars and militarism. Over decades, Evans has engaged in direct actions, documentary work, political organizing, and leadership roles in various social movements.

Born in 1954, her life has spanned major geopolitical moments — the Cold War, post-9/11 wars, rising global activism — and her work reflects evolving debates on U.S. foreign policy, climate change, and human rights.

Early Life and Family

Jodie Evans was born on September 22, 1954, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Details about her parents, formal schooling, and childhood beyond this early labor engagement are less publicly documented, but that early labor experience often features in her own accounts of how she was drawn into activism.

Youth, Education & Early Career

While specific records of her higher education are not widely cited, Evans’s trajectory shows that she moved from grassroots labor encounters into broader political work. She became involved in California state politics and environmental advocacy.

In California, she served under Governor Jerry Brown in his administration and later managed his 1992 presidential campaign. These roles gave her insight into formal politics alongside her activist work.

Activism, Career & Achievements

Co-founding CODEPINK & Peace/Anti-War Work

In 2002 (or early 2000s), Evans co-founded CODEPINK: Women for Peace, along with Medea Benjamin and others. CODEPINK positions itself as a women-led grassroots organization opposing U.S. military interventions, advocating diplomacy, and redirecting military spending toward social needs.

Through CODEPINK, Evans has participated in numerous protest actions. Some examples:

• She disrupted Sarah Palin’s speech at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

• In 2010, during a Karl Rove book signing, Evans and CODEPINK members tried to make a citizen’s arrest, with Evans charging the stage wearing handcuffs.

• In 2011, she was arrested for disruptive behavior protesting the Koch brothers’ financial backing of Tea Party causes.

• In recent years, Evans has joined climate justice direct actions, including Fire Drill Fridays with Jane Fonda in Washington, D.C., where she was arrested multiple times.

Her activism extends beyond protests: she often travels to conflict zones and leads citizen diplomacy delegations to countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and Gaza, engaging with local civil society and advocating for peaceful solutions.

Documentary & Media Work

Evans has produced, co-produced, or executive produced a range of documentary films that align with her activism. Some notable works:

• The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (she was executive producer)

• The People Speak (based on Howard Zinn’s work)

• The Square (about the Egyptian uprisings)

• This Changes Everything (climate change documentary)

• Other works include Stripped & Teased: Tales from Las Vegas Women, We Are Many, The Brainwashing of My Dad, among others.

Through these media projects, Evans extends her activism into narrative, education, and public awareness.

Organizational Leadership & Boards

Evans serves on or has served on many boards and organizations that reflect her focus on social justice, media, environment, and women’s rights. Examples include:

• Rainforest Action Network (former board chair)

• Women’s Media Center

• Drug Policy Alliance

• Institute for Policy Studies

• She co-founded the People’s Support Foundation, a nonprofit established in 2017 that focuses on peace and justice initiatives.

Evans also was appointed to the California Arts Council by Governor Jerry Brown in 2019.

Controversies and Shifts in Stance

In recent years, Evans’s positions — particularly regarding China — have sparked controversy and scrutiny. In 2023, The New York Times reported on connections between her husband, Neville Roy Singham (whom she married in 2017), and groups associated with the Chinese Communist Party.

This shift has generated debate within activist circles about independence, influence, and consistency of advocacy.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Evans’s activism evolved in tandem with U.S. military interventions (Iraq, Afghanistan), the global climate movement, and rising skepticism toward militarism.

• The founding of CODEPINK came at a time when the anti-war movement in the U.S. was seeking new forms of grassroots mobilization.

• Her documentary works often align with major turning points — e.g. the Pentagon Papers, Arab Spring, climate crisis — capturing moments of collective contestation.

• Her recent alignment with more pro-China stances reflects how global geopolitics have influenced and challenged the consistency of activist movements in the 21st century.

Legacy and Influence

• Activist Bridge Builder: Evans has been a bridge between grassroots direct action and institutional politics (e.g. working in state government, campaign management).

• Media & Narrative Shaper: Her documentaries and authorship help translate activist issues into accessible narratives, contributing to public discourse.

• Mobilizer of Women & Peace Movements: CODEPINK under her leadership has been a high-visibility example of women-led peace activism.

• Controversial Example of Influence Dynamics: Her later associations bring into relief the tensions in activism around funding, ideological alignment, and autonomy.

Her impact lies not just in the protests she has led but in shaping a culture where activism, media, and feminist peace efforts intersect.

Personality, Philosophy & Traits

Evans is often described as passionate, bold, uncompromising, and persistent. She is known to bring energy and willingness to disrupt the status quo. Her strategies often emphasize direct confrontation, symbolic acts, and attention to media narratives.

She speaks frequently about divesting from war economies and building a peace economy, reflecting a philosophy that transformation requires shifting resources, narratives, and institutions.

Evans also places emphasis on “citizen diplomacy” — the idea that ordinary people can engage internationally to foster dialogue and understanding rather than defaulting to militarized responses.

Her willingness to evolve or re-evaluate positions also suggests she sees activism as a living practice rather than rigid ideology.

Famous Quotes of Jodie Evans

Here are a few quotes attributed to her (often via interviews or her writings) that reflect her mindset and guiding principles:

“We demand China stop brutal repression of their women’s human rights defenders.” “I can’t, for the life of me, think of anything … negative to say about China.” (Later remark reflecting her changed stance.) (From her writings and speeches, although harder to pin exact wording, she often emphasizes) “divest from war economies, invest in peace economies.”

Because much of her voice exists in speech, protest, and media commentary, a canonical “collection of quotes” is smaller than for some figures.

Lessons from Jodie Evans

From Evans’s life and work, we can draw several lessons:

1. Start where you’re rooted — Her early labor organizing as a maid shaped her lifelong orientation toward justice.

2. Push boundaries, even institutions — She has moved between protest culture and formal politics, showing activism can live inside and outside systems.

3. Control narrative — Beyond disrupting, she understands the power of media, stories, and representation via film.

4. Stay open but accountable — Her evolving stances (e.g. on China) demonstrate the need to continually interrogate one’s positions and influences.

5. Invest in structural transformation — She often focuses on shifting resources (money, policy) not just raising awareness.

6. Persistence through criticism — Her work has drawn praise and criticism; she underscores that activism often involves pushback and tough debates.

Conclusion

Jodie Evans — born September 22, 1954 — is a significant figure in American activism, especially in anti-war, feminist, and environmental circles. Her trajectory from labor organizing to high-profile protests, political campaign roles, and documentary production offers a multifaceted case in how social change work can unfold across media, institutions, and grassroots mobilization.

While her legacy is still contested (especially given recent political controversies), her impact on how modern activists engage with war, peace, narrative, and protest is undeniable.