Editor’s note: This letter is in response to the editorial column printed on Jan. 29.

After reading Ross Beroff’s editorial article, NU Promoting Immoral NGO, I was shocked by the misinformation and confused by his research of CODEPINK. I had the great opportunity to work with CODEPINK in Washington as a Northeastern student for my final co-op.  In the six months of my work as a national coordinator intern, I never felt I was part of what Beroff paints as a hateful, anti-American, anti-Semitic group. CODEPINK is an organization that works alongside people of all backgrounds and stands for justice, equality and freedom.

Mr. Beroff made multiple false allegations, including that CODEPINK supports anti-Semitism and racism. CODEPINK regularly co-sponsors events with groups of all backgrounds, including Jewish Voices for Peace, a group that “opposes anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bigotry and seeks a just solution for Palestinian refugees based on principles established in international law.” Many of CODEPINK’s members and staff are Jewish, including the founder of CODEPINK, Medea Benjamin. CODEPINK challenges states that have been found guilty of human rights violations – including the United States’ ally Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt  and even the United States itself. Challenging the actions of a statedoes not call for the destruction of a nation or its people.

I am deeply concerned that there are Northeastern students such as Mr. Beroff who do not understand the difference between peaceful protesters and hate-mongering KKK members. While Mr. Beroff insists on calling a peace-promoting group like CODEPINK “radical” and “hateful,” his comparison of Northeastern having a co-op with CODEPINK to having a co-op with the KKK is truly a “radical” and “hateful” comparison.

CODEPINK is far from “anti-American.” Promoting peace does not equate to “disrespect[ing] our troops.” In fact, CODEPINK has many members that are veterans, and also regularly works with veteran groups such as Veterans for Peace. Beroff’s false claim that CODEPINK has ties with funds used by insurgents against US Marines is laughable and must be referring to the donation of $600,000 worth of medicine and children’s clothes sent to refugees of Fallujah in 2004.

In the twenty-first century, a time when apathy seems to be at an all-time high, it can take extreme measures to get the public’s attention. CODEPINK may be described as unorthodox, extreme or sometimes “radical”, but it plays an important part in the wheel of democracy and change. At both ends of the political spectrum, social movements, grassroots organizations and activists are often demonized. The negative portrayal of activism in the media is an important tool in maintaining the status quo. If students begin deeming peaceful activists and social movements as hateful and dangerous it will be a truly alarming chapter of United States history.

My work at CODEPINK involved coordinating protests against oppression, organizing public forums addressing police brutality and facilitating a global action day against the use of drones for surveillance and killing. The skills, passion and knowledge that I gained at CODEPINK are representative of the value every Northeastern student hopes to gain while on co-op.

–Anastasia Taylor is a senior international affairs major.