CODEPINK: Women for Peace co-founder Medea Benjamin and Iraqi-American Peace and Human Rights activist Raed Jarrar hosted “A Congress Unlike Any Before: A New House Celebration” Thursday night at “Busboys and Poets” in Washington DC.

The event celebrated an uptick in the number of female congresswomen in the newly sworn in 116th congress.

Congressman David Cicilline, who chairs the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC), spoke out against big money in politics and criticized President Trump’s foreign policy agenda.

A representative for Congressman Ro Khanna to explain his agenda for the new year.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY14th District), Maxine Waters (D-CA 43rd District), Hank Johnson (D-GA 4th District), Ro Khanna (D-CA 17th District), Andre Carson (D-IN 7th District) and Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX 18th District) were originally expected to attend, but congressional votes stretched late into the night and stifled their attendance.

Women’s March co-founder Bob Bland also attended the event and closed it out with a reflection on the Women’s March and how her movement plans to work in the future.

Bland discussed how the Women’s March movement has expanded beyond two large marches and into resistance – for example – to the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Bland said that she welcomes and encourages a diverse range of positions and voices within the women’s march movement, specifically pointing out that she wants anti-war groups like “CODEPINK: Women for Peace” to challenge them.

Kristin Mink – known for a confrontation with then-EPA head Scott Pruit – spoke alongside Bland, emphasizing the role that one person can play in shaping history.