Civil Disobedience

March 20, 2008

Chicago - at 8:30am members of Christian Peacemaker Teams and Wellington Avenue UCC Gerald Paoli, John Volkening, Rev. Dan Dale and Sarah Shirk chained themselves to the entrance of U.S. Congressman Rahm Emanuel’s office at 3742 W. Irving Park Road in Chicago demanding that he “unchain us from this unjust and immoral war.” CPD arrived shortly after with no less than 10 squad cars and a wagon obstructing the busy street traffic for more than a half hour until a bolt cutter could be delivered to remove the 4 demonstrators.

Third day of nonviolent resistance to Iraq occupation during Iowa presidential primary

January 2, 2008

Des Moines – Opponents of the occupation of Iraq today occupied the Iowa campaign headquarters of presidential candidates U.S. Senator Barak Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, waiting for a response to a letter requesting them to oppose any more spending for the war or occupation and foreswear an attack on Iran.

Eight people were arrested at Obama’s Iowa campaign headquarters and four at Romney’s, in this, the third day of such nonviolent “direct actions” organized by “Seasons Of Discontent: A Presidential Occupation Project” (SODAPOP) since the presidential primary season began in Iowa late last year.

For more information and links to other articles about the December 31 SODaPOP action see the Des Moines Catholic Worker page

Protesters ask former Baptist minister, “Who Would Jesus Bomb?”

December 31, 2007

Des Moines – With 40 percent of Iowa’s Republican caucus voters expected to come from the ranks of conservative Christians, peace activists occupied Mike Huckabee’s campaign headquarters in Iowa’s capital city today with signs asking the former Baptist minister, “Who Would Jesus Bomb?”

Eight members of the Iowa Occupation Project and Voices for Creative Nonviolence arrived at Huckabee’s Locust St. campaign office early Monday afternoon, waiting for the former Arkansas governor’s reply to a letter delivered two months ago that sought his pledge to completely withdraw from Iraq within 100 days of assuming office; halt all military actions against Iraq and Iran; fund the rebuilding of Iraq as well as health, education and infrastructure needs in the U.S.; and “…the highest quality health care, education and jobs training benefits for veterans of our country’s Armed Services.”

October 16th, 2007

CHIGAGO - In a combined action by members of 8th Day Center for Justice, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Worker, 15 people were arrested while protesting Senator Richard Durbin’s continued support for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Also, listen to Free Speech Radio News segment Occupation Project Targets Senator Durbin’s Office. Johnny Hap reports from WZRD in Chicago.

Continue reading and see photos from the action:

Cordaro Gets 30 Days after Protest:
The anti-war activist was arrested last month during a sit-in at the Des Moines office of Sen. Charles Grassley

By Abby Simmons
Des Moines Register
October 6, 2007

Anti-war activist Frank Cordaro left a Polk County courtroom in handcuffs Friday after receiving a 30-day jail term for his latest protest.

The 56-year-old Des Moines man pleaded guilty to a trespassing charge along with two other people who took part in a sit-in last month with several high school students at U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley’s Des Moines office.

August 20, 2007

August 7, 2007

Five peace activists were arrested on Monday in Bath, NY after refusing to leave the district office of Republican Congressman Randy Kuhl. The protesters submitted a petition signed by 3,000 people urging Kuhl to sign a pledge to vote against further funding of the war in Iraq.

Original from Indymedia - Rochester NY
06 Aug 2007

Fairport, NY—Today, August 6, at 11:30AM, six anti-war activists, associated with the Declaration of Peace Campaign and the Occupation Project, occupied the congressional office of Randy Kuhl (R-NY) demanding an immediate end to the war in Iraq. A simultaneous action occurred in Bath, NY at Kuhl’s Southern Tier office where demonstrators were arrested.

CPT
Aug 1, 2007

On Monday, 23 July, 2007, CPT trainees enacted a mock trial of US Senator Dick Durbin at his Chicago office. They demanded a final piece of evidence that would acquit or convict the senator: Would he approve funds for life, or for more war in Iraq and Afghanistan? As other CPTers announced the trial on signs, banners and leaflets outside Chicago’s Kluczynski Federal Building, police arrested all eight who demonstrated inside because they refused to leave without a “yes” or “no” response from Durbin’s office.