News Stories about Voices

Alleged CPD torture victims call for new hearings

Photo: ABC 7

April 6, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS) — Activists and former prisoners who say they were tortured into making false confessions rallied outside the Thompson Center Monday.

They are calling on attorney general Lisa Madigan to initiate hearings for all victims of Chicago police torture under former commander Jon Burge.

Burge was indicted last year on charges related to acts of torture.

February 3, 2009

The January 2009 episode of Chicago Indymedia’s monthly radio show “From The Trenches” features the following: Camp Hope, a 19 day demonstration organized by Voices for Creative Nonviolence opens in Hyde Park; Also, Camp Hope’s forum — Witness Against Torture: From Guantanamo to the Streets of Chicago with speakers: Sonia De Santiago, Marc Falkoff, and Flint Taylor. And, a visit to the Fox Valley Electric Auto Association and a conversion class at Morton Community College in Cicero.

August 31, 2008
By Jeff Severns Guntzel
Minnesota Independent

When Code Pink’s Medea Benjamin took the stage at the Veterans for Peace rally in front of the State Capitol building today, where hundreds of activists gathered before marching towards the Xcel Energy Center, she started with the string of weekend raids on her mind: “This is not the Midwestern welcome we expected!”

Her audience cheered — among them a vet hoisting a desert-camo anti-war flag:

A cadre of protesters were clad in orange jumpsuits meant to evoke those worn by prisoners at the controversial Guantanamo Bay prison. The held black hoods in their hands and stuck signs to their backs — on each sign was printed the name, age and story of a living, breathing Guantanamo detainee:

CONTINUE READING the Story with photos at Minnesota Independent

August 31, 2008

(Noted: Veterans for Peace and CODEPINK organized this march. Dan Pearson and Josh Brollier, both Witness Against War participants, and Steve Clemens, a who traveled to Iraq in 2002 with Voices in the Wilderness, were arrested in this act of nonviolent civil disobedience)

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Nine Protesters Entering Restricted Area Arrested Sunday for Trespassing

A group of anti-war protesters went underneath a security barrier near the Xcel Center as an act of civil disobedience. Nine were arrested for trespassing.

Police in riot gear arrested nine people protesting at the Xcel Center Sunday, after they entered a restricted area secured by a fence. The protesters marched from the capitol to the Xcel Center, protesting the war in Iraq and the treatment of veterans coming home.

August 29, 2008

August 29, 2008

Watch Video Report from KARE-11

The road to St. Paul and the Republican National Convention started more than a month ago for one anti-war group. Members have spent July and August walking here from Chicago.

After 49 days and more than 475 miles the Witness Against War marchers are still going strong.

August 28, 2008
Clarksville, TN Online

Witness Against War is a 450-mile walk from Chicago to Saint Paul to challenge and non-violently resist our nation’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The campaign seeks to hold both major political parties, both Democrat and Republican, accountable and responsible for continuing and ending the Iraq war.

The journey began in the City of Chicago, site of the 1968 Democratic Party convention in the midst of the Vietnam War. The walk will conclude on August 31 in St. Paul — in time for the start of the 2008 Republican Party convention in the midst of the Iraq war.

Joshua Brollier joined the walk in Chicago on July 12th and has participated in awareness events and community forums along the route to St. Paul. The walkers will convene there on August 29th to march in step with the Veterans for Peace at the Republican National Convention protests.

CONTINUE READING AT CLARKSVILLE ON-LINE, INCLUDES PHOTOS

The Republican Eagle
By Mike Longaecker
August 25, 2008

Red Wing was a welcome sight Sunday for a group of peace activists.

Of course, their destination — St. Paul — may be even more so, once they’ve completed their mission. Members of the peace group Witness to War stopped here for a couple days in the midst of an approximately 500-mile walk from Chicago to St. Paul.

“It re-energized us,” Voices for Creative Nonviolence activist Joshua Brollier said Monday, recalling how local supporters joined up with the group as they passed into town.

August 25, 2008

Mike Longaecker
The Red Wing Republican Eagle

Red Wing was a welcome sight Sunday for a group of peace activists.

Of course, their destination — St. Paul — may be even more so, once they’ve completed their mission. Members of the peace group Witness to War stopped here for a couple days in the midst of an approximately 500-mile walk from Chicago to St. Paul.

“It re-energized us,” Voices for Creative Nonviolence activist Joshua Brollier said Monday, recalling how local supporters joined up with the group as they passed into town.

August 25, 2008

By Dawn Schuett
Rochester Post-Bulletin

WABASHA — For one group of activists, getting to St. Paul for the Republican National Convention is a slow journey and one that’s bringing them to southeast Minnesota. Every mile is an opportunity to deliver their message to passing motorists or curious bystanders. Each stop is a moment to explain their viewpoints.

“It’s a chance to meet people right in their front yard,” said Marie Kovecsi, a teacher from Winona who is participating this week in Witness Against War, a 450-mile walk from Chicago to St. Paul.

August 17, 2008
By Dietrich Nissen
KAAL-TV — Winona, MN

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(ABC 6 NEWS) - They’re walking more than 450 miles to prove the point that they want an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It’s been a long walk for Kathy Kelly. She’s part of the Witness Against War group, that’s making its way from Chicago to St. Paul.

“We’ve just crossed into the wonderful state of Minnesota after walking through Illinois and Wisconsin,” said Kelly.