CPT
Aug 1, 2007
On Monday, 23 July, 2007, Christian Peacemaker Teams (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.
As the action began at 4:00 pm, four CPTers went up to the 38th floor and pushed their way into Durbin’s office. Witnesses cited the senator’s past votes and showed photographs as testimony for and against him. Although the senator was not present, the group was pleased that his staff allowed them to complete their five-minute dramatization before calling police. At the same time, another four CPTers staged an identical skit in the building’s main lobby for 40 minutes, interspersed with antiwar songs, and ignored repeated warnings from security guards.
Costumed with a judge’s robe and gavel and wearing the title, “History,” CPT trainee Jessica Frederick asked an unresponsive Senator Durbin (CPTer Frank Murphy), “How will you vote on the upcoming $145 billion supplemental war spending bill?” The bill, which would fulfill President Bush’s latest request to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through September, 2008, will come to a vote by the end of this summer.
Durbin, a Democrat, belongs to the Senate Appropriations Committee and holds the second most powerful position in the Senate. He wields unique influence over the ongoing passage of spending bills that sustain US military action in the Middle East. Although in 2002 he opposed military force in Iraq, Durbin has supported multiple appropriations to equip troops and continue the war.
“These are all reasons why Durbin is a critical target for public pressure to cut the funds and stop the war,” said CPTer Jeff Leys, who traveled to Iraq in 2003. In February Leys co-founded The Occupation Project, a coalition of peace groups – including CPT – using nonviolent civil disobedience to “occupy” legislators’ offices until they pledge to end the US occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Chicago Police took the following CPTers to the city jail at 5:30 pm, cited them for criminal trespass on federal property, and released them early Tuesday morning: Jean Fallon, 77, of Maryknoll, NY; Denis Murphy, 75, of Chicago; Paulette Schroeder, 63, of Tiffin, OH; Martin Smedjeback, 33, of Sunbyberg, Sweden; Joshua Hough, 31, of Corvallis, OR; Charletta Erb, 27, of Chicago; Rachel Cloud, 22, of Lawrence, KS; and Jessica Frederick, 22, of Jamestown, NY.
Senator Durbin’s office has issued no word on his expected vote.
