The Occupation Project
March 14, 2007
To join in the efforts with CPT on Monday the 19th please call Christian Peacemaker Teams; Tel: 773-277-0253. More information about the planning meeting Sunday the 18th can be found below
RECAP: As part of the Occupation Project to stop funding for the Iraq war, CPTers and supporters “occupied” the office of Congressman Rahm Emanuel for four hours (one for each year of the war) on Wednesday, February 28. His staff listened attentively to our “unconventional” way of sharing our concerns through prayer, scripture and song, said we were free to stay there, and stated clearly that they would not have us forcibly removed. However, they could not tell us what Congressman Emanuel’s position is on Bush’s supplemental spending request for another $93 billion for the war. They agreed to send the congressman our materials including a request for him to sign a pledge to vote “NO” on the supplemental.
REGROUP: We decided to go back the following week to see if Mr. Emanuel had signed the pledge. On Friday, March 9 (the first anniversary of CPTer Tom Fox’s death in Iraq) we returned to his office prepared to either celebrate his pledge to vote “NO” or to grafically dramatize the consequences of his support for more war funding. A morning phone call confirmed the office would be open until 5:00pm. At 3:15 the office was open with lights on and people inside. By 3:45 when our group converged on the site, the office was closed — lights out, door locked, nobody there. We presented our graphic dramatization on the sidewalk in front of Emanuel’s closed office with two television cameras rolling.
REVISIT: The next day, Saturday, Emanuel’s office was supposed to be open for a tax assistance workshop. Friends from Wellington Ave. United Church of Christ intended to meet with his staff that morning at 10:00am. CPTers agreed to join them and then carry out our dramatization at 10:30. The office was once again shut down tight.
RETURN: WE WILL RETURN to Congressman Emanuel’s office on Monday, March 19 at 3:00pm. Over the past week, congress has been playing politics with the supplemental spending bill, still in the Appropriations Committee and expected to hit the House floor the week of March 19th. Mr. Emanuel cannot hide behind provisions for Midwest farmers, avocado growers, Katrina victims or Veterans. Money for war is still blood money. He may shut down his office but he cannot shut down the clamor of his constituents nor the cries of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have lost loved ones in this war. According to the latest update from Voices for Creative Nonviolence (initiators of the Occupation Project): “Now is the time to push harder than ever for a complete cessation of funds for the Iraq war, other than those required to effect an immediate withdrawal of U.S. military forces. Over 100 Iraqis are killed every day — a low estimate, since it only includes those for whom death certificates are issued. If the U.S. does not withdraw until September 8, 2008 (the current wording in the supplemental), well over 50,000 more Iraqis will be killed before the withdrawal is completed.”
REORGANIZE: Please come to a short planning meeting on Sunday, March 18, 6:00 - 7:30pm at the CPT Training Center (16th & California — up the back stairway behind the Douglas Park Church of the Brethren) so that we can reorganize oursleves for the 19th. We need a solid, visible support vigil for those risking arrest to dramatize the consequences of more money for war. Please RSVP to Kryss, 312-523-9495; .
Christian Peacemaker Teams
Tel: 773-277-0253
