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News :: Peace |
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Supporters Of Urbana Anti-War Resolution Pack City Hall |
Current rating: 5 |
by Kimberlie Kranich
Email: kakranich (nospam) yahoo.com (verified) |
28 Jan 2003
Modified: 02:08:39 PM |
Activists for peace filled the Urbana City Council Chambers in support of Urbana Alderwoman Danielle Chynoweth's proposed resolution to prevent war against Iraq.
More than 100 people crowded into Council Chambers filling every audience seat and lining the sides, back and front of the room. Many stood or sat on the floor.
For nearly two hours, Urbana residents and supporters from Champaign spoke about how the prospect of war with Iraq was locally relevant.
Fewer federal and state dollars to Urbana was often cited as well as the direct impact on soldiers from this area and residents from other countries who live here, and the moral imperative for local governments to petition the federal government when they disagree with an action it is about to take that would affect us all.
Only four of the 100 people attending last nightâ€(TM)s meeting went on record as being against the Urbana anti-war resolution. Two entered their names into the public record and two spoke.
One speaker was a veteran of the Gulf War. She said that it was wrong to criticize rather than support our president. The second speaker to oppose the resolution, an Urbana businessman from Nigeria, said that he understood the culture of Iraq and claimed that Iraq is bent on destroying the US.
Two Iraqi residents of Urbana also spoke. They spoke in favor of the anti-war resolution and have relatives living in Iraq.
Two local groups, A.W.A.R.E., the Anti-War, Anti-Racism Effort and the Progressive Resource Action Cooperative, presented Council with a list of more than 400 names of supporters of the anti-war resolution that they had gathered in the last 24 hours.
Six of seven council members and the mayor were present to hear the public comment. Alderman Joe Whelan, who was to chair last nightâ€(TM)s meeting, called in “very ill” earlier in the evening. In emails before the council meeting, Mr. Whelan told constituents that he is against the ordinance. The only other opposition came from Alderman Milton Otto. The mayor spoke in the favor of the ordinance after hearing the public comment. Originally, he was against it because he didnâ€(TM)t see the local relevance.
Council members Esther Patt, Ruth Wyman, Laura Huth, Jim Hayes and Danielle Chynoweth, author of the anti-war ordinance, are all expected to vote for it at next Mondayâ€(TM)s Council meeting. A 5-2 vote in favor of the ordinance would immediately send the ordinance to President Bush, the Pentagon, and local state and federal officials. Urbana would then become the 46 city to pass such an ordinance. Dozens of other anti-war ordinances are being considered in other cities. Chicago and Evanston have already passed a similar ordinance.
activists for peace from Urbana filled the City Council Chambers in support of Urbana Alderwoman Danielle Chynoweth's proposed resolution to prevent war against Iraq. |
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Last night, activists for peace from Urbana filled the City Council Chambers in support of Urbana Alderwoman Danielle Chynoweth's proposed resolution to prevent war against Iraq.
More than 100 people crowded into Council Chambers filling every audience seat and lining the sides, back and front of the room. Many stood or sat on the floor.
For nearly two hours, Urbana residents and supporters from Champaign spoke about how the prospect of war with Iraq was locally relevant.
Fewer federal and state dollars to Urbana was often cited as well as the direct impact on soldiers from this area and residents from other countries who live here, and the moral imperative for local governments to petition the federal government when they disagree with an action it is about to take that would affect us all.
Only four of the 100 people attending last night’s meeting went on record as being against the Urbana anti-war resolution. Two entered their names into the public record and two spoke.
One speaker was a veteran of the Gulf War. She said that it was wrong to criticize rather than support our president. The second speaker to oppose the resolution, an Urbana businessman from Nigeria, said that he understood the culture of Iraq and claimed that Iraq is bent on destroying the US.
Two Iraqi residents of Urbana also spoke. They spoke in favor of the anti-war resolution and have relatives living in Iraq.
Two local groups, A.W.A.R.E., the Anti-War, Anti-Racism Effort and the Progressive Resource Action Cooperative, presented Council with a list of more than 400 names of supporters of the anti-war resolution that they had gathered in the last 24 hours.
Six of seven council members and the mayor were present to hear the public comment. Alderman Joe Whelan, who was to chair last night’s meeting, called in “very ill” earlier in the evening. In emails before the council meeting, Mr. Whelan told constituents that he is against the ordinance. The only other opposition came from Alderman Milton Otto. The mayor spoke in the favor of the ordinance after hearing the public comment. Originally, he was against it because he didn’t see the local relevance.
Council members Esther Patt, Ruth Wyman, Laura Huth, Jim Hayes and Danielle Chynoweth, author of the anti-war ordinance, are all expected to vote for it at next Monday’s Council meeting. A 5-2 vote in favor of the ordinance would immediately send the ordinance to President Bush, the Pentagon, and local state and federal officials. Urbana would then become the 46 city to pass such an ordinance. Dozens of other anti-war ordinances are being considered in other cities. Chicago and Evanston have already passed a similar ordinance.
(photo credit Benjamin Grosser)
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See also:
http://www.itg.uiuc.edu/people/grosser/council-03-01-27/
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