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News :: Peace |
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City Of Urbana Passes Anti-War Resolution |
Current rating: 0 |
by Kimberlie Kranich
Email: kakranich (nospam) yahoo.com (verified) |
04 Feb 2003
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The City of Urbana became the 64th city to pass a resolution in opposition to war with Iraq. Council members were presented with chocolate roses and anti-war heart. (photo by Benjamin Grosser) |
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On Monday, Urbana became the 64th City Council to pass a resolution against war with Iraq. The resolution passed by a 5-2 vote.
After the vote, Alderwoman Chynoweth was presented with a huge cardboard heart inscribed with "The residents of Urbana and citizens of Iraq thank you." Each city council member was offered a chocolate rose as a thank you.
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.
Audience members spoke for more than three hours about the resolution. Supporters were a clear majority of the room's audience, but two dozen people also spoke against the resolution. Many were veterans who felt loyalty to President Bush or fear for their own safety. Others were afraid that the resolution would cause harm to current service men and women who would be labeled "baby killers" by those opposed to war.
Veterans also spoke in favor of the anti-war resolution citing the lack of evidence to support the need for a pre-emptive strike against Iraq and the lack of governmental services provided to veterans who have served in previous wars.
Council members Esther Patt, Ruth Wyman, Laura Huth, Jim Hayes and Danielle Chynoweth, author of the anti-war ordinance, voted for the anti-war resolution. Joe Whelan and Milton Otto voted against.
The resolution is being sent to President Bush, the Pentagon, and local state and federal officials.
The text of the Urbana Anti-War Resolution is as follows:
Resolution Opposing War Against Iraq
WHEREAS, the issues between Iraq and the world community have not proven to be irresoluble by traditional diplomatic efforts;
WHEREAS, the United States is obliged, legally and ethically, to solve international problems in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations;
WHEREAS, a war with Iraq will jeopardize the lives of American soldiers and will kill many innocent Iraqi civilians, without guaranteeing the safety and security of U.S. citizens;
WHEREAS, the sanctions imposed on Iraq by the United Nations at the urging of the United States government have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of non-combatants, an overwhelming number of them under the age of 5.
WHEREAS, past military conflict in the region resulted in widespread environmental destruction and long-term health problems for Iraqis and U.S. soldiers, the effects of which have not yet been mitigated or understood;
WHEREAS, the ultimate security of the residents of Urbana and the United States at large is dependent upon working cooperatively with all nations to eliminate poverty, injustice, inequality, environmental degradation and other factors that breed war and terrorism;
WHEREAS, the Congressional Budget Office estimates a military action against Iraq will cost our nation between $9 and $13 billion a month, resulting in further cuts in federally funded projects and programs that benefit our city and its residents;
WHEREAS, the costs of war and the accompanying ballooning deficits could have significant impact on the residents of the State of Illinois, which is facing the 4th worst budget crisis in the country, the school districts of the state, 80% of which face budget crises this year, and the city of Urbana which predicts revenue loss this year;
WHEREAS, The billions of dollars to be spent on this war could much better be spent on schools, nutrition, health care, housing, infrastructure improvements, and generally eliminating poverty;
WHEREAS, There is growing opposition to war against Iraq given that: forty-two cities to date have enacted anti-war resolutions; an estimated 250,000 rallied in Washington recently to prevent war; the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, World Council of Churches, NAACP and numerous unions oppose the war; and local peace demonstrations have averaged once a week for over a year;
WHEREAS, the citizens of Urbana and its local elected officials have the constitutional right to petition the national government on this matter of grave concern to our community as part of the national and international debate now underway;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the members of the City Council of the City of Urbana, oppose a U.S. invasion of Iraq; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the U.S. to work through the United Nations to disarm Iraq and reaffirm our nation's commitment to the rule of law in all international relationships; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call upon the government of the United States to make every effort to end the United Nations' sanctions against Iraq; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge the U.S. to help alleviate the budget crises faced by the majority of the states, and increase federal funding to states, school districts and municipalities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we direct the city clerk to immediately send copies of this resolution to President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. Senators Peter Fitzgerald and Richard Durbin, U.S. Representative Tim Johnson, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, and local members of the Illinois House and Senate.
Passed by the City Council of Urbana, this day of February 3, 2003.
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See also:
http://www.citiesforpeace.org/
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