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News :: Peace |
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'Camp Bring 'em Home' in Chicago: Copy it and Spread Around |
Current rating: 0 |
by Carl Davidson
Email: carld717 (nospam) aol.com (verified) |
21 Mar 2006
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This is our way of learning from Cindy Sheehan in Texas. It picture shows placed shoes tagged with the names of killed Iraqi civilians on the Congressman's doorstep.
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Click on image for a larger version  |
Day Two at Camp 'Bring 'Em Home' Chicago
It's was cold at Irving Park and Hamlin today, but the experience there fires you up and warms your heart.
At least that's my take after braving the elements for a few hours this frigid March 21, 2006 afternoon. We were taking on Congressman Raum Emanuel, a powerful Democrat in our state who has made it his business to destroy antiwar candidates in his party. Last week we camped out at GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert's office in Batavia, IL.
I show up with cups of coffee and cookies, and meet about 10 folks on the street and in the tent we've pitched on the edge of Independence Park. The tent, really a canopy, breaks the wind and helps a lot. It especially protects the tables inside with the flyers, clipboards and petitions. Outside, the sandwich signs with antiwar messages all along the block are visually striking, along with the rows of empty boots and shoes, tagged with the names of dead Americans and Iraqis.
Right away, a cable truck pulls up and two African American installers get out, browse the literature and want to sign the petitions demanding Rep. Emanuel here in the 5th CD reverse course and take a stand to stop the war. 'Here, take some peace buttons, too,' I say. Next in line are two Latino community college students from the neighborhood, and they also sign the petition.
'Here, Carl, put this on,' says Dave, our stalwart anchorman of the project. It's a Day-Glo orange vest. 'Go over there and relieve that lady on the median with the 'Honk for Peace' sign in front of Raum's office. You'll love it.' He was absolutely right. 'It helps if you wave a little,' says the shivering woman who smiles and gives me the sign, as I climb up on Mayor Daley's new median strip flower beds in the center of four-lane traffic. I'm directly in front of Raum's storefront office, and can see the workers there nervously glancing out the window now and then.
The cars start honking right away. But I get into it, and find a rhythm. If I hold up two fingers in a peace sign, I get more honks. Then I mix in a hand signal, pointing straight to the Congressman's door, then back to the peace sign, then point back to the door. Even more honking. Some truckers really lean on the air horn, so I flash a clenched fist. They smile back, appreciating it, and honk again.
I'd guess a thousand cars, trucks or buses went by in my hour or so. Most consistent solidarity honkers were the cabbies and the bus drivers, but really everyone got into it. I'd say about a third honked for us. Some gave timid little beeps and smiles. Others leaned on their horns and gave a forceful thumbs up. Twice I saw a women passenger reach across the male driver and really hit the horn, wave and smile. Some even rolled down their windows, flashed a peace sign, and shouted encouragement.
Only once did one guy tap his window, frown and give me a thumbs down. Even the workers in Raum's office smiled and waved when they ended their day.
Then I see a soldier, still in fatigues and short hair, pull his car over and make his way to the tent, checking out the boots and reading the signs. A few other cars pulled up, too, and signed the petitions. I go a bit longer, but soon my fingers are getting numb, so I go for relief.
Back at the tent, more folks show up, the group from Logan Square Neighbors for Justice and Peace. Fresh troops to hold the signs. Then more good news: a church group shows up with a camp stove, a big pot of hot soup, lots of bread and a bevy of little kids.
But now we got two cop cars pull up with flashing lights. They get out, somewhat gruff and formal, and want to know who's in charge. Two of the Christian Peacemakers Team deal with them. They lighten up.
'We've got a few complaints,' they say, 'but here's the bottom line. You've got a right to do this, and you're going to be here all week. Just don't go off the curb, especially during rush hour. That way, you're not obstructing and you still get your message out, and no accidents happen.' They say to call them if there's trouble, leave and, as a last gesture, smile and honk their horn for the sign.
What about the soldier, I asked? 'He's just back from Iraq,' says Dave. 'He was kind of shy and quiet, but he's with us. He signed the petition and took some flyers.' Just then two Latino guys come up. 'My brother's in Iraq, too,' says one. 'Been there for more than six months.' 'Let's hope he gets home safe,' I say, 'Let's get them all home.' We chat a little about how the family uses email to stay in touch with him. 'Where do we sign against the war?' he asks. I watch them fill in the petition. It sure made my day.
'Camp Bring 'Em Home,' launched by The Anti-War Majority campaign, is both simple and rich in possibilities. It supplies excellent visuals for the media folks. But more important, for us, it's a step outside the comfort zone and into America. I look over the list of names on the petitions, and imagine the core of new neighborhood groups. We've done this at the offices of two Congressmen now, so that leaves 533 to go around the country. Just copy this project, and spread it everywhere like a friendly virus, and we'll see what happens.
Carl Davidson
Chicagoans Against War and Injustice |
See also:
http://anti-warmajority.org
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This work is in the public domain |
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Re: Hopefully, people are beginning to realize |
by always hopeful
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
22 Mar 2006
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that demonstrations aren't working. They are having no influence on the behavior of our rulers, none, zero, zilch, nada. we have lost the attention of the public. |
