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Daily Herald

Protesters target Caterpillar over bulldozer sales to Israel

Associated Press
Posted Saturday, April 24, 2004

PEORIA - More than 300 protesters renewed demands Friday that Caterpillar Inc. stop selling bulldozers to the Israeli military, arguing the equipment is used to destroy Palestinian homes and killed an American activist defending property in the Gaza Strip.

Protesters used a wooden replica of a bulldozer to re-enact the March 2003 death of 23-year-old Rachel Corrie during a demonstration outside the heavy equipment giant's headquarters in downtown Peoria, as Caterpillar workers watched from the windows of the seven-story complex.

Dozens of police officers - many in riot gear - stood by as protesters chanted and waved Palestinian flags and placards, some with Corrie's picture. The peaceful rally was interrupted only by a brief exchange between protesters and a Caterpillar retiree waving an American flag.

"The image (Caterpillar) should want to have out there is that they're building, not destroying," said Craig Corrie, father of the Olympia, Wash., college student.

Caterpillar officials declined to meet with Corrie, his wife Cindy and leaders of the Stop CAT Coalition, which organized the protest.

"We certainly respect their right to demonstrate, but in the end the demonstration won't change the facts that led to our decision," said Caterpillar spokesman Ben Cordani.

Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Jim Owens wrote in a letter to the Corries that the Peoria-based company does not have "the practical ability - or the legal right - to determine how our products are used after they are sold."

The coalition, which contends using bulldozers to destroy homes violates international law, staged a smaller rally last week outside Caterpillar's annual meeting in Chicago, where shareholders rejected a resolution calling for a review of whether sales to Israel violate the company's code of conduct.

"Caterpillar should take the high road, that a very small margin of profit is not worth violating humanity and compassion," said Kevin Clark, a coalition member who led the Peoria protest.

Clark said the group will stage smaller rallies across the nation, hoping to build support before next year's stockholders meeting. He said the coalition is asking people to dump their Caterpillar stock to put pressure on the company.

"We're not going away. That's the message we have," Clark said.

(Also posted on-line in the San Francisco Chronicle, MLive.com, Biloxi Sun Herald, Grand Forks Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer, Kentucky.com, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, San Luis Obispo Tribune, Duluth News Tribune, Myrtle Beach Sun News, Tallahassee.com, Monterey County Herald, Miami Herald, Akron Beacon Journal , Kansas City Star, Fort Worth Star Telegram, Charlotte Observer, Fort Wayne News Sentinel , The State)
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WEEK-TV, NBC Peoria

Hundreds Protest at Caterpillar Headquarters
Posted April 23, 2004 6:03pm

Demonstrators in downtown Peoria delivered their message on the doorstep of Caterpillar headquarters.

They want Caterpillar to stop selling bulldozers to Israel.
Associates of the 'Stop Cat Coalition' say the Israeli government uses Caterpillar bulldozers to demolish Palestinian homes.

American Rachel Corrie was killed last year as she tried to prevent the bulldozing of a Palestinian home.

Today organizers carried pictures of Rachel Corrie as they rallied and marched to Caterpillar's front door.

They hoped C-E-O James Owens might decide to meet with them.

In a letter, Owens had already declined a meeting with the group, saying shareholders did not approve their resolution.

The letter also stated that Caterpillar does not have the ability or legal right to dictate how their equipment is used.

Protester Rachel Perrota says, “The truth is Cat does have the ability to stop sales to Israel and that's what we are here to demand. The complete and total stop of all Cat sales to Israel.”

About a dozen people demonstrated a different viewpoint nearby.

They say they support Israel and they support Caterpillar.

David Johnson says, “We support Israel because its one of our biggest allies in the world on the forefront against terrorism with America. We support Cat because they have a right to sell their equipment to who ever they want.”

Sue Katz with the Jewish Federation of Peoria says the Israeli government demolishes homes built over tunnels that are used to smuggle artilary.

She says terrorists or their families occupy these homes and they are not demolished without advanced notice.


Chicago Tribune

www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0

Peoria rally targets Cat sales to Israel

April 24, 2004

About 250 people rallied Friday in Peoria to demand that Caterpillar Inc. stop selling bulldozers to the Israeli military, which uses the machines to knock down Palestinian homes. The Stop Cat Coalition also blamed the company for the death of a 23-year-old American student activist who was run over last year by a military bulldozer while protesting in the Gaza Strip. Caterpillar has repeatedly said it can't control how buyers use its equipment. Last week, the company's board rejected a stockholder's bid to halt sales to Israel. Coalition member Kevin Clark said the group would stage rallies across the nation to build support, asking people to dump their Caterpillar stock to put pressure on the company. The group had hoped 500 to 1,000 people would attend the rally.

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Crains Chicago Business

April 23, 2004

Rally disrupts Caterpillar meeting
Coalition is upset about bulldozer sales to Israel

 
(AP) — About 250 people rallied Friday in downtown Peoria to demand that Caterpillar Inc. stop selling bulldozers to the Israeli military, which uses the machines to knock down Palestinian homes.

The Stop Cat Coalition also blamed the company for the death of a 23-year-old American student activist who was run over last year by a military bulldozer while protesting in the Gaza Strip.