The Stop CAT Coalition is issuing a call for all Palestine solidarity organizations and activists in the Midwest to join us in Chicago for the International Day of Action Against Caterpillar. Our action will take place at the Northern Trust Bank (50 South LaSalle Street) from 12 noon until 3 PM. We would like to send the strongest message possible to Caterpillar management that profiting from human rights violations will not be tolerated. In order to help accomplish our goal, we need as many activists as possible to join us on the sidewalks surrounding the Northern Trust Bank on April 13.

Caterpillar equipment is being used by the Israeli Defense Forces to destroy roads, orchards, greenhouses, agricultural land and the homes of over 50,000 Palestinians. Dozens have died such as Nabila al-Shu’bi, [2] who was seven months pregnant when she was killed with seven other family members in an illegal home demolition. Rachel Corrie, a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement, was murdered on March 16, 2003, in Rafah when she was crushed underneath a Caterpillar bulldozer as she attempted to stop an illegal home demolition. While U.S. taxpayers foot the bill, Caterpillar profits from this illegal destruction.

At Caterpillar’s 2004 shareholders meeting, the Board of Directors successfully urged the defeat of a resolution calling on CAT to investigate whether it was adhering to its own Corporate Code of Conduct with regard to its sales to Israel. After calls from human rights organizations, members of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, religious and social justice organizations and the victims themselves, CAT has the responsibility to investigate the ethics of selling bulldozers as weapons and profiting from human rights abuses.

On Wednesday, April 13 (2005) CAT shareholders will meet again in Chicago. Join our action outside the shareholders meeting that day to oppose Caterpillar’s sale of bulldozers to Israel. Let’s send the Board of Directors and CAT dealerships a strong message that complicity in human rights abuses will not be tolerated.

Additional Details:

There will be both educational leafleting and “flash” actions on Tuesday, April 12, for those that can join us.

There will be a get together “pay for your own” dinner gathering for activists from outside of Chicago with local organizers. Location and time available via e-mail or phone.

Smaller actions will take place on April 13 prior to the main event at Northern Trust.

While the protest at Northern Trust Bank is intended as a “green” (non-arrestable) action, we support a diversity of tactics by affinity groups. We only ask that they make our local organizers aware of their plans in person on April 12 in order to protect those that choose not to participate in anything other than a “green” action.

Please bring large banners & photos, props with you to the Northern Trust Bank.

We can assist with housing and logistics for those traveling to Chicago If you can not make it to Chicago, we strongly encourage you to take non-violent direct action at a CAT facility near you. For a directory of CAT facilities please visit: http://www.catdestroyshomes.org/downloads/CatDirectory.pdf

For more information, contact: info@stopcat.org or 773-489-3505
Visit: www.catdestroyshomes.org

Media Advisory: Religious and human rights groups, investors take on Caterpillar in Chicago at April 13 annual shareholder meeting

Related Articles:

Caterpillar: Making a Killing in Palestine?

Drawing Caterpillar Out Of Its Corporate Cocoon: Company Should Examine Its Role in Mideast Violence

Human Rights Watch: "Caterpillar Should Suspend Bulldozer Sales"

Democracy Now!: Family of Rachel Corrie Sues Israeli Government and Caterpillar Inc. Two Years After She Was Crushed by Military Bulldozer

BBC News: US bulldozer firm in Mideast Row

Caterpillar: The Alternative Report by War on Want [PDF format, 715K]