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Chicago Indymedia

LOCAL Announcement :: Civil & Human Rights

12/18: ISM-Chicago Meeting & Emergency Response Action for CPT Captives in Iraq

The last monthly potluck dinner meeting of 2005 for ISM-Chicago will be on Sunday, December 18. There will also be an Emergency Response vigil at the Federal Building at 6:00 pm following confirmation of any major development* regarding the CPTers in Iraq.
The next monthly potluck dinner meeting of the Chicago chapter of the International Solidarity Movement will be on Sunday, December 18. The meeting will be at the ISM-Chicago apartment on the near North side of Chicago. We will begin at 4 PM and conclude around 6 PM. If you're interested in attending, please contact us for the street address of the ISM-Chicago apartment. The first 30 minutes is normally spent enjoying a potluck dinner. If you cannot arrive before 4:30, we ask that you not disrupt the meeting by arriving late.

Contact ISM-Chicago: ISMinChicago (at) aol.com or 773-489-3505

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN: PUBLIC VIGIL FOR 4 CPTers IN IRAQ

We continue to pray and work for the release of our four CPT friends still missing in Iraq. Wanting to be prepared for whatever may transpire, members and friends of CPT in Chicago are calling for a Public Vigil to be held in Chicago's Federal Plaza at 6:00 pm following confirmation of any major development* regarding the CPTers in Iraq.

In the event of their release, or more serious news, we'll gather to express
our support for these 4 noble peacemakers, for others being held by various
factions, and for the thousands detained illegally by U.S. forces in Iraq.
We wish to make clear our ongoing, active opposition to the continuing U.S.
war in Iraq.

Harmeet Sooden, Jim Loney, Norman Kember and Tom Fox have dedicated their
lives to stopping the violence against the people of Iraq. They know that
violence begets violence. As members of Christian Peacemaker Teams they have
consistently witnessed against the violence of the sanctions and of the war
itself.

WHAT: Public Vigil for 4 CPTers in Iraq
WHEN: 6-7pm following confirmation of any major developments regarding the 4 CPTers*
WHERE: Federal Building Plaza, on Dearborn at Adams, Chicago
BRING: Please bring candles, signs, banners and dress warmly

*In situations like this, rumors and false information can spread quickly.
Please check CPT's website, www.cpt.org to verify confirmation of any
developments (release or more serious news) regarding our friends in Iraq.

- Please Distribute Widely -

Co-Sponsored By:
Christian Peacemaker Teams-Chicago, American Friends Service Committee,
Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Eighth Day Center for Justice, CPT Chicago,
West Suburban Faith-based Peace Coalition, Peace Pledge Chicago, Chicago
Religious Leadership Network, Illinois School of the Americas Watch,
Fellowship of Reconciliation - Chicago Chapter, International Solidarity Movement-Chicago Chapter (list in formation)


About ISM
Who We Are
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles. Founded by a small group of activists in August, 2001, ISM aims to support and strengthen the Palestinian popular resistance by providing the Palestinian people with two resources, international protection and a voice with which to nonviolently resist an overwhelming military occupation force.
Why ISM?
Occupation is not going to be defeated by words alone; occupation, oppression an domination are going to be dismantled the same way they were erected ? through people?s action. The Israeli army and the Israeli occupation can be defeated by strategic, disciplined unarmed resistance, utilizing the effective resources Palestinians can mobilize ? including international participation.
In April 2002, with help from Palestinians, international activists were able to outmaneuver the Israeli military during two of its biggest military operations, entering and providing support to those trapped inside the Presidential Compound in Ramallah and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. More recently, ISM has supported strong Palestinian-led, nonviolent resistance movements against Israel?s Apartheid Wall in villages like Budrus and Biddu. In these villages peaceful community marches have succeeded in altering the Wall?s path and even stopping Wall construction.
International participation is important for a number of reasons:
Protection: An international presence at Palestinian civilian actions can ensure a degree of protection for Palestinians engaged in nonviolent resistance.
Message to the mainstream media: The Palestinian struggle is not accurately reported by the mainstream corporate media. The mainstream media portrays Israelis and Palestinians as two equal sides who can?t live together fighting over a piece of land, instead of an Israeli military occupation and a Palestinian struggle for freedom, self-determination and human rights. People from all over the world that join us can reach out to their respective media and help dispel this notion.
Personal witness and transmitting information: International civilians joining Palestinians can bear witness and return home to talk to their communities about what is happening.
Break isolation and provide hope: The occupation isolates Palestinians and cuts them off from the rest of the world and from each other. International civilians coming in, despite restrictions, send a message to the Palestinian community - "we see, we hear and we are with you." Hope that people acting together can change things is a cornerstone of our philosophy and message.
Internationals with the ISM are not in Palestine to teach nonviolent resistance. Palestinians resist nonviolently ever day. The ISM lends support to the Palestinian resistance to the occupation and their demand for freedom through the following activities:
Direct Action - challenging crippling checkpoints and curfew, confronting tanks and demolition equipment, removing roadblocks, participating in nonviolent demonstrations, accompanying farmers to their fields and protecting families whose homes are threatened with demolition.
Emergency Mobilization - escorting ambulances through checkpoints, delivering food and water to families under curfew or house arrest, assisting the injured or disabled to access medical care and walking children to school.
Documentation - documenting and reporting to local and international media about the daily life under occupation and the countless human rights and international law violations by the Israeli military.
Get Involved
ISM offers many ways for you to get involved in the struggle for Palestinian freedom. Whether you?re thinking of traveling to Palestine to work with us, or you?d like to work to educate your community about the reality in Palestine, we welcome your involvement. If you would like to get information and updates from us, please send an email to: palsolidarity-subscribe (at) googlegroups.com
Structure
The ISM is not an organization, but rather a movement which all organizations, groups and/or individuals who agree our principles can join. The ISM is based in Palestine and is led by Palestinians on the ground. Many ISM support groups around the world assist the ISM by disseminating information, recruiting and training individuals to join us.
To join the ISM in Palestine, you must adhere to the following principles:
Belief in freedom for the Palestinian people based on all relevant United Nations Resolutions and international law.
Using only nonviolent, direct-action methods, strategies and principles to work towards our goal.
The ISM is non-hierarchical. Actions on the ground are coordinated with the larger Palestinian community and moved through a core group of committed activists. The core group is open to all activists, Palestinians or otherwise, who make a commitment to ISM?s work and take on coordinating responsibilities. The ISM uses consensus decision making in all of its activities.
 
 

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