Cristóbal Cavazos

Strange Rumblings in Suburbia

For peace activists, being in west suburban Chicago often feels like being behind enemy lines.
But there's fissures extending in this land of right-wing heavies like Henry 'Nothing to' Hyde, Dennis Hastert and Peter Roskam- corporate and bellicose all-as behind the box stores, fast food and luxury townhouse construction, poverty and homelessness have risen while gentrification in the city has led to urban flight into the suburbs-and then there's the war.

'We are active in what is seen as one of the most conservative areas
in the country,' said local anti-war activist Kevin Lindemann,' but
our Honk for Peace rallies receive an overwhelmingly positive response.'

It has been such local events that have educated about the war and motivated new people out onto the suburban front.

Jeff Zurawski is one such person. 'I remember a day, several months
ago, when I realized some disturbing truths, the first few on what's
become quite a long list of disturbing truths,' says Jeff. 'The people
of Iraq, who posed no threat to us, are being slaughtered and their
country destroyed.'

The power of such revelation would lead Jeff and friend Sarah Hartfield into action May 6 on a local tollway overpass armed with a
banner reading 'Impeach Bush and Cheney - liars' and an upside down
American flag-expressions both, securely within their first amendment
rights.

'What propelled me was the need to express myself,' says Jeff, [and]
the more I've learned, the more outraged I've become and that
motivates me to do something to help stop the injustice.'

Local entrenched forces are motivated by other daemons however, as
weeks after the event on May 25, a sheriff would show up at Jeff's
door to arrest him on the mendacious charge of allegedly tossing
unknown objects onto the tollway from the overpass. Sarah would later
turn herself in after a warrant for her arrest was issued.

Prosecuting the case is Dupage County States Attorney Joe Birkett in a
desperate attempt to rally his right-wing base after failed bids for
Attorney General in 2002 and the Lieutenant Governor's office in 2006.
Birkett also was a lead prosecutor in the racist prosecution of
Rolando Cruz in 1994 for a murder DNA evidence revealed he didn't
commit.

Local anti-war groups have mobilized behind Jeff and Sarah in this
battle for free speech in what is obviously a political case against
the pair. Meanwhile local press coverage has been sympathetic. 'I
have a feeling the sheriff truly didn't anticipate all the attention
this is getting,'said Jeff.

On Wednesday, June 27, with around two dozen supporters seated behind
him Jeff appeared in court to challenge his arrest. Dubiously,
prosecutors may try and amend the complaint against the pair upgrading
the charges from disorderly to reckless conduct. If convicted Jeff and
Sarah could face up to year in prison and $2,500 in fines. Jeff's next
court date is July 16.

Take Action to Free Jeff and Sarah!
Contact Joe Birkett's office at 630.690.7100 or info (at) joebirkett.com. Demand all charges against Jeff Zurawski and Sarah Hartfield be dropped. Tell Birkett desperate attempts on free speech will not be tolerated as the anti-war movement-both suburban and urban- will not let up until we end this war.