... and more.....!!
Teach In at Palatine Library
A full day of speakers and discussion was provided. The event provided an
excellent opportunity for people to learn about the history of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to discuss the current position and possible
routes to progress.
Ant War Vigil - Palatine
Over 50 members of SUSTAIN and other local organizations were joined by
passers by in voicing their opposition to an illegal war in Iraq.
Christmas Eve Peace Vigil
Christmas Message
Mary Puccinelli of Rolling Meadows and Kevin Clark of Palatine sing protest
songs set to Christmas carols Tuesday afternoon during a peace vigil along
Northwest Highway in Palatine. About 30 people protested possible military
action against Iraq and economic aid to Israel. Gilbert R. Boucher II/Daily
Herald
Daily Herald
12-25-02
Commuter Train Leafleting and Vigils
Around 50 people at a time are now attending the morning peace vigils
at Palatine and Arlington Heights Metra stations.
Feb 15th Anti War Rally and Immigrant Defense Protest
A cold but well attended and reported demonstration in Chicago's Pakistani neighborhood.
Protesters marched against the war with Iraq and in support of American Muslims.
March 15 Vigil against hate crime at Villa Park Islamic Center
SUSTAIN members joined people of many faiths in calling for an end to hate
crimes following an attack on this local mosque.
March 20th/21st Emergency Action in the Chicago Loop
SUSTAIN members attended this protest on the outbreak of the invasion of
Iraq.
A peace vigil, a funeral for ALL who have died in the war, and a celebration
of peace was held at a busy Palatine intersection. Click
To See Details >>
*** LATEST ***
June
11th Confronting Caterpillar
WE
REMEMBER RACHEL CORRIE!
END HOME DEMOLITIONS IN PALESTINE!
NW
SUSTAIN joined other groups including Aurora based "We the People "
and Students for Social Justice for a protest at the Aurora location of Caterpillar
Corporation. We called for an end to the supply of D-9 bulldozers to the IOF.
These are used for illegal collective punishments such as home demolitions. This
was also the weapon used in the Murder of American peace volunteer Rachel Corrie.
Protest
rips Cat over Israeli bulldozers
Unrest: Palestinian sympathizers say machines destroy homes and crops
By Steve Lord STAFF WRITER
AURORA - Kevin Clark has a clear memory of watching Israeli soldiers pull
bulldozers up to checkpoints near Noblus, a city of 129,000 in the occupied West
Bank.
"When they brought the bulldozers through, the look of fear was
unbelievable," said Clark, a member of the Northwest Suburban SUSTAIN
(Stop U.S. Tax-funded Aid to Israel Now). "They know the reason the
bulldozers are there. Either to demolish their homes or their olive
groves."
Clark, of Palatine, was assisting Palestinians in the occupied
settlements at the time. The Israelis were there to destroy homes of the
families of suspected suicide bombers. The bulldozers were made by Caterpillar
Inc., which has a plant outside Aurora.
That's why Clark and about 20 other demonstrators stood outside the Cat
plant Wednesday afternoon during a shift change.
Clark said the mission was to let workers at the plant know what their
company was up to, although he admitted research tells his organization the D-9
bulldozers used in Israel are manufactured in Arizona, not at the Aurora plant.
"This is the first time we've been at a plant," Clark said.
"We have been demonstrating at offices, but we wanted to let the workers
know."
Wednesday's protest was sponsored by SUSTAIN, Students for Social Justice
and the Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism.
Clark said a larger version is planned with about 100 organizations, and
perhaps 3,000 to 4,000 people, at some point at the main Cat plant and offices
in Peoria.
"We have put the company on notice that, on that day, we intend to
serve a citizens' arrest on (Caterpillar Chief Executive Officer and Chairman)
Glen Barton," Clark said.
Caterpillar, in a corporate statement read by D. Hudson Fortune,
communications manager at the Aurora plant, said that, while the company
understands there is political unrest in the world, there is nothing they can do
about it. The statement said Cat has sold more than 2 million machines and
products worldwide. "We have neither the legal right nor the means to
police individual use of that equipment," the statement said. It went on to
say that is better addressed by government leaders who do have that authority.
Taking numbers Demonstrators carried signs showing photos of some of the
destruction they say the bulldozers have caused. They also held photos of Rachel
Corrie, an American volunteer working in the occupied territories, who was run
over and killed by a bulldozer in March as she tried to stop it from destroying
a house.
One demonstrator carried a coffin in Corrie's memory. Another wore a
cardboard bulldozer replica, with the words "Caterterrorism" written
on the side.
"We want to tell the American workers to be aware that their products
are killing people . . ." said Daoud Nabhan, a member of the
Naperville-based End the Occupation. "Our president is now telling the
Israelis that what they are doing is not helping the peace process. Our
president is not being listened to."
The demonstrators also passed out leaflets to passing motorists and
workers entering and leaving the property, all under the watchful eye of
Illinois state troopers. At one point, troopers angered some protesters by
taking down license plate numbers of the demonstrators.
While Wednesday's action took two hours, Clark promised there will be
longer and bigger actions ahead. "We will be in Peoria, and there
will be more people that day," he said.
Aurora Beacon-News
June 12, 2003
