CPTNet
July 22, 2002
CHICAGO: CPT Trainees bear witness to bloodshed caused by Boeing weapons

On July 22, Chicago police arrested three people, including CPT Training
participants Jessica Phillips (Encinal, TX) and Char Smith (Gibson City, IL)
during a prayer vigil outside the Boeing World
Headquarters. The arrest occurred after vigillers poured twelve gallons of
environmentally-safe concentrated food coloring into the Chicago River. The
section of river below Boeing Headquarters ran red as a graphic symbol of
the bloodshed caused by Boeing weapons around the world.

As the red dye spread throughout the water, thirty CPTers and Chicago-area
supporters conducted a worship service consisting of prayer, singing and
litany-reading at the entrance to Boeing. Participants gave examples of
violence involving Boeing weapons that CPTers have witnessed including

* Apache Helicopters attacking Palestinian communities and killing
civilians, including children

*Boeing's automatic weapons being used to threaten civilians in Colombia

*the effects of a 2000 pound Boeing "smart" bomb on a residential
neighborhood in Afghanistan.

The authorities released Smith and Phillips that night at 11:20pm after
charging them with "dumping." The two women are ordered to appear in court
on September 20, 2002.

The Boeing witness was organized by Peacemaker Corps and Reserve Corps
applicants participating in CPT's summer training which runs through August
14. In addition to Phillips and Smith, group members include: Kristin
Anderson (Willmar, MN), Lisa Brightup (Wichita, KS), Tricia Brown (Newberg,
OR), Diana Epp-Fransen (Winnipeg, MB), Penn Garvin and Doug Orbaker
(Mifflinburg, OR), Ali Gohar (Harrisonburg, VA), Sue Rhodes (Cumbria,
England), Stewart Vriesinga (Lucknow, ON), Mary Yoder (Columbus, OH), and
Kathie Uhler (Brooklyn, NY).