CPTnet
March 19, 2004

CHICAGO: "Break Every Yoke" Fast for Iraqi Detainees--CPT Staff spend night
in Federal Plaza

As part of CPT's "Break Every Yoke" Lenten Fast to call for justice for
Iraqi detainees (www.cpt.org), four CPT staffers spent Wednesday
night (March 17) in near-sub-zero weather at the Chicago Federal Plaza in
tents. In doing so, they hope to dramatize the harsh conditions endured by
Iraqi detainees at the hands of the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority.
Upwards of 18,000 Iraqis are held by CPA forces, often without charges and
due process, in locations unknown to their families.

As the temperature dropped, CPT Director Gene Stoltzfus, Canada Coordinator
Doug Pritchard, and staffers Mark Frey and Sarah Phend set-up the tents at
6:00 p.m., then proceeded to hand out information leaflets to passers by.
At 9pm, a police officer on bicycle stopped to talk to the group and to
check on the permit to be in the public space. After Stoltzfus joked, "I
hear the police are going to bring us coffee," the officer responded, "I'll
see what I can do" and later returned with donuts and coffee.

 Later, a gentlemen stopped to talk to the group, asked if he could share a
song and proceeded to expertly sing selections from Stevie Wonder, Otis
Redding, and other Motown artists. The CPTers responded by singing, "We are
Marching in the Light of God."

In the morning CPTers continued to hand out leaflets while two media
photographers took pictures of the tents. When the permit expired, the
CPTers packed up the equipment.

Before leaving, Stoltzfus and Frey quickly visited the Federal Building
Chicago offices of Senators Durbin and Fitzgerald where they explained their
night-long presence in the plaza, dropped off CPT's report on Iraqi
detainees and asked the Senators to make working on the issue a priority.