CPTnet
4 May 2007
CHICAGO: CPTers participate in May Day nonviolent witnesses

CPTers across the United States added their bodies and voices to massive
immigrant solidarity events and marches that filled US city streets on 1
May 2007.

In Chicago, local CPTers -- some pushing strollers, others walking with
canes -- marched with a crowd of 150,000 through the downtown Loop.
Waving US flags and blowing horns, the peaceful marchers chanted, "Bush
escucha, estamos en la lucha!" ("Listen Bush, we are in the struggle")
and held signs that read "Para Dios, no hay Illegales", ("For God, there
are no illegal people.") "Did the Pilgrims have papers?" and "Muslims for
the American Dream."

Another Chicago CPTer was a "co-captain" of a bus organized by a
neighborhood association that transported parents and elementary and
middle school youth from a neighborhood school to the march.

One CPTer noted after the march "it took over an hour to get
home...because the CTA [Chicago Transit Authority] did not make the Pink
line trains -- which traverse Chicago's most Latino neighborhoods -- as
long as others." He also noted, "My self-concept as an ally to the
undocumented was corrected by a mainstream media report that reminded me
that the 150,000 of us present were 'illegal aliens all.'" Another CPTer
reflected, "We were h0nored to be a part of supporting such a good cause.
We are all immigrants."

Other CPTers observed May Day by taking a more contemplative approach and
joining the New York Catholic Worker communities in their May Day annual
liturgy and celebration, during which Dan Berrigan shared a powerful homily.

CPTers in Denver, like Chicago, joined the people as they filled the
streets, many holding US flags and signs that read "Stop the Raids Now!"
and "Keep families united!"--references to the work-place rounding-up and
imprisonment of undocumented workers by immigration authorities. A number
of prominent raids have occurred in the Denver area, and in many cases
these raids have separated undocumented parents from their citizen children.

In Brownsville, a CPTer played an important role in the organizing that
led-up to that city's downtown march. In that 1,000-person march,
children led the group wearing orange jumpsuits to symbolize the children
whom immigration authorities have caught in immigration raids, imprisoned
and given prison-issue orange clothing.

An Iowa CPTer attended an event that called for the end of the Iraq war
and linked Iraq war issues with immigrant solidarity.

Still others took an educational approach. A CPT Steering Committee
member wrote an editorial essay tying the issue of immigration and racial
justice to his local context. LaGrange, GA, a town of 27,000 with fewer
than 3,000 immigrants often targets immigrants and low wage workers at
road blocks in order to collect fines from unlicensed drivers. (See
http://tinyurl.com/23xrry)

In many locations, turn-out for the marches was lower than last year.
Organizers suspect the recent massive work-place raids frightened many
from attending.

____________

To stop receiving messages from CPTNET on MennoLink, do NOT hit reply. Send
a message with only the word, "suspend," in the body to
server [at] MennoLink [dot] org.

 Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) seeks to enlist the whole church in
organized, nonviolent alternatives to war and places teams of trained
peacemakers in regions of lethal conflict. Originally a violence-reduction
initiative of the historic peace churches (Mennonite, Church of the
Brethren and Quaker), CPT now enjoys support and membership from a wide
range of Christian denominations.

To ask questions or express concerns, criticisms and affirmations
send messages to peacemakers [at] cpt [dot] org [dot] To?Subject=Re:%20CHICAGO:%20CPTers%20participate%20in%20May%20Day%20nonviolent%20witnesses&In-Reply-To=<1178288662@mennolink> receive news or discussion of
Cotises by e-mail, fill out the form found on our WEB page
at http://www.cpt.org/subscribe.php. Donate to CPT on-line with your
credit card! Go to http://cpt.org/donate.php and click the DONATE button to
make a contribution through Network for Good, a secure way to help support
CPT.