CPTnet
23 January 2006

IRAQ/WASHINGTON DC UPDATE: "Shine the Light" Campaign, 12-18 January 2006

Thursday, 12 January

Rey Lopez and Cliff Kindy met with Damu Smith, director of Black Voices for
Peace, about the 16 January Martin Luther King Day events.

Anne Herman, Kindy and other friends attended the National Press Club as
Paul Bremer spoke about his new book, _My Year in Iraq_. Kindy, in a
question period, noted the different perspectives from inside and outside
the Green Zone enclave of U.S. power in Iraq and asked Bremer, "When will
the U.S. start to use the nonviolent tools that work instead of the violent
tools that only destroy all parties?"

Friday, 13 January Four CPTers met with Graylan Hagler, pastor at the
Plymouth Congregational UCC Church. Hagler regaled the CPTers with stories
of strategic nonviolence, facing off against parties such as Exxon over
property, huge banks over lending practices, and liquor store/men's club
over moral issues in his area of D.C. Gene Stoltzfus and Pat Basler arrived
to join the core team in D.C.

ABC-TV and NPR (National Public Radio) did interviews that focused on CPTer
Tom Fox. ABC was comparing Fox's risk-taking with that of private
contractors in Iraq and NPR focused more on Fox and CPTers' personal stories
from Iraq.

Lopez and Kindy attended the evening vigil at Langley Hill Friends Meeting,
a regular weekly gathering since the disappearance of the four CPTers 26
November 2005.

Saturday, 14 January

The CPT core met over an evening meal with the DC CPT regional group and
shared stories from Iraq and the outline of Shine the Light Campaign plans.

Sunday, 15 January

The Shine the Light Campaign focused on the White House, where U.S.
President George W. Bush lives. The procession to the White House and two
circuits of the huge complex were led by a hooded person, representing all
those held captive by the war. Other CPTers used various light sources to
uncover the things hidden by that institution and also to proclaim release
to the captives. The day closed with a worship in front of the White House.
About twenty people participated in the day's activities, representing over
ten different states and provinces.

Monday, 16 January

Michael and Char Smith from Illinois joined the core group. Lopez and
Basler gathered with others for a witness at FEMA and Homeland Security
raising concerns about the racist response to Katrina's impact on New
Orleans and the U.S. South. Afterwards, about thirty people connected to
CPT attended the events of the Black Voices MLK Day at Plymouth
Congregational Church. The event marked the kickoff of the nationwide
speaking tour for three African American mothers whose sons had died in
Iraq.

To invite them to speak, call Black Voices for Peace at 202-232-5690.

Tuesday, 17 January

Seven CPTers formed a procession to "shine the light" at the offices of
Homeland Security. Ruby Sales from Spirit House, DC, led the closing worship
at the White House, a worship that gathered five additional people from the
street into its fellowship. Kindy had an interview with BBC-Brazil,
comparing Fox's disappearance with that of a Brazilian civilian captured in
Iraq this past year.

Wednesday, 18 January

Herman represented CPT at trials for the dozens of persons arrested at the
White House in a witness against the Iraq war in September.

The rest of the team did a triple circuit of the International Monetary Fund
and World Bank buildings with the hooded captive. Joe Roos led the worship
at the White House after the procession circled that complex.

For more information on past and upcoming "Shine the Light" events go to
http://www.cpt.org/iraq/shinethelight.php