TORTURE: Facts, Fiction, and the need for Justice - June 6th
Li Onesto is the author of Dispatches From the People's War in Nepal (Pluto Press/Insight Press, 2005) and a writer for Revolution newspaper, which published her series, "Torture Techniques at Guantanamo: 'Communist Inspired,' or ...Developed, Refined and Exported by the USA?" in 2008.
Frank Summers, Ph.D., ABPP is a supervising and training analyst at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Medical School. A faculty member of the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis and four other psychoanalytic institutes, he is the author of three books: Object relations theories and psychopathology: A comprehensive text (1994), Transcending the self (1999), and Self creation: Psychoanalytic therapy and the art of the possible (2005). A member of the Editorial Board of Psychoanalytic Psychology, he maintains a private practice of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapry in Chicago, Illinois. Currently, Dr. Summers is president of Psychoanalysts for Social Responsibility and has worked for the past five years to prohibit psychologists from participating in detention centers.
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Out of Sight; Out of View; Too Political for Major U.S. Art Museums
A Mom, a Vet, and a High School Student -
on opposing military recruitment, protesting escalating wars: creating resistance in the age of Obama
Sunday, May 3RD at 1:00PM
Roosevelt University
430 S. Michigan Ave.
Cindy Sheehan
Following the death of her son Casey in Iraq, Cindy Sheehan's public persistence in demanding the truth from Bush in the summer of 2005 inspired tens of thousands to speak out and resist.
Tireless, fearless, audacious "peace mom" Cindy Sheehan has now written a new book called Myth America: 10 Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case for Revolution!
Available at http://cindysheehanssoapbox.com
Marine artilleryman who served during the initial invasion of Iraq:
"The initial invasion of Iraq was the beginning of my involvement in the anti-war movement, although I didn't realize it then. Upon calling off the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, I realized that everything we had fought for and sacrificed was for a lie.
Three years later I would join Iraq Veterans Against the War and ever since then have grown to believe that almost all wars are based on lies and deception."
Senior in high school and filmmaker, Matt speaks both as an active resister and a member of the generation who is being called on now to join the US military to become the 40,000 additional troops that Barack Obama has pledged to enlist.
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Contact: World Can't Wait - Chicago Chapter chicago@worldcantwait.org.
By phone at: 773-227-2453
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THE HOLY NAME SIX SPOKE FOR US - NOW THEY NEED OUR HELP!
On Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, six young people disrupted mass at the Holy Name Cathedral to protest the sixth year of the Iraq war. As Cardinal George started his homily, six well-dressed young people in the congregation stood up. One loudly said, "The sixth commandment says, 'thou shall not kill.'" George stopped speaking as all eyes turned to the protesters. "Yet more than a million Iraqis have been killed since the invasion of Iraq," said a second protester.
The six were immediately removed from the church, arrested, and held for felony charges of battery and destruction of property. They were released after a few days, having raised a $30,000 bond, and faced up to 5 years in prison.
Since then, the group, which became known as The Holy Name Six, reports:
"...because of the effectiveness of our action in getting publicity, we were slammed pretty hard in court. Although we intended no damage to the church's carpet, we were charged under a felony law meant to punish people who try to burn churches. The sentence incurred 3-5 years in prison. We ended up playing it safe and pleading to a misdemeanor charge (attempted defacement of property). Part of the plea was that we had to pay restitution to the church before we would be sentenced. We didn't think we would be able to afford it, but an amazing couple from the CPT that had been going to all our court dates fronted us the money. We still owe them $12,000 which we are paying off slowly."
In the aftermath of the action, as these protesters were vilified in the press and threatened with years in prison, World Can't Wait initiated a petition in their defense which read: "Three days into the sixth year of the occupation of Iraq, six young people challenged the continuation of business as usual at a time of war crimes during Easter Mass at the most prominent Catholic church in Chicago. This unjust occupation is illegal and criminal, and their call to stop it was correct and moral."
Speaking to the press after their sentencing, exposing that they had been denied food and beaten by guards while being held at Cook County jail last year, one of the protesters stated,
"If any of this helps to end the war, then that was like nothing."
These unrepentant resisters deserve our support!
Go to their blog for video and reports on the situation, and to donate to the restitution fund at: http://holyname6.blogspot.com.
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REPORT ON MARCH 14TH RALLY IN PILSEN -- END THE OCCUPATIONS NOW!
Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine! -- Stop the Attacks on Immigrants!
It was a warm, crisp and clear day for the Pilsen rally and being outside with fellow peace and immigrant rights activists felt like the best place to be.
As we marked the 6TH anniversary of the attack on Iraq, and entering the 8th year with the US in a state of war with the world, we see a whole planet still threatened by continuation of the policies that emerged after George Bush invaded Afghanistan, and then Iraq, saying the "war on terror" justified torture, domestic spying, and even suggested possible nuclear first strikes anywhere! Over these eight long years, by the actions of the U.S. and its Israeli partner-in-crime, we have seen the countries of Syria, Somalia and Pakistan attacked, thousands of civilians in Lebanon and Gaza killed (with support & approval from Washington), and Iran surrounded by US troops illegally occupying Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, in 2009, Bush has left office, but the "war on terror" continues.
With Obama's administration still retaining many of the "tools" of this war, including "extraordinary" rendition (to torture people in other countries), escalating use of drone strikes in Pakistan; often killing whole families with these remote controlled machines that terrorize thousands, and now a "surge" of 30,000 troops into Afghanistan, the civilians of these countries find themselves caught in a deadly and self-perpetuating cycle of terror, both from the Islamic fundamentalists fighting against the US, and the much greater terror of US aggression directed at civilians. What we can clearly see, after 7 full years of abject failure, death and destruction, is that this cycle can only be stopped when the people of those countries, combined with the actions of people in this country, together refuse to strengthen either side, and instead confront the certain fact that there is no "good" war on terror, and these are in fact, wars for empire.
The same empire that forces people to migrate from countries decimated by the economic pressures of domination and exploitation, now thirsts for the blood of the children of immigrants and of other oppressed people, who are being recruited to join the military and become part of expanding the war machine. On top of all this, recruiters now lie to high school students, saying that it's okay to join the military now; since, with President Obama, the "wars are already over."
Thanks to all who joined with us in continuing to act in a way that is so visible and powerful it can be seen all over the world, especially in the countries that have been targets of this aggression.
THE WORLD CAN'T 'WAIT AND SEE' WHILE WAR CONTINUES!
No more wars for empire!
Your participation helped to make this another powerful day of protest and resistance that is so urgently needed.
Contact us today and get involved: chicago@worldcantwait.org.
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MARCH ON THE PENTAGON! Washington, DC
Saturday March 21ST Update: The next opportunity to pass the resolution is at the City Council meeting on July 30th. Call your alderman before then and email us at chicago@worldcantwait.org how he/she will be voting. Plan to attend the meeting at City Hall at 10 a.m., Wednesday July 30th. Will you be silent as your government steps up its pressure and war preparations against Iran - a Third World country half-way around the world? Bush: "all options are on the table." Will you listen passively as all the candidates repeat Bush's lies and threats? January 31st Report from Chicago: In driving snow and 12 below wind chill about 65 people converged on the State of Illinois Building Plaza at 12 noon. Vets for Peace and Code Pink from Indiana were the first to arrive followed by students from DePaul University, Columbia College, and Mother McCauley High School, who marched in chanting and agitating. Students from the Chicago School of Psychology, Loyola University, Northeastern University, and University of Illinois at Chicago also were present. (more...) The Clock is Ticking for A US Attack on Iran -
Dave Lindorff, 04/26/2008 (more...) Bush Admits to Knowledge of Torture Authorization by Top Advisers - 4/12/2008. In a stunning admission to ABC news Friday night, President Bush declared that he knew his top national security advisers discussed and approved specific details of the CIA's use of torture. Bush reportedly told ABC, "I'm aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved." Bush also defended the use of waterboarding. (more...) G.W. Bush Is a Criminal, Like His Dad - Robert Parry, January 31, 2008 Everybody in the room knew what the unspoken reality was, but nobody dared say it: George W. Bush authorized torture, which is a crime under U.S. and international law. (more...) There are too many moments these days when we cannot recognize our country. Sunday was one of them, as we read the account in The Times of how men in some of the most trusted posts in the nation plotted to cover up the torture of prisoners by Central Intelligence Agency interrogators by destroying videotapes of their sickening behavior. It was impossible to see the founding principles of the greatest democracy in the contempt these men and their bosses showed for the Constitution, the rule of law and human decency. (more...) - Looking at America, The New York Times, December 31, 2007 In times such as these, the American people must speak up and make their sentiments known, acting independently as THE PEOPLE. Let us not go down in history as infamously standing silent in the face of grave crimes the way the "Good Germans" allowed the Nazis to carry out their atrocities. Wear orange - a ribbon, wristband, bandana, and so on - daily. Its wearing is a sign of solidarity with those our government imprisons and tortures. Its wearing means that you stand against torture and tyranny. The time for private grumbling is over. The time for speaking out and acting is here. (full comment here ...) - Comment by Dr. Dennis Loo, Los Angeles (Highlighted by NYTimes editors)
Visit the website for a wrap up summary of this event: Go to: http://www.pentagonmarch.org.
VEIW THE ACTIONS TAKEN FOR FOR COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. MILITARY FORCES & MERCENARIES FROM IRAQ!
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Chicago Speaks Out Against an Attack on Iran
Support the City Council Resolution
You Make the Difference!
WCW Chicago June 26 - Fire John Yoo
WCW Chicago January 31
"We Won't Live in a Torture State" 
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