violachic

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Dear Friends of Christian Peacemaker Teams,

Yesterday we received the tragic news that our friend and colleague, Tom Fox, was killed in Baghdad. Tom was kidnapped on November 26 along with three other CPT workers – Canadians Jim Loney and Harmeet Sooden, and Briton Norman Kember.

Please join us for a public vigil to stand in the light of Tom’s courageous witness and to pray for the safe release of Jim, Harmeet and Norman still missing in Iraq. Details of the vigil and CPT’s "Response to the Death of Peacemaker Tom Fox" follow:

Prayer Vigil: "Standing in the Light of Tom’s Witness"

Saturday, March 11; 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Federal Plaza; Chicago (Adams & Dearborn)

Join Christian Peacemaker Teams to honor the life and memory of Tom Fox, Christian peacemaker killed in Baghdad, and pray for the safe release of James Loney, Norman Kember and Harmeet Sooden still missing in Iraq

Photos of Tom Fox, and others missing in Iraq, are available on our website: www.cpt.org

MEDIA ALERT - PRESS CONFERENCE



Chicago - Water Tower Park, 820 North Michigan Ave., 2:00 P.M. CST
Toronto - 25 Cecil St., 1:00 P.M. EST


Missing Peacemakers Alive in Iraq


Photos of CPT Shine the Light actions calling for justice for Iraqi detainees and of
photos of CPTers who are missing in Iraq available on website at www.cpt.org



We are so grateful and heartened to see James, Harmeet, Norman and Tom alive on the
video tape dated January 21. This news is an answer to our prayers. We continue to
hope and pray for their release.



All of us in Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) remain very disturbed by the abduction
of our teammates. We pray that those who hold them will host them with the grace
that so many of us in CPT have received as guests in Iraq. James, Harmeet, Norman
and Tom are peace workers who have not collaborated with the occupation of Iraq and
who have worked for justice for all Iraqis, especially those detained.



We continue to believe that what has happened to our teammates is the result of the
actions of the U.S. and U.K. governments in their illegal attack on Iraq and the
continuing occupation and oppression of its people. We continue to call for justice
and human rights for all who are detained in Iraq. The innocent should not suffer
in the place of those who have done wrong.



CPT has organized public actions for peace and justice for Iraqi detainees. This
weekend major events are scheduled for Washington DC, Toronto and Chicago. See
www.cpt.org for details.



Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has long worked for the rights of Iraqi prisoners
who have been illegally detained and abused. We were the first to publicly denounce
the torture of Iraqi people at the hands of U.S. forces, long before the western
media admitted what was happening at Abu Ghraib. We are among the few internationals
left in Iraq working for human rights and peace. We hope that we can continue to do
this work and we pray for the speedy release of our beloved teammates.



Christian Peacemaker Teams has been present in Iraq since October 2002, providing
first-hand, independent reports from the region, working with detainees of both
United States and Iraqi forces, and training others in non-violent intervention and
human rights documentation.



Christian Peacemaker Teams is a violence reduction program. Teams of trained
peacemakers work in areas of lethal conflict around the world.

This is what I'm doing today....

MEDIA ALERT

WHAT: Public Witness to Shine the Light
on Abuse of Detainees
WHEN: Tuesday, January 17, 12:00 pm
WHERE: Federal Plaza (corner of Adams and Dearborn
in downtown Chicago)
WHO: Christian Peacemaker Teams
WHY: To shine light on torture and abuse
of Iraqi detainees in our current
time of war.


In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and active witness against all forms of violence, members and supporters of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) will gather at Federal Plaza. Participants will engage in a silent vigil/dramatization: shining light on hooded detainees to illuminate the less visible attrocities of war and occupation. Passersby will be invited to sign a giant petition/postcard which a delegation will present to Senator Durbin’s office at the close of the vigil.

Photo Op: Hooded detainees standing on cartons, with participants shining light on them.

Christian Peacemaker Teams is a faith-based organization that supports efforts to reduce violence around the world. CPT has roots in the Mennonite Church, the Church of the Bretheren and the Religious Society of Friends, and includes members from Protestant and Catholic traditions.




*On a whim last week, I put myself on the "arrestable" list. I highly doubt the CD we're going to do will actually get us arrested, which is good, because I figured out that I really don't have the energy to get arrested. I'm a bad activist.

(note: the action itself will not place anyone present in the danger of being arrested, you can still show up on your lunch hour and show support if you're interested)