CPT Training: Public Witness Reflection

The old saying goes, “You get what you pay for.”

On July 22, The Christian Peace Maker Teams training group delivered to Democratic Congressman Rahm Emmanuel exactly what he has paid for by funding the war in Iraq . Representative Emmanuel, the fourth most powerful democrat in congress, voted in support of the $482 billion military budget and the $145 billion additional funding request while the war on Iraq continues to bring death and destruction.

The CPT training group dramatized this for the Congressman through a symbolic nonviolent direct action. Dressed as a delivery man and bringing with them symbols of death and destruction, CPTers entered the Representative’s local Chicago office carrying broken household items, damaged toys, the bumper of a car, and boxes symbolizing the destruction of Iraq . These items were accompanied by Iraqi civilians, U.S. soldiers, and one CPTer, whom upon entering the office symbolically died. These actions represented the death and destruction the war has wrought on the Iraqi people, the U.S. soldiers, and the CPTer, Tom Fox.

The delivery man engaged the office supervisor by reminding her that the Congressman Emmanuel ordered this delivery with his continued funding of the war on Iraq . The items were offered to be returned and removed from the office if he would committee to signing a pledge to stop the funding. However, the office supervisor was reminded that if the congressman denied the offer, the delivery would remain in the office along with a peace Lilly as a reminder that the path to peace can start with the ending of funding for the war. The offer to sign the pledge was denied and the items of destruction and dearth stayed in the office until reminding Representative Emmanuel of the old saying “You get what you pay for”

Nine CPTers were arrested for refusing to leave the office and charged with criminal trespass and are due in court on August 15th. Those arrested where Dennis Bricker of Iowa City, Iowa, Haven Downing of Breton, Canada, Sophia Hochstedler of Chicago, Illinois, Paul Horst of Chicago, Illinois, Craig Kite of Waldorf, Maryland, Sam Nichols of San Diego, Andy Oliver of Tumwater, Washington, Hilary Scarsella of Bloomington, Indiana, and Jessica Philips of Chicago, Illinois.