Christian peacemakers stage anti-war protest
Wearing sackcloth, a small group of protesters read a prayer, then placed stacks of paper listing American and Iraqis who have died in the current conflict. Then, they rubbed the ashes from the fire on the each other's foreheads, calling it their sign of repentance.
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Members of Christian Peacemaker Teams burn the names of Americans and Iraqis killed in war.
Photo by Elizabeth Tenety, Medill News Service |
The war protesters, all members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams, demonstrated at the Chicago office of U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Chicago) at 3742 W. Irving Park Rd. Emanuel was not present.
The purpose of the vigil was to ask the congressman "to publicly pledge to vote against any future supplemental spending requests to fund the continuing war and occupation of Iraq," according to a letter addressed to the congressman.
While Emanuel has criticized the administration's strategy in Iraq, he has previously supported war funding legislation. The protesters want Emanuel to vote against further funding requests.
During the protest, five members of the team were arrested. They were charged with trespassing and released Wednesday.
Daniel Gerber, 65, an active Mennonite, was one of those taken into custody. Despite his arrest, he said he would take anti-war action again.
"You can pray if you wish," he said. "You can sing songs. But unless I take really concrete steps then people who really have the power to change things might not do anything."
Another protester, Sarah MacDonald, 36, of Iowa City, Iowa, said she woke up Tuesday morning expecting to get arrested. While in custody she was able to speak with other inmates.
"I learned a lot," she said. "In that way, it was really quite wonderful."
The Christian Peacemaker Teams plan additional protests in upcoming months.
According to Kathleen Connery, Emanuel's representative, the office is "always open to any Chicagoan who needs our assistance, who has a concern or who wants to express his views."