CAPA’s 42nd Annual Fall Benefit
The Hidden US Empire and Its Cost to Us All
Thursday, October 21st
6:00— 7:30pm
via Zoom
For years, Chicago Area Peace Action has focused its energy on working against the twin existential threats of accidental or designed nuclear war and unsustainable climate destabilization. But this year we choose to pause and shift our analysis inward, in the recognition that it is impossible to plot a path forward without a thorough understanding of what got us here.
Professor Daniel Immerwahr, a historian at Northwestern University and author of How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States, provides an excellent recounting of the United States’ drift toward and full embrace of expansionism and global empire while it seeks to minimize the optics of such egregious behavior. Starting with the founding of the original colonies up until the present day, Professor Immerwahr recounts with brilliant clarity the path of imperial growth and the exploitative behavior that we never learned about in school, and consequently are taught to conveniently ignore. This also explains why the United States now operates, almost invisibly, more than 800 military bases in 140 sovereign nations across the globe.
What is the cost of the United States’ ambivalence toward the negative externalities that primarily impact those who we have determined don’t belong? How does this ambivalence impact our work as peace activists, and what can we do about it? Because as George Satayana and Winston Churchill have said, “those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.”
Join us this coming October 21 to learn more about the history of our nation’s imperialism. With this new understanding we can engage in greater solidarity work with people the world over and not repeat the errors of our past. We will strive to articulate a vision for what Martin Luther King called a “radical revolution of values”, and begin to address and overcome the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and abject militarism.
Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/1np33Lamu
Ticket Link: bit.ly/CAPABenefit2021
Emergency Response if the US Attacks Iran
On the day of an attack, 5:30 PM
Trump Tower, Wacker & Wabash Ave
With the growing threat of a U.S. military attack on Iran and its forces in the region ─ which could lead to full-scale war killing many thousands ─ several organizations in the Chicago area have come together to have a unified response against war in the event of such an attack.
On the day of the attack we will gather for an action beginning at 5:30 pm in front of Trump Tower, corner of Wacker and Wabash Avenues in Chicago. If the attack is announced after 3 pm, the action will occur at 5:30 pm the next day. Further actions will likely be announced at this initial action.
For more information, please email chicagoantiwar@gmail.com
Cosponsors:
Albany Park, North Park, Mayfair Neighbors for Peace and Justice
ANSWER – Chicago
Chicago Area Peace Action
Chicago Anti-War Coalition
Chicago Committee Against War & Racism
Freedom Road Socialist Organization
Gay Liberation Network
Peace United Against Oppression
Voices for Creative Non-Violence
Protecting Our Planet
One Pipeline at a Time
Join us Sunday, October 17th, 2021 from 2-4pm
@ Elliot Park, 1200 Lake Shore Blvd in Evanston
for an afternoon of activism and connection!
Want to protect the water and the climate? Come join the
movement to stop two tar sand pipeline expansions in the Midwest!
Enbridge’s Line 3 crosses under the Mississippi, violates treaty rights, and is the
climate equivalent of building 50 new coal plants. Their Line 5 is drilling under the
straits of Mackinac in our very own Great Lakes!
Hear speakers from the front lines, listen to music from Creative Artists and Activists
in Service Together LIVE!, and learn how you can support the Water Protectors Legal
Fund. There will be an open mic if anyone has music or poetry to share.
Bring a chair or blanket, a mask, and a friend.
Hope to see you at the park! (unless it rains)
#WaterIsLife #StopLine3 #StopLine5
20 Years After 9/11: The Empire’s Descent
Wednesday, August 25th
6:00— 7:30pm CST
Buttercup Park Uptown
4901 N Sheridan Rd
The September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, DC ushered in a wave of political and social reaction that haunts the world to this day. Politicians cynically used the crisis atmosphere to “re-order” politics, increasing the U.S. government’s power both domestically and internationally.
Within weeks, the U.S. military, with overwhelming support from both major political parties, launched the war in Afghanistan, its longest war ever. Other “forever wars” in Iraq and elsewhere soon followed. Today the U.S. government’s “right” to bomb or outright invade other countries goes virtually unchallenged.
Meanwhile, anti-terrorist hype gave license to domestic police forces to pump themselves up with military-grade hardware and harass or repress those in oppressed communities who organize against them.
Following 9/11, the U.S. had a preview of the open bigotry of the Trump years with a wave of racist murders and other physical attacks against Arabs, Muslims, and South Asian people and their institutions. Racist depictions of Arabs became standard fare in movies, TV programs and legislatures.
Washington made an already hostile environment for immigrants much worse by passing the USA PATRIOT ACT that founded the Department of Homeland Security and its notorious subdivision, ICE. Further restrictions on the rights of asylum seekers and refugees followed.
A host of Constitutional principles protecting freedom of association, outlawing torture and forbidding imprisonment without due process were violated with impunity. Dissent was shouted down and whistle-blowers were vilified and persecuted, while high government officials sanctioning torture and murder were given a free pass by both parties.
On the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we invite you to participate in a community discussion of how this tragedy was used to brutalize our country while destroying hundreds of thousands of lives in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Only by knowing our history can we organize to win a non-dystopian future for ourselves and the world.
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To provide maximum protection against the pandemic and because it’s still summertime (!), our discussion will be held outside at Buttercup Park located at 4901 N Sheridan Road (4 blocks from the “Argyle” Red Line stop). Masks are required. There is some seating on the side of a planter and organizers will be bringing what extra folding chairs that we can. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lightweight portable chairs too, if it’s not too much trouble.
Rain location is underneath the large eaves of the McCutcheon Elementary School at the south end of Buttercup Park.
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Our discussion will be led by:
Michael Deutsch – Michael was one of the lawyers for the Attica prisoners following their 1971 uprising and the massacre of prisoners authorized by the governor of New York. He initially worked on the defense of prisoners charged with criminal offenses, and subsequently helped obtain a $12 million settlement for the prisoners’ class-action civil rights suit against New York State officials. He has represented Puerto Rican Independence activists over the past 40 years. He was lead counsel in obtaining the clemency release of the Puerto Rican nationalist prisoners, including Lolita Lebron and Rafael Cancel Miranda from President Jimmy Carter in 1979. In 2006, he and Erica Thompson successfully defended Muhammad Salah, a Palestinian indicted for allegedly running a terrorist-recruiting and financing cell in the United States. He is a past legal director of the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights.
Kathy Kelly – Kathy has traveled to war zones and lived alongside ordinary people in Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza, Lebanon, Bosnia, Haiti and Nicaragua. She and her companions in various peace team delegations believe the U.S. should end all U.S. military and economic warfare and pay reparations for the suffering that the U.S. has caused. Kathy has refused to pay all federal income taxes since 1980. She spent a year in maximum security prison for planting corn on nuclear missile silo sites, which was the first and longest of her three federal prison sentences following nonviolent direct actions.
2021 Peace Action Virtual Lobby Days Extravaganza
Tuesday, June 15— Thursday, June 16
Join the Peace Action network June 15-17 for our 2021 VLD Extravaganza — a conference consisting of briefings on key peace issues from nuclear disarmament to cutting Pentagon bloat to ending endless wars, along with direct advocacy trainings. Detailed agenda to come, but you can register now!
After the meeting, we’ll push to get one step closer to a sane foreign policy through advocacy meetings with Members of Congress!
If you are able, we ask you consider a $20 donation to help fund this work: bit.ly/2021VLD_Donation
Notes:
– If you are interested in participating in a lobby visit(s) with your Senators and Representatives alongside Peace Action staff or other leaders, we are requiring attendance of our Lobby Visit 101 training.
– Times listed are overestimated to allow wiggle room for folks to join early and stay on a little late to chat.
Defend Courageous Journalism! Defend Julian Assange!
Thursday, June 17th
4:30pm CST
British Consulate, 625 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange has been the target of U.S. persecution by both leading Democrats and Republicans ever since he helped expose U.S. troops’ slaughter of civilians, including journalists, in Afghanistan and Iraq (https://collateralmurder.wikileaks.org/).
By publishing documents provided by courageous whistleblowers such as Chelsea Manning, the Wikileaks team brought to public attention a host of other U.S. crimes, from the Obama administration’s support of a bloody coup against the democratically elected government in Honduras, to U.S. backchannel support for a host of wealthy dictators in North Africa.
Rather than prosecute U.S. troops who commit serious crimes or cut off aid to dictators bilking their own peoples, many U.S. politicians responded by launching a decade-long drive to extradite Assange from Britain to the U.S. to be tried for exposing these crimes.
Leading journalists and activists from Noam Chomsky to Alice Walker to Daniel Ellsberg have recognized that Assange’s work is in the finest tradition of courageous journalism exposing the crimes of the rich and powerful, and thus must be defended.
Chicago will soon be privileged to host Assange’s father and brother as part of a national tour to pressure the Biden administration to drop its drive to extradite and persecute Assange (www.AssangeDefense.org/tour). Please join us for a Thursday, June 17th rally at 4:30 pm in front of the British consulate, 625 N. Michigan. A program featuring Assange’s father and brother and local supporters will begin at 5 pm.
Ending the Climate Emergency While We Still Can
Thursday, June 3rd
7:00pm cst
Register via Zoom
A Webinar: Beyond the Green New Deal
An analysis of the complexities of the energy transformation in the U.S.
Featuring Stan Cox: Author and senior scientist at The Land Institute, Stan Cox, will explain the need for more serious actions to avoid climate disaster, The Biden plan is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done. In his fifth book, Cox analyzes critical issues not being addressed in the dominant discourse today. Save the date! Join us on June 3rd!
Moderated by Jerome McDonnell— longtime esteemed host of WBEZ World View
Co-Sponsored by: The Evanston Library, 350 Chicago, Citizens Greener Evanston, SOIL, 350 Kishwaukee,
NEIS, Sunrise Movement Chicago, Extinction Rebellion Chicago, CAPA Loyola Student Chapter, Sunrise Chicago, CAPA UIUC Chapter, Etown Sunrise
NEIS, Sunrise Movement Chicago, Extinction Rebellion Chicago, CAPA Loyola Student Chapter, Sunrise Chicago, CAPA UIUC Chapter, Etown Sunrise
Community Solar
Thursday, May 27th
7:00pm cst
Register Via Zoom
CAPA will host another webinar with Trajectory Energy Partners on May 27th at 7pm. The webinar will review the Community Solar program that is now underway in the Chicago Area and throughout the State of Illinois. This program will enable you to subscribe to solar energy for your home electric bills while providing the following benefits:
- No roof space required.
- No up-front investment required.
- Lower your present electricity costs from ComEd.
- Your individual and community carbon footprint will be lower. (The more solar panels we subscribe to the less electricity we will be drawing from coal, gas, and oil-fired facilities)
- Conserve energy and reduce transmission losses by putting production where power is consumed.
- Reduce infrastructure costs by reducing or eliminating the need to build additional power facilities to meet increasing power demands or to meet “Peak Demand Requirements”.
In addition, if you subscribe after reviewing the information discussed in the webinar you will be eligible to receive a limited promotional offer of $400 that can be applied to your solar monthly bills. The State of Illinois has placed a high priority on Community Solar to enable a fast transition to renewable energy. Register here to attend: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7N8NxEBqT7WOPYPrVOIOdA
May 22nd & 23rd, 2021— Peace Summit 2021: Organizing Towards Peace, Justice, and Conflict Resolution
CAPA Student Network Peace Summit 2021
Organizing Towards Peace, Justice, and Conflict Resolution
Saturday, May 22nd— Sunday, May 23rd
The Peace Summit may be over, but you can watch and engage with all the recordings by clicking here!
Chicago Area Peace Action’s Student Network is planning the second annual Peace Summit! This year’s theme is Organizing Towards Peace, Justice, and Conflict Resolution.
After a year that has reshaped so many of our ways of thinking and being, as we exit the Trump era and fend off complacency under a Biden administration, the need for a more organized and more connected peace and justice movement was decided to be one of the greatest needs for the 2021 Peace Summit. New skills are required in this virtual era, and we see the many activists and organizers, old and new, in need of an outlet to stay engaged after a tumultuous year.
This year’s Peace Summit will focus on forging and strengthening relationships, developing our collective skills, and expanding our knowledge base.
Check out some of the featured speakers and workshops:
- Keynote address from Margaret Flowers of Popular Resistance
- Media Strategy Panel with Jerome McDonnell, Leonna McAfee, Hassan El-Tayyab, and Chris Geovanis
- Activism 101 Workshop with Danaka Katovich
- Antiracism + Organizing Workshop facilitated by Beautiful Trouble
- Building a Local Peace Economy with Kelly Curry
- Activism Through Pop Culture with Frank Dorrel, the publisher of Addicted to War, and Emily Dorrel, CODEPINK’s Social Media and Communications Director
- Moving Beyond an Us vs Them Perspective with Peace Journalist Robert C Koehler
- And so much more! Check out the full program by clicking here.
Prohiting the First Use of Nuclear Weapons
Saturday, May 15th, 11:30am— 4:00pm cst
Register Via Zoom
A nuclear exchange between the US and Russia would incinerate hundreds of millions of people immediately, and lead to a Nuclear Winter which would slaughter an estimated 7 billion of the Earth’s 7.7 billion people, mostly through starvation. Building back civilization would require over 1,000 years [Daniel Ellsberg talk, 12/13/2020]. A U.S. nuclear strike against China would result in a similar catastrophe.
These are the stakes. As a step toward reducing the danger of Nuclear War, a coalition of groups has called upon Congress to legislate – and the President to declare – that the United States will neither initiate nor threaten to initiate the first use of Nuclear Weapons. Register to attend: bit.ly/nfu-register.
Click here to see the full schedule: http://masspeaceaction.org/prohibiting-the-first-use-of…/
Confirmed Speakers (partial list):
Rep. Ted Lieu (California)
Special message from Sen. Ed Markey
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA; video message)
William Perry (Sec. of Defense in Clinton adm.)
Ira Helfand (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War)
Elaine Scarry (Harvard; MA Peace Action; CPDCS)
Zia Mian (Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University)
Tom Collina (Ploughshares Fund)
Tong Zhao (Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy)
Joseph Gerson (CPDCS)
John Burroughs (Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy)
Kennette Benedict (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists)
Max Tegmark (MIT)
Tom Unterrainer (Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation)
Monica Montgomery, John Isaacs (Council for a Livable World)
David Swanson (World Beyond War)
Carley Towne (CODEPINK)
Anna Baker (GBPSR)
Kevin Martin (PA)
David Borris (CAPA)
Erica Fein (Win Without War)
Denise Duffield (PSR)
Jonathan King (MAPA/MIT)
William Hartung (Center for International Policy)
Joshua Bennett (Poet, Dartmouth)
Jillian Hanesworth (Buffalo Poet Laureate)
Breakout Topics:
Why No First Use Will Keep Us Safer
Communications & Messaging
Social Media / Street Theater / Artivism
Congressional Strategy
Recruiting/Organization Building
Back From the Brink
Stopping the Money Pit Missile and Reducing Nuclear Weapons Budgets
Declaring and legislating a No First Use policy would be a major step to help avoid:
A US nuclear attack that escalates
Russia or China attacking the US due to a false alarm
Violating the US Constitution by a first strike act of war
US threats of a nuclear attack which amount to bullying and blackmailing other countries, and which carry unacceptable risk of starting a general nuclear war.
With the support of a growing number of members of Congress, and President Biden’s 2019 statement that he has supported “No First Use” for twenty years, we have a real chance to take an important step toward reducing the risks of nuclear war in the next year by getting a No First Use policy declared and legislated into law!
Join us on May 15 at a conference to discuss and implement “Prohibiting the First Use of Nuclear Weapons.” Register to attend.
The conference is free but we appreciate donations to support this work.
Cosponsors: Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security (CPDCS); Mass Peace Action (MAPA); Council for a Livable World (CLW); CodePINK; Chicago Area Peace Action (CAPA); NY Peace Action (PANYS); Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility (GBPSR); Maine Peace Action; MIT Radius; Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR); Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard; Public Citizen; Maryland Peace Action; Institute for People’s Engagement; PeaceWorks Kansas City [list still in formation]
Vigil for Yemen: Remembering 6 Years of War
Thursday, March 25th, 5:30 PM
Federal Plaza, Chicago
March 25th is the sixth anniversary of the Saudi-led and U.S. supported war on Yemen. We will gather in Federal Plaza on March 25th, socially distanced and masked, to remember those harmed by this war. With US support, the war has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. We will mourn the lives lost, and call attention to the millions of Yemenis still at risk of famine, and honor those who are internally displaced within Yemen due to this war.
We encourage attendees to bring flowers to lay down to honor and remember the countless innocent people who have been killed or starved over the last six years. Attendees will have a chance to write notes of support people in Yemen, which will be sent to Yemen Relief and Reconstruction’s office in Yemen.
While the United States has ended all “offensive” support for the war on Yemen, there are still many questions ahead of us. There is still a reality to confront: that American tax dollars and military equipment helped destroy Yemen. While we fight for transparency in regard to U.S. involvement in the war, we cannot walk away from U.S. responsibility in creating this crisis. Stopping a few arms sales to Saudi Arabia is not enough. As we mark six years since the war began, we must confront these realities.
Cosponsors:
Action Corps Illinois
Chicago Area Peace Action
CODEPINK
SWANA Chicago
Action Corps Illinois
Chicago Area Peace Action
CODEPINK
SWANA Chicago
End the Endless Wars: US Troops Out of the Middle East
Saturday, March 20th, 1:30 PM— 3:00 PM CST
End the Endless Wars: US Troops Out of the Middle East!
18 years after President Bush invaded Iraq on March 19, 2003, the US remains at war in Afghanistan and Syria. President Biden bombed Syria on February 25. The US continues to support the wars in Yemen and Libya, stations troops in Iraq and Somalia, and is selling arms to its allies Saudi, UAE, and Israel as they prepare to confront Iran. Syria and Iran are heavily sanctioned, including new “Caesar Act” sanctions which are devastating Syria’s civilian economy, and President Biden’s team is moving much too slowly to rejoin the Iran Nuclear Deal. Presidents change but the endless wars continue and escalate. Get full speaker line-up here.
Endless Wars = Few or No Gains for Working People
Saturday, March 20th, 12:00 PM
Federal Plaza, Chicago
Every new Presidential administration starts with attractive promises made to working class people: Good jobs, healthcare, prosperity for all.
If the economy does well, working people may make modest gains – these are pennies compared to the unimaginable wealth shoveled into the pockets of America’s richest people. More often, there’s stagnation and, for the poorest, outright regression. Rightwing populists build their careers and dangerous movements – blaming immigrants, Blacks, Muslims, and Jews for the nation’s problems. They inflame bigotry against LGBTQs, women and others.
Few Americans realize that, compared to other industrialized nations, the richest country in world history has by far the WORST public benefits for working parents and their children.
The reasons are not hard to find. Since the end of World War II, U.S. rulers have dominated the world with a huge military apparatus designed to intimidate other nations into doing its bidding or, failing that, brutally punishing them. Like police forces on the local level, the U.S. military eats up an enormous part of spending: 50% of the federal discretionary budget.
Meanwhile, much poorer nations suffer wholesale death and devastation unimaginable to people in the U.S.
For all the U.S. soldiers killed, traumatized or otherwise disabled by war, there are many more times that number of Iraqis, Afghans, Syrians and others with destroyed homes and shattered lives. Thanks to the U.S. conducting constant drone bombings, its support for brutal dictators, sanctions, threats of invasions and coups, the working people of these violated countries have far fewer resources to recover from wars and climate disasters. Many are forced into desperate migrations from their homes and communities in Central and South America, northern Africa, the Middle East, southern Asia and elsewhere.
In addition, the U.S. military is the world’s biggest polluter. It is the #1 contributor to the growing climate catastrophe. While politicians debate the proposed $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, none mention the U.S.’s projected $3 trillion nuclear weapons “modernization” program.
We must end this death spiral. At best, the leading politicians of both parties have tinkered around the edges of these massive, deadly problems. At worst, they’ve thrown more gasoline on the fire. Either way, their measures fall far short of what working people need, especially Black, Latinx and Native American people.
For all the “change” they promise, both parties stay committed to preserving and extending U.S. domination of the world. They each have an iron-clad commitment to funding its massive nuclear and conventional arsenals with a devastating cost to working people here and abroad.
History has shown that the only times we get changes of the magnitude we need are when masses of working people, organized and with clear strategy, take matters into their own hands. This was the power behind the union struggles of the Great Depression, the struggles of Black people and their allies in the Civil Rights Movement, and the anti-war, Black Power, Chicano, feminist and LGBTQ movements of the late 1960s.
In the spirit of those earlier movements, on Saturday, March 20th – the 18th anniversary of the United States’ second longest Forever War, the invasion and occupation of Iraq – please join us as we demand:
** End State Repression & Institutional Racism
http://ccawr.org/end-state-repression-institutional-racism/
** Promote an Economy That Serves Working Class People
http://ccawr.org/promote-an-economy-that-serves-working…/
** Housing, Food, Education & Healthcare are Human Rights
http://ccawr.org/housing-food-education-healthcare-are…/
** We Have the Right to Control Our Bodies
http://ccawr.org/we-have-the-right-to-control-our-bodies/
** International Peace & Human Rights
http://ccawr.org/international-peace-human-rights/
** Protect the Planet, Protect Us All
http://ccawr.org/protect-the-planet-protect-us-all/
CAPA Open Membership Meeting
Friday, March 19th, 6:30— 8:00 PM CST
It’s a New Year, a new President in DC, and CAPA is up to new work!
In our 40 year history, we’ve stayed busy no matter who is in office, because when it comes to US imperialism, the US government doesn’t sleep! We’ve seen some mild improvements over the first days of the Biden Administration, but also many toothless measures and unfortunately a status quo belligerent attitude towards China, making diplomacy more difficult in favor of rationalizing the ever increasing Pentagon budget.
This year, CAPA’s two working groups have developed five specific advocacy campaigns, and we want to bring you up to speed on our work, let you know how you can get involved, and find ways to work together as progressives working towards a better world.
2021 Campaigns:
Defund The Pentagon, by 10% in 2022
Nuclear No First Use
No New Cold Wars
Palestinian Civil and Human Rights
Climate Group Campaign Updates
Defund The Pentagon, by 10% in 2022
Nuclear No First Use
No New Cold Wars
Palestinian Civil and Human Rights
Climate Group Campaign Updates
You’ll have the opportunity to choose two of the five campaigns during the meeting to learn more about each in specific breakout sessions.
The Doomsday Machine- Talk with Daniel Ellsberg
Thursday, March 18th, 6:00— 7:00 PM CST
As part of an ongoing series of of events this year addressing the dire nature of U.S. nuclear weapons policy, CAPA and other Peace Action affiliates are pleased to invite you to a conversation with Daniel Ellsberg about his blockbuster book, The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner. In Edward Snowden’s words, “The father of American whistle-blowing” has written an urgent chronicle that “is both an urgent warning and a call to arms to a public that has grown dangerously habituated to the idea that the means to our extinction will forever be on hair trigger alert.”
Please join us for an important evening that will offer you insight into what you can do as a private citizen to shine a bright light on a frightening under reported unstable architecture and help move us one step closer to the dream of abolition .
CAPA is a cosponsor of this event. Learn more here.
International Day of Action for Yemen
Monday, January 25th, 5:00 PM CST
Chicago Federal Plaza
The country of Yemen is widely recognized as suffering the world’s deadliest humanitarian crisis, a crisis that owes much of its severity to actions by our government. The United States has provided arms and other aid to a bombing campaign begun in 2015 by its close ally, the dictatorship which currently controls Saudi Arabia.
Join us to demand an end to the war on Yemen!
On January 25th we will be gathering at Chicago’s Federal Plaza (230 S. Dearborn) at 5:00PM because #YemenCantWait! You can also take action from home using this toolkit: https://bit.ly/EndYemenWarNow
Since 2015, the Saudi-led bombing and blockade of Yemen has killed hundreds of thousands of people and devastated the country. Yemen has one of the very worst COVID death rates in the world: It kills 1 in 4 people who test positive. The pandemic, along with withdrawal of aid, is pushing more people into acute hunger. Half the country’s health care facilities have been destroyed; hundreds of doctors are dead or have fled the country; public sector salaries of nurses and other medical workers have gone unpaid; and sanitation and clean water are in short supply. And yet Saudi Arabia is escalating its war and tightening its blockade.
The war is only possible because Western countries — and the United States and Britain in particular — continue to arm Saudi Arabia and provide military, political and logistical support for the war.
The disaster in Yemen is human-made. It is caused by the war and blockade. It can be ended.
Over 115 organizations from the US, UK, Yemen, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, France, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and across the world, are coming together to call for an end to the war in Yemen and solidarity with the people of Yemen.
Over 115 organizations from the US, UK, Yemen, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, France, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and across the world, are coming together to call for an end to the war in Yemen and solidarity with the people of Yemen.
On January 25th, just days after the U.S. presidential inauguration, we are demanding that President Biden commit to the following during his first 100 days:
– Restore all humanitarian and food aid to Yemen, including USAID that was cut by President Trump at the beginning of the pandemic
– Stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
– Stop all US involvement in the war in Yemen including intelligence and logistics support.
– Pressure Saudi Arabia to stop the blockade that is starving Yemen.
– lift the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization
– Restore all humanitarian and food aid to Yemen, including USAID that was cut by President Trump at the beginning of the pandemic
– Stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
– Stop all US involvement in the war in Yemen including intelligence and logistics support.
– Pressure Saudi Arabia to stop the blockade that is starving Yemen.
– lift the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization
Speakers for the January 25th event include:
° Danaka Katovich of CODEPINK
° Grace of CAPA DePaul
° SJP Chicago
° Nancy of SWANA Chicago
° Nadiah who will be sharing a poem
° Danaka Katovich of CODEPINK
° Grace of CAPA DePaul
° SJP Chicago
° Nancy of SWANA Chicago
° Nadiah who will be sharing a poem
Read more about the conflict here: https://www.brookings.edu/…/who-are-the-houthis-and…/
Co-Sponsors
Action Corps Illinois
Chicago Area Peace Action
Chicago Area Peace Action— DePaul Chapter
Chicago Committee Against War and Racism
Chicago Democratic Socialists of America
CODEPINK
SJP Chicago
Action Corps Illinois
Chicago Area Peace Action
Chicago Area Peace Action— DePaul Chapter
Chicago Committee Against War and Racism
Chicago Democratic Socialists of America
CODEPINK
SJP Chicago
Ban Nuclear Weapons Car Caravan
Friday, January 22nd
12 PM
Around Federal Plaza, Chicago
A landmark U.N. treaty that criminalizes nuclear weapons will become international law on January 22nd. Join activists from the Chicago area on January 21st and 22nd to celebrate this historic moment and call on the United States to take tangible steps to change its nuclear weapons policies. Grassroots support for changing policy is a critical next step in moving towards complete abolition of nuclear weapons.
Take action and join the caravan!
Sign-up for the caravan: https://forms.gle/akKQrA7emtxZzoM19
We are demanding that when President-Elect Joe Biden takes office, he takes the following actions within his first 100 days:
– Declare a no first use policy on nuclear weapons
– Renew New START for 5 years
– Reengage in the INF and Open Skies treaties
– Declare a no first use policy on nuclear weapons
– Renew New START for 5 years
– Reengage in the INF and Open Skies treaties
Co-sponsors
Chicago Area Peace Action
Chicago Area Fellowship of Reconciliation
Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism
Chicago Physicians for Social Responsibility
Nuclear Energy Information Services
Union of Concerned Scientists
Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Panel: Is this the end of nuclear weapons?
Thursday, January 21st
6:00 PM
A landmark U.N. treaty that criminalizes nuclear weapons will become international law on January 22nd. Join activists from the Chicago area on January 21st and 22nd to celebrate this historic moment and call on the United States to take tangible steps to change its nuclear weapons policies. Grassroots support for changing policy is a critical next step in moving towards complete abolition of nuclear weapons.
Tune in for the panel:
Join a panel of nuclear weapons experts to learn more about the significance of the ban treaty entering into force, and what the U.S. can do to move toward nuclear weapons abolition. The United States has not yet signed the ban treaty, but substantial reforms are possible in 2021 including renewed international agreements, reductions in nuclear weapons spending, and bold policies like a No First Use position.
Join a panel of nuclear weapons experts to learn more about the significance of the ban treaty entering into force, and what the U.S. can do to move toward nuclear weapons abolition. The United States has not yet signed the ban treaty, but substantial reforms are possible in 2021 including renewed international agreements, reductions in nuclear weapons spending, and bold policies like a No First Use position.
Register via Zoom: https://zoom.us/…/tJYsf–orj4rHdHqEkAWEtsBNso7JD6_np7m
Co-sponsors
Chicago Area Peace Action
Chicago Area Fellowship of Reconciliation
Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism
Chicago Physicians for Social Responsibility
Nuclear Energy Information Services
Union of Concerned Scientists
Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Inauguration Eve: Demand REAL Change
Tuesday, January 19th
4:00 PM
Chicago’s Federal Plaza
** EL ESPAÑOL SIGUE EL INGLES **
After four nightmarish years of Trump, we need to do more than breathe sighs of relief as the Biden-Harris administration takes office.
During previous Democratic administrations, many hoped that the rhetoric about promoting diversity and ending “stupid wars” would translate into sweeping civil rights progress and redress growing economic inequalities.
Instead we got:
** continuing police murders of Black and Brown people
** bailouts of banks and other big businesses while millions lost their homes
** failure to honor long-standing promises to legislate a level playing field for unions to organize
** expansions of U.S. wars
** expansion of already-bloated Pentagon budgets
** arms exports to oppressive governments
** drone bombings
** record deportations
** record attacks on whistle-blowers
** continued attacks on the right to choose abortion, and
** huge expansion of the petroleum industry thru fracking.
We cannot afford another Democratic administration that fails to meet the needs of those who hoped it would bring sweeping change. If there is little progress to diminish the huge inequalities in this country, many will drift into apathy or end up supporting another right-wing demagogue in 2024.
We must pro-actively make demands on the new Biden-Harris administration:
** End State Repression & Institutional Racism
http://ccawr.org/end-state-repression-institutional-racism/
http://ccawr.org/end-state-repression-institutional-racism/
** Promote an Economy That Serves Working Class People
http://ccawr.org/promote-an-economy-that-serves-working…/
http://ccawr.org/promote-an-economy-that-serves-working…/
** Housing, Food, Education & Healthcare are Human Rights
http://ccawr.org/housing-food-education-healthcare-are…/
http://ccawr.org/housing-food-education-healthcare-are…/
** We Have the Right to Control Our Bodies
http://ccawr.org/we-have-the-right-to-control-our-bodies/
http://ccawr.org/we-have-the-right-to-control-our-bodies/
** International Peace & Human Rights
http://ccawr.org/international-peace-human-rights/
http://ccawr.org/international-peace-human-rights/
** Protect the Planet, Protect Us All
http://ccawr.org/protect-the-planet-protect-us-all/
http://ccawr.org/protect-the-planet-protect-us-all/
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To protect the safety of everyone, all attendees are required to wear masks properly and do their best to keep a minimum of 6 feet distance from others not in their households. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, please respect the safety needs of others by not attending. Thank you.
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Evento del Comité de Chicago contra la Guerra y el Racismo
230 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60603, Estados Unidos
Martes, 19 de enero de 2021 a las 4 PM CST – 5 PM CST
Después de cuatro años de la pesadilla de Trump, necesitamos hacer más que suspirar con alivio cuando la nueva administración demócrata Biden-Harris asuma el cargo.
Durante las administraciones demócratas anteriores, muchos esperaban que la retórica sobre la promoción de la diversidad y el fin de las “guerras estúpidas” se tradujera en un avance radical de los derechos civiles y corrigiera las crecientes desigualdades económicas.
En cambio, lo que obtuvimos fue:
** continuos asesinatos policiales de personas negras y latinas
** rescates económicos de bancos y otras grandes empresas mientras millones perdieron sus hogares
** incumplimiento de las viejas promesas de leyes para lograr un terreno de juego nivelado para que los sindicatos puedan organizar
** expansiones de las guerras de Estados Unidos
** expansión de los presupuestos del Pentágono ya de por sí abultados
** exportación de armas a gobiernos opresores
** bombardeos con ‘drones’ (aviones no tripulados)
** récords del número de deportaciones
**ataques récord a denunciantes de corrupción gubernamental** continuos ataques contra el derecho a elegir el aborto, y
** enorme expansión de la industria petrolera a través del fracking.
No podemos permitirnos otra administración demócrata que no satisfaga las necesidades de quienes esperaban que trajera un cambio radical. Si hay poco progreso para disminuir las enormes desigualdades en este país, muchos caerán en la apatía o terminarán apoyando a otro demagogo de la derecha en las elecciones del 2024.
Debemos hacer demandas proactivamente a la nueva administración de Biden-Harris:
** Fin al Estado de Represión y Racismo Institucional
http://ccawr.org/poner-fin-a-la-represion-estatal-y-el…/
http://ccawr.org/poner-fin-a-la-represion-estatal-y-el…/
** Promover una economía que sirva a la gente de la clase trabajadora
http://ccawr.org/promover-una-economia-que-sirva-a-la…/
http://ccawr.org/promover-una-economia-que-sirva-a-la…/
** Vivienda, alimentos, educación y atención médica son derechos humanos
http://ccawr.org/vivienda-alimentacion-educacion-y…/
http://ccawr.org/vivienda-alimentacion-educacion-y…/
** Tenemos el derecho a controlar nuestros cuerpos
http://ccawr.org/tenemos-el-derecho-a-controlar-nuestros…/
http://ccawr.org/tenemos-el-derecho-a-controlar-nuestros…/
** Paz y derechos humanos mundialmente
http://ccawr.org/paz-y-derechos-humanos-en-todo-el-mundo/
http://ccawr.org/paz-y-derechos-humanos-en-todo-el-mundo/
** Proteger el planeta, Protegernos a todos
http://ccawr.org/proteger-el-planeta-protegernos-a-todos/
http://ccawr.org/proteger-el-planeta-protegernos-a-todos/
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Para proteger la seguridad de todos y todas, es requisito que todos y todas las y los asistentes a este evento usen mascarillas apropiadamente y traten de mantener la distancia mínima de 6 pies de la mejor manera posible con aquellos que no vivan con Uds. Si Ud. resultó positivo al COVID-19 o tiene algún síntoma, favor de no asistir por respeto a la seguridad de los demás. Gracias.
Webinar: Stop the War on Yemen!
Thursday, January 14th
6:00 PM CST
This month, people in the U.S. and around the world are demanding an end to the brutal U.S.-supported war on Yemen. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have waged war against Yemen, killing and injuring thousands of Yemeni civilians. After five years of war, roughly 14 million people are at risk of famine and over 24 million people rely on food assistance for survival.
Please join the following presenters to learn more about this critical issue — and what you can do to help put an end to this horrific war:
> Aisha Jumaan, MPH, PhD., President of the Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation
> Hassan El-Tayyab, Friends Committee lead lobbyist on Middle East policy
> Danaka Katovich, Yemen campaign coordinator for CODE PINK.
> Haig Hovaness, Secretary of Green Party Peace Action
> Hassan El-Tayyab, Friends Committee lead lobbyist on Middle East policy
> Danaka Katovich, Yemen campaign coordinator for CODE PINK.
> Haig Hovaness, Secretary of Green Party Peace Action
PLEASE REGISTER HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR ON ZOOM: https://zoom.us/…/tJEvceuqpzwjE9LeaIsWDczsGXfsAHJoxUnX
President-elect Joe Biden has promised to end U.S. involvement in the war. However, experience teaches us that a complete cessation to U.S. support for the war is unlikely to occur without strong and highly visible public demands for it.
CAPA Membership Meeting
Monday, December 7th, 7:00— 8:30 PM
This is a critical moment that we as progressives might feel like we can step back, feeling more secure under a Biden presidency, or choose to step up and work even harder to push more just policy and shape a better world.
We’re working towards a world in which justice prevails for all — free of the devastation caused by war, racism, poverty, nuclear weapons, and environmental degradation. And we can’t do it without you.
Join us virtually next Monday, December 7th at 7pm to learn more about CAPA’s work, share your ideas and vision, and find your place in the movement.
We’ll be giving report-outs on the work of our Climate and Foreign Policy working groups, as well as a presentation from our students on digital advocacy. Once you’re up to speed on our current work, we’ll go into breakout rooms for open discussion and get your feedback and visions for our work going forward.
Register via Zoom here: https://zoom.us/…/tJ0lceispjgsGN1UmxM613GWSswTXm6oKJCY
41st Annual Benefit
Thursday, November 12th
6:00 PM— 7:30 PM CST
For the past forty years, we’ve gathered with fellow peace, justice, and climate activists to dine and learn together at CAPA’s annual fall dinner. Due to the circumstances of this unusual year, we, like many other groups, are going virtual. What once seemed like a hindering obstacle, has instead revealed a unique opportunity to rethink our yearly program.
While we may not be gathering together in person this year, the need for peace and justice minded individuals to learn, connect, and activate is greater than ever.
We are thrilled to host the progressive champion, US Representative Ro Khanna to speak on Building Bridges, Not Barriers: Redefining Security. At a time when our nation will still be reeling from the recent election, as the world battles pandemic, climate catastrophe, and widespread war, we must all bring a critical and creative eye to rethink what security really entails.
For too long, our nation has bought into a broken “post 9/11 siege mentality” of amorphous external threats requiring bullets, bombs and intimidation to keep us “strong and safe”. Now, we are seeing more clearly than ever, that true security for all must include: access to healthcare, intentional peace building, attention to the global effects of climate change and the thoughtful dismantling of systemic racism.
No matter the outcome of November’s election, we, as lovers of peace and justice, have a lot of work to do and can not afford to sit on the sidelines. With nearly uncontested bipartisan support of the Pentagon’s $690 billion budget and plans to spend a trillion dollars on modernizing the US nuclear arsenal and delivery systems over the next thirty years, we must be prepared to call for bold steps to redefine security!
Join us to learn what must be done, discuss solutions, and get activated to be the change we want to see in the world!
Wednesday October 7th
Chicago Federal Plaza
12:00 PM— 1:30 PM
October 7 marks the 19th anniversary of the longest war in U.S. history, the 2001 invasion and occupation of Afghanistan.
And Afghanistan is just one piece of a worldwide kaleidoscope of US military violence around the world including:
- occupations of Iraq and Syria
- drone bombings from Africa to Pakistan
- the proxy wars of Saudi Arabia vs. Yemen and Israel vs. Palestine
- threats to invade Venezuela
- devastating sanctions against dozens of countries
- over 500 military bases around the world, many with nuclear weapons — daggers at the throats of the peoples nearby them.
Almost an entire generation of Americans has lived with endless war. Babies not even born at the time of the US invasion of Afghanistan are now fighting in that country. Far worse, however, is the fact that over 1 million Middle Easterners are now dead to avenge the 3000 killed in the 9/11 attacks, and war has spread throughout the Middle East.
As revealed in the so-called Afghanistan papers – government documents released through Freedom of Information Act requests – senior U.S. officials have knowingly lied throughout the war, making optimistic pronouncements of success even while hiding evidence that the war was a disaster.
Despite this, in an effort to turn the tide of the Afghan war in the U.S.’s favor, Presidents Obama and Trump have both launched “troop surges.” Death and destruction were the predictable results while the puppet Afghan regime’s hold on the country, far from being strengthened, remained as precarious as ever.
While people in this country do not feel the direct physical effects of these wars, every bomb
dropped represents millions of dollars less for our schools, health care, affordable housing, public transportation, physical infrastructure, and a myriad of other social services desperately needed in a time of pandemic and severe economic recession. With one-half of the federal discretionary budget going to the US military, and much of the rest given over to subsidizing the already-rich, it’s little wonder that there are only crumbs left for the left of us.
US politicians’ support for war and U.S. domination has been and remains thoroughly bipartisan. The 2020 election will not change that. To establish their “patriotic” credentials, Democrats typically vote for military financing and war with the same frequency as Republicans.
On the 19th anniversary of the United States’ Forever War, and relentless US violence around the world, please join us to denounce these wars that both major political parties continue to finance.
We will be having our event on the Plaza so that we can be socially distanced. Out respect for the health of everyone, please wear a mask.
View the Facebook Event here.
Saturday, September 26th
Stay tuned for more details to come!
Wednesday, August 26th, 6:00— 7:00 PM CST
This is an online event. Please register here to receive a Zoom link.
Join us on Wednesday, August 26th for a discussion with Danny Sjursen on a his new book Patriotic Dissent: America in the Age of Endless War published by Heydey books. He’ll join us virtually from his home in Kansas to talk about his latest work and take your questions.
This incendiary work by Daniel Sjursen is a personal cry from the heart by a once-model US Army officer and West Point graduate who became a military dissenter while still on active duty. Set against the backdrop of the terror wars of the last two decades, Sjursen asks whether there is a proper space for patriotism that renounces entitled exceptionalism and narcissistic jingoism. Once a burgeoning believer and budding conservative, Sjursen performed an intellectual and spiritual about-face. He now calls for a critical exploration of our allegiances, and he suggests a path to a new, more complex notion of patriotism. Equal parts unsentimental and idealistic, this is a story about what it means to be an American in the midst of perpetual war, and what the future of patriotism might look like.
Danny Sjursen is a retired U.S. Army Major and regular contributor to antiwar.com, Truthdig, The Nation, Tom Dispatch, The Huffington Post, and The Hill. His work has also appeared in Harper’s, The LA Times, and Buzz Feed. He served combat tours with reconnaissance units in Iraq and Afghanistan and later taught history at his alma mater, West Point. He is the author of a memoir and critical analysis of the Iraq War, Ghost Riders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge (2015). He co-hosts the progressive veterans’ podcast “Fortress on a Hill.” Follow him on Twitter at @SkepticalVet.
Sunday, August 9th 12:15— 3:30 PM,
4600 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60640
August 9th is the 75th Anniversary of the U.S. nuclear bombing of the city of Nagasaki, Japan, just 3 days after the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima. The two attacks killed in excess of 150,000 people immediately, and caused cancers, birth defects and premature deaths to this day.
Humanity arguably now faces a worse nuclear danger than it did at the height of the Cold War. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists have set their famed “Doomsday Clock” at 100 seconds, the “Clock’s” first time counted in seconds. Currently 40 out of a needed 50 nations have ratified a U.N. treaty definitively criminalizing the world’s few nuclear stockpiles. Yet vital international agreements to reduce and control nuclear weapons worldwide are being abandoned by the Trump administration. And rather than reduce nuclear weapons, the Obama administration launched a multi-billion dollar “modernization” of the US nuclear arsenal, which continues under Trump.
At a time when the #BlackLivesMatter movement has sparked a new public consciousness about the diversion of community resources to state violence, the federal budget for developing and producing new nuclear weapons continues to grow. Tensions among nuclear-armed nations are rising to levels not seen since the Cold War.
People created nuclear weapons and designed the systems governing their use — and people can work to eliminate them.
People created nuclear weapons and designed the systems governing their use — and people can work to eliminate them.
As the only country to use nuclear weapons in conflict, the United States has a moral obligation to lead the world in ending this threat and to remember all those who were harmed in their detonation, testing and development.
As residents of, by far, the biggest military power in the world, we must continually press our leaders to take the actions necessary to ensure nuclear weapons are never used again, and to negotiate in good faith the global elimination of these most devastating weapons of mass destruction.
Event details:
12:15p – Gathering & preparation of the cars for the Memorial procession at the Staples parking lot, NW corner of Wilson and Clark in Chicago (4600 N. Clark Street).
1:00p – Speakers in Staples parking lot before send-off of car procession (Route to be provided to those who RSVP)
Roughly 2:45-3p – Procession arrives at the Henry Moore sculpture, 5625 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, for additional speakers, a memorial and acknowledgement of the lives lost.
1:00p – Speakers in Staples parking lot before send-off of car procession (Route to be provided to those who RSVP)
Roughly 2:45-3p – Procession arrives at the Henry Moore sculpture, 5625 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, for additional speakers, a memorial and acknowledgement of the lives lost.
Out of respect for others, all attendees and speakers will practice social distancing and wear masks.
Nagasaki Memorial Procession drivers should arrive early so that themed, consistent signage along with large, black event flags can be attached by poles to their cars (we will provide both). RSVP here (https://forms.gle/SBG5jE2z65Ai2eHu5)
We plan for the procession to be solemn and slow ending at the Henry Moore sculpture, site of the world’s first nuclear chain reaction.
Sponsoring organizations in formation: Chicago Area Peace Action (CAPA), Chicago Committee Against War & Racism (CCAWR), Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Fellowship of Reconciliation – Chicago, Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS), Neighbors for Peace – Evanston, Union of Concerned Scientists – Chicago
Tuesday, August 4th 6:30— 8:00 PM CST
This is an online event. Register to receive Zoom link here.
This summer’s nationwide struggle against police violence faces a multinational movement.
Speakers:
Col. Lawrence Wilkerson is a distinguished professor of government and public policy at the College of William and Mary and was Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell from 2002 to 2005. Wilkerson is a critic of the US invasion of Iraq, the ongoing War on Terror now in its 18th year, and the turn to a new nuclear arms race. He asserts the U.S. is not a democracy but a war state that forces its will on the global community, and recently has worked on bipartisan projects to assess what will happen if a defeated Donald Trump refuses to leave office.
Mic Crenshaw is an independent Hip Hop artist, respected emcee, poet, educator and activist. He is the Lead U.S. Organizer for the Afrikan HipHop Caravan and uses Cultural Activism as a means to develop international solidarity related to Human Rights and Justice through Hip Hop and Popular Education. Mic is the NW Regional Director of Hip Hop Congress and will give us a firsthand report of the struggle in Portland.
Hosted by: Massachusetts Peace Action
Wednesday, July 15th
This is an online day of action. See more details here.
Join us Wednesday, July, 15th for a National Day of Action to urge Members of Congress to pressure humanitarian agencies (USAID) to restore and expand aid into Yemen, to withdraw military support and to cut arm sales to the coalition-especially while Yemen is dealing with COVID.
Yemen has been enduring the world’s worst humanitarian crisis that we’ve seen in modern history. Over five years of war, a blockade, disease, famine and now COVID. In order for Yemen to breathe, the war must end NOW!
WHEN: Wednesday, July 15th, ALL DAY
WHERE: Online (wherever you are)
WHY: To raise awareness about Yemen and to urge our lawmakers that Yemen can not wait, Yemen needs medicine and aid, not bombs and a blockade!
HOW: People HAVE power! ON the Day of Action (July 15th)
Use your social media platforms (FB, Twitter, IG, etc) to share our graphics, record a short video and tag your Member with a script that we’ll provide AND donate to Yemen:
Use your social media platforms (FB, Twitter, IG, etc) to share our graphics, record a short video and tag your Member with a script that we’ll provide AND donate to Yemen:
Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation
More details will be posted soon! Please stay tuned!
Are you an organization that would like to sponsor this action?
Message us or email: yemenialliancecommittee@gmail.com
Message us or email: yemenialliancecommittee@gmail.com
HOSTED BY: Yemeni Alliance Committee
SPONSORS:
Friends Committee on National Legislation – FCNL
Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation
Action Corps
Freedom Forward
Students for Yemen
Just Foreign Policy
CODEPINK: Women For Peace
Demand Progress
US Palestinian Community Network
Arab American Action Network
Chicago Area Peace Action
Win Without War
STAND
SJP Chicago
Tuesday, July 14 5:00 PM- 6:00 PM
Federal Plaza
219 S Dearborn
Chicago, IL
July 14th marks the 5th anniversary of the Iran-EU-US nuclear agreement that was to pave the way for lessening economic sanctions against Iran. But Trump nixed that agreement and imposed more sanctions that, during a pandemic, make supplies urgently needed to protect public safety more expensive and often impossible for Iran to obtain.
People in a host of countries – Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, Palestine, Yemen and more – suffer as their economies crumble under the effects of US sanctions imposed by politicians of both parties. Lack of essential food and medicines mean people die.
In Iran, for example, the U.S. continues to uphold sanctions that have caused a deep recession in that country. As a result of U.S. policies, Iran no longer has the means to purchase medical, pharmaceutical or hospital equipment.
U.S sanctions on Venezuela have resulted in 40,000 deaths. Importation of needed health care resources and supplies have been blocked by the U.S. in an attempt at regime change.
The U.S./Saudi blockade has starved 87,000 Yemeni children during a three year civil war. Even before the pandemic, Yemen was suffering from a severe cholera outbreak due to bombing of water treatment facilities. Yemen continues to battle COVID with the highest death rate in the world.
In the West Bank, a new wave of the virus, even stronger than the first wave, is striking Palestine. Israeli military operations in the West Bank—including raids, home demolitions, arrests, detention, and land confiscation—have continued, exposing the affected Palestinians to a greater risk of infection. The Gaza strip, blockaded by the Israelis, is potentially vulnerable to COVID-19 since people living there have a low level of health access and are trapped in one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
In these countries and others throughout the world, lethal U.S. sanctions are causing misery and pain. They are morally untenable. Join us in standing against U.S. sanctions.
Event begins at Federal Plaza at 5 pm. for an in-person press conference (Please respect your fellow demonstrators by wearing a mask and, where possible, social distancing.)
*Car-a-van – Those wishing to participate via car caravan are asked to line up in front of Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn, at 4:20 PM. Bedeck your car with lots of signs on both sides. Express your outrage and your creativity! (Route details will be provided onsite)
Tuesday, May 26th, 6:00— 7:00 PM CST
Online Event. Register here to get Zoom link.
We will examine the role that sanctions play as important tool of U.S. foreign policy. We will hear from 3 speakers on the toll that sanctions, which are economic warfare, take on the civilian populations of the nations targeted. We will present a general overview and then more specifically issues surrounding their use against North Korea and Iran.
Introduction by Jeff Hoey, Executive Director of New Jersey Peace Action
Panelists:
Cavan Kharrazian
Researcher @Center for Economic and Policy Research
Cavan Kharrazian is an Iranian-American researcher at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC, where he has studied humanitarian impacts of US economic sanctions, along with their legal implications both domestically and internationally. He co-authored the Jacobin article “US Sanctions Are Designed to Kill” See https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/09/us-iran-sanctions-donald-trump-iran-deal-oil-bank
Cavan Kharrazian
Researcher @Center for Economic and Policy Research
Cavan Kharrazian is an Iranian-American researcher at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC, where he has studied humanitarian impacts of US economic sanctions, along with their legal implications both domestically and internationally. He co-authored the Jacobin article “US Sanctions Are Designed to Kill” See https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/09/us-iran-sanctions-donald-trump-iran-deal-oil-bank
Minju Bae
@Nodutdol for Korean Community Development
Minju Bae is an educator and historian of Asian America. She is a member of Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, a New York City-based organization of diasporic Koreans and comrades that organizes to advance peace, decolonization, and self-determination in Korea and Turtle Island.
@Nodutdol for Korean Community Development
Minju Bae is an educator and historian of Asian America. She is a member of Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, a New York City-based organization of diasporic Koreans and comrades that organizes to advance peace, decolonization, and self-determination in Korea and Turtle Island.
Diana Duerte
Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement @MADRE
Diana Duarte is the Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement at MADRE, leading the organization’s policy, public education and communications work, and designing and implementing campaigns to advance women’s human rights. She directs MADRE’s Feminist Foreign Policy Jumpstart initiative, bringing grassroots women’s perspectives and analysis into US policy making. For more than 14 years, she has worked in policy analysis and communications to advocate for human rights, gender justice, and progressive change. She has served as a board member of Women, Action and the Media: NYC and currently is the board chair of ActionAid USA.
Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement @MADRE
Diana Duarte is the Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement at MADRE, leading the organization’s policy, public education and communications work, and designing and implementing campaigns to advance women’s human rights. She directs MADRE’s Feminist Foreign Policy Jumpstart initiative, bringing grassroots women’s perspectives and analysis into US policy making. For more than 14 years, she has worked in policy analysis and communications to advocate for human rights, gender justice, and progressive change. She has served as a board member of Women, Action and the Media: NYC and currently is the board chair of ActionAid USA.
Thursday, February 27th 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM
DePaul University- Lincol Park Campu
Room TBA
CAPA DePaul will be joining DePaul Islamic World Studies for this event.
Being young and Muslim in the United States has only gotten more complicated since the terrorist attacks of 2001. From warrantless government surveillance to rising incidents of hate crimes, Muslim Americans have had to deal with their new reality in many different ways, ways that are sometimes heartbreaking and just as often inspiring. In this lecture, author Moustafa Bayoumi will survey what being young and Muslim has meant since 2001 and ask if and how Muslim American life has changed under the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations. Bayoumi will also focus on how we, as a nation, must think beyond our perceived conflicts and look instead through the long lens of justice as a means of securing our country and our shared humanity.
Facebook Event can be found here.
Thursday, February 20th 6:30 PM- 8:00 PM
DePaul University – Lincoln Park Campus
Student Center
2250 N. Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
The Trump administration, and their predecessors, love to blame immigrant families just looking for a better life for themselves and children, but who really caused the need for people to flee from their homes?
Presenters Victoria Cervantes and Laura Nussbaum, of La Voz de los de Abajo, will share and discuss the impact of U.S. policy and actions in Latin America, and how military and economic violence in the region is the underlying cause of the immigration crisis.
We must not let the U.S.’s violent imposition continue to destroy an entire region, while criminalizing the victims of our actions. We’ll learn what it means to oppose U.S. interference in Latin America and begin taking the very important steps towards change.
This is a free event, but please let us know you are coming by signing up through this ticket link!
Facebook Event can be found here.
January 21st 7:00-8:00 PM
DePaul University
Room TBA
Chicago, IL 60604
Immigration and Customs Enforcement. What is it? How does it work? Who do they target? Who is in charge? What are my rights? What does Abolish ICE mean? Join Chicago Area Peace Action DePaul for small group discussions about how ICE has changed under Trump, ICE Methods, Trial & Rights, ICE Detention Centers, and more.
Facebook Event can be found here.
January 13th 7:00 PM
Evanston City Council
2100 Ridge Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
Residents of greater Evanston are urged to come to City Hall Council Chambers for the beginning of the City Council meeting at 7pm to stand in support as Evanston residents speak to Resolution 136 R 19 which calls for the US to ratify the International Convention on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (“ICAN”) that has already been approved by 122 nations at the UN, signed by 79 countries, and ratified by 33. The Evanston resolution, similar to those adopted by 43 other US cities, will be proposed as part of the Consent Agenda at the beginning of the meeting.
If the City Council passes this resolution, it will be the first Midwest city to join the campaign to convince the US government to sign the ICAN treaty.
See the resolution here.
We will not be forced into another war. CAPA will join with Indivisible Evanston and others in the anti-war majority in this country will get visible to oppose Trump’s war and say #NoWarWithIran.
Evanston – 5:00pm – Church and Benson
Chicago – 5:30pm – Wabash and Wacker
CAPA joins with CCAWR, ANSWER, VCNV and many other Chicago area peace groups to say, We will not be forced into another war.
5:30pm Corner of Wabash and Wacker, Chicago
December 8th 1:30 PM- 3:30 PM
Evanston Public Library
Third Floor, Falcon Room
1703 Orrington Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
Join us this Sunday from 1:30-3:30 for a screening of “The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons” and a discussion of the Treaty to Prevent Nuclear Weapons with David Combs (Union of Concerned Scienctists) and David Kraft (NEIS).
This important program comes just one day before the Evanston City Council takes up “Back from the Brink” anti-nuclear resolution that has the support of nineteen greater-Evanston faith communities and peace and justice organizations.
Sponsored by:
Chicago Area Peace Action
Neighbors For Peace
Union of Concerned Scientists– Illinois
Nuclear Energy Information Service
Physicians for Social Responsibility– Illinois
November 14th 7 PM – 9 PM
Loyola University
Cudahy Science Hall, Room 202
Chicago, IL 60660
Join Chicago Area Peace Action’s Loyola Chapter for a conversation about the uncharted effects of climate change and potential solutions. The panel discussion with feature activists, professors, researchers, and students.
October 19 2p-4p
Grace Lutheran Church
1430 South Blvd
Evanston, IL 60202
The military is sacrosanct in this country. We’re taught to honor the military, even though it has played, and continues to play, an outsized role in our extinction. The military protects Big Oil and other extractive industries. It is the single largest institutional consumer of fossil fuels in the world. Military operations leave a toxic legacy on their bases and across the world. Wars ravage fragile ecosystems and kill plants, animals, people and the earth. Join us as we examine the nexus between “Climate Disruption and U.S. Militarism”.
Sponsored by Veterans for Peace – Chicago Chapter. Co-sponsored by Chicago Area Peace Action (CAPA).
6 PM, Wednesday, October 9th Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn St.
On the anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, please join a conversation with two of the most thoughtful anti-war activists in the U.S.
CAPA is a co-sponsor of this event. Click here for more information.
CAPA Climate group and other CAPA friends will be participating in the events called for by Extinction Rebellion Chicago (XR Chicago) Daley Plaza, Chicago – 4pm-7pm. Click here for more details
With keynote – June Sekera
A MEMORIAL TO THE VIETNAMESE VICTIMS OF THE AMERICAN WAR
My Lai Memorial Exhibit provides participants with a powerful anti-war experience. The experience invites participants to make a renewed commitment to peace and social justice and provides opportunities to support initiatives working to reduce violence and militarism both at home and abroad.
Veterans for Peace-Chicago Chapter and CAPA board member, Gerry Gorman worked together to put this exhibit together at UIC where Gerry is a faculty member along with many other activities.
Come find us from 1 to 5PM at Evanston’s Streets Alive fair!
https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/parks-recreation-community-services/programs-events/festivals-events/streets-alive
CAPA’s Loyola and DePaul Chapters ask you to join them
Wednesday Aug. 7th at 11am
at Federal Plaza
(NE corner of Dearborn and Adams)
On 9 August 2018, Saudi Arabian expeditionary aircraft bombed a civilian school bus passing
through a crowded market with U.S.-made bombs in Dahyan, Saada Governorate, Yemen.
Thirty-four students and 4 of their teachers were killed along with 12 passers-by.
An additional 78 people were wounded, including 55 students.
This rally is to remember the lives lost as well as we urge Congress to end the Yemen war
during consideration of the defense budget. Come out to support and stand in solidarity!
Event co-sponsored by Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Chicago Committee Against War and Racism, Neighbors for Peace-Evanston and others
An ad hoc group of peace and justice activists
will gather in Hyde Park on
Tuesday, August 6th 2019
5:30 to 6:30pm
(rain or shine, program subject to change)
Meet at the Henry Moore sculpture, University of Chicago, E. 56th St and S. Ellis Ave.
Bring seating (chair or blanket) and umbrella; bring a hat and sunscreen
Come Join Us!
For a one hour commemoration featuring representatives
of peace and justice groups offering brief:
Readings; Songs; Poetry
Mindful breathing and walking meditation
From July 18-20, 2019, Voices for Creative Nonviolence will join with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s US Boats to
Gaza campaign, supporting their North American Freedom Flotilla for Gaza project with three days of Chicago
actions to include a Saturday July 20th mini-flotilla of kayaks and other craft on the Chicago River, joining shore-
based protesters to urge freedom for the people of Gaza starting at 11:00am from the Lake Street Bridge, NE corner!
From July 18-20, 2019, Voices for Creative Nonviolence will join with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s US Boats to
Gaza campaign, supporting their North American Freedom Flotilla for Gaza project with three days of Chicago
actions to include a Saturday July 20th mini-flotilla of kayaks and other craft on the Chicago River, joining shore-
based protesters to urge freedom for the people of Gaza.
On Friday, July 19th, we’ll have gathered at 11:30am outside the Israeli Consulate at 500 W. Madison and proceed
to warmaker Boeing’s corporate HQ at 100 N. Riverside Plaza for a rally at Noon.
From July 18-20, 2019, Voices for Creative Nonviolence will join with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s US Boats to
Gaza campaign, supporting their North American Freedom Flotilla for Gaza project with three days of Chicago
actions to include a Saturday July 20th mini-flotilla of kayaks and other craft on the Chicago River, joining shore-
based protesters to urge freedom for the people of Gaza.
On Thursday July 18th, we’ll host four-time flotilla veteran (Ret.) Col. Ann Wright and Gazan
scholar/activist Jehad Abusalim for a 7pm speaking event at Chicago’s Grace Episcopal Church at 637 S. Dearborn.
Lecture: DeCOALonize and Degrow: Ending the Tyranny of Growth and Revitalizing our Future.
Where: College of the Complexes, Dappers East Restaurant
Address: 2901 West Addison 3600 North between California and Sacramento.
Time: 6:00PM sharp
More information:
http://www.collegeofcomplexes.org
Each year on the last Friday of the Chicago Public School year, Faith Community of Saint Sabina hosts a summer kickoff rally and march for peace.
The rally is on the front of the steps of Faith Community of Saint Sabina followed by a march through the community with special guests. Join as we Unite and bring Peace for our Children
Date: June 14th
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: 1210 West 78th Place
Where: In Logan Square at the Dill Pickle Food Coop
When: June 1, from 1PM – 3PM
We are almost out of time to stop global warming. Come to the Dill Pickle on Saturday, June 1, starting at 1 pm, and join with your neighbors to see these presentations addressing the challenge of global warming with performance, a strategy for collective non-violent direct action, an existential description of our problem, and the concept of degrowth.
June 1 is Global Degrowth Day (www.degrowth.info/en/globalday/participate). Degrowth ideas began in France. The movement started about 10 years ago. DegrowUS (www.degrowus.org) started in Chicago last fall with a vision of a popular movement for a transition to a just, participatory, and ecological future for all.
The degrowth movement chooses to face head-on the existential truth that the survival of humanity as we know it and the progress of democracy depend on reducing our consumption of the Earth’s resources and breaking the link between economic growth as we know it and human needs such as employment, education, and health care.
Degrowth challenges us to reimagine our resource-intensive convenience-obsessed civilization: Why disposable instead of reusable, products that can’t be repaired rather than a culture of repair, and high tech extreme measures health care but little real focus on disease prevention?
More information about Global Degrowth Day from www.degrowth.info: https://www.degrowth.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Global-Degrowth-Day-Call-for-Participation-English.pdf
We’ll start this first DegrowUS Chicago event with a short piece of pop-up theater. The main presentations will run 15-20 minutes. There will be short presentations about local activities. Global vision, local action! You are also invited come early or stay later and enjoy some food or drink from the Dill Pickle.
Awaken Giant!
Barry Feldman, Rebel For Life Pop-Up Theater
HEADING FOR EXTINCTION & WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT!
Joe Phillips, Local Coordinator for Extinction Rebellion Chicago
How We Got Here; How We Get Out of Here
H. Peter Steeves and Danielle Meijer, DePaul University Department of Philosophy
DeCOALonize and DeGrow:
Ending the Tyranny of Growth and Creating a Revitalized Sense of Possibility
Rachel Elfant, Climate Justice Organizer at CAPA, Youth Worker at Centro Romero, and student of DeGrowth
Master of Ceremonies
Mike Strode, The Kola Nut Collaborative
Chicago Area Peace Action DePaul will be hosting a panel about climate change featuring Dr. Sean Kirkland, Dr Liam Heneghan, Rachel Elfant, and Rose Gomez.
In this panel we will move past the conversation of climate change denial. It is real and happening. In the face of catastrophe why can’t we seem to take action? How does climate change disproportionately affect communities of color? What does climate change look like right now? We will tackle those important questions in this event.
Come join us for food and conversation!
When: Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at 6 PM – 7:30 PM
Where: Arthur J. Schmitt Academic Center (SAC) located at 2320 N. Kenmore Avenue, Chicago, IL
Join Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah, Faith in Place, Go Green Wilmette, and Chicago Area Peace Action to dive deeper into the process of installing solar on your House of Worship. In the first workshop held on January 16th, we explored the benefits of going solar, learned from examples of other faith communities that have installed solar, and discussed a variety of ways to finance solar projects at your house of worship.
This workshop will build on those lessons!
- Learn from examples of faith communities installing solar
- Dive into financing solar for your House of Worship – bring your electric bills & a satellite view of your roof
- Learn about ways to advocate for a just solar economy
The event is free and open to anyone who is interested in bringing solar to their faith community.
Date: Thursday, May 23, 2019 from 10:00am to 11:30am
Location: Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah 3220 Big Tree Lane, Wilmette, IL 60091
Tuesday, May 21 join us as we demonstrate against Chase Bank’s continued funding of tar sands oil pipeline construction and to support efforts to stop Line 3 in MN. Fellow climate activist organizations Rising Tide Chicago and Rainforest Action Network are organizing this rally to coincide with Chase’s annual shareholder meeting.
When: Tuesday, May 21 at 11 AM – 12:30 PM
Where: Chase Tower, 21 S Clark St, Chicago
Why: To make it clear that we can’t continue with ‘business as usual:’ continued investment in fossil fuel infrastructure will plunge our home planet further into a climate crisis with unimaginable impacts on our families, communities and future generations.
Check out this Facebook event page for further details: https://www.facebook.com/
Amira Hass brings a fresh and much needed insight to the past, present, and future of Palestinian Israeli relations. She draws on 30 years of experience as an Israeli journalist and analyst who has sought and achieved unparalleled immersion in Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza.
Born in Jerusalem in 1956, Hass joined the Israeli daily Haaretz in 1989 and had been its correspondent for the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 1993. She has lived in the West Bank city of Ramallah since 1997. “Ramallah Chronicles”, a compilation of her articles between 1997-2003, was published in 2005. Before taking up residence in the West Bank, Hass lived in Gaza for three years, which experience served as the basis for her widely acclaimed book “Drinking the Sea at Galilee”.
Hass is the only child of a Sarajevo-born Jewish mother who survived nine months in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and a Romanian born Jewish father who survived three wartime years in a ghetto.
Meet us there from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM at the Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary 2121 Sheridan Rd. Evanston, IL.
Dilemmas of an Israeli Journalist Covering
Palestine: Amira Hass
Monday, April 29, 2019
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave., Evanston, IL 60201
Amira Hass brings a fresh and much needed insight to the past, present, and future of Palestinian Israeli relations. She draws on 30 years of experience as an Israeli journalist and analyst who has sought and achieved unparalleled immersion in Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza.
Born in Jerusalem in 1956, Hass joined the Israeli daily Haaretz in 1989 and had been its correspondent for the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 1993. She has lived in the West Bank city of Ramallah since 1997. “Ramallah Chronicles”, a compilation of her articles between 1997-2003, was published in 2005. Before taking up residence in the West Bank, Hass lived in Gaza for three years, which experience served as the basis for her widely acclaimed book “Drinking the Sea at Galilee”.
Hass is the only child of a Sarajevo-born Jewish mother who survived nine months in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and a Romanian born Jewish father who survived three wartime years in a ghetto.
A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning
an activist training with legendary Quaker civil rights activist/author
George Lakey
Saturday, April 27, 2019
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
NEIS, 3411 W. Diversey, Chicago.
(Logan Sq. “Blue” Line stop; #76, 82, and 56 Buses; 5 blocks
south of the Kennedy X-pwy, Kimball Ave. exit. Street parking.)
Suggested donation: $25, $10 for
students/low-income individuals.
A non-violent, direct-action
training, based on the highly
praised, new book by George Lakey, “How We Win: A
Guide to Non-Violent Direct Action Campaigning.” $13.59.
https://www.mhpbooks.com/books/how-we-win/
Advance registration required through NEIS by e-mail
(neis@neis.org), or phone (773)342-7650, space limited to
the first 30 registrants. Make checks payable to “NEIS”
and send to above address; or pay online at
www.neis.org/donate/).
Chicago Area Peace Action is partnering with Love Without Borders to bring art made by Refugees displaced in Greece to be displayed for purchase at DePaul. All money made from a sale goes back to the artist. The art we will be displaying will be primarily from Yemeni, Palestinian, Syrian, and Iraqi refugees. This event is open to the public. Thank you to our cosponsors: the Islamic World Studies Program, the International Studies Department, the Department of History of Art and Architecture, the Department of Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies, Students for Justice in Palestine, and the Art History Club.
April 6 – 2019 Chicago Peace Summit
The Chicago Peace Summit will feature national peace movement activists and foreign policy experts from across the country and around the world. Join us to hear from Kathy Kelly, Jehan Hakim, Natasha Erskine, Kevin Martin, Vincent Emanuele, Nan Kim, Robert Naiman, Paul Street, Rachel Elfant, and other noteworthy leaders about pressing issues of peace.
- Drawing from her experiences living in war zones and prisons in the U.S., keynote speaker Kathy Kelly will discuss the consequences of U.S. militarism and strategies to withdraw consent for endless wars. Across various panels, these experts will address Climate Change, Middle East conflicts, and nuclear warfare. Their presentations will be followed by Q&A as well as interactive breakout sessions co-led by student activists.
All are welcome! Please come out to learn more about the dire peace issues plaguing communities in our own backyards and across the world.
- Loyola University Chicago
Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 10 AM – 4 PM CDT
CAPA’s FPWG is co-sponsoring with Evanston Neighbors for Peace, programs at EPL (2-5p) and the Sulzer Library in Chicago (7-8:30p)
See the Facebook event page for more details.
Global Climate Strike. All over the nation and world,
the Youth will lead a strike. Ours in Chicago is from 11AM – 2PM and
meets in Grant Park.
CAPA’s 42nd Annual Fall Benefit
The Hidden US Empire and Its Cost to Us All
Thursday, October 21st
6:00— 7:30pm
via Zoom
For years, Chicago Area Peace Action has focused its energy on working against the twin existential threats of accidental or designed nuclear war and unsustainable climate destabilization. But this year we choose to pause and shift our analysis inward, in the recognition that it is impossible to plot a path forward without a thorough understanding of what got us here.
Professor Daniel Immerwahr, a historian at Northwestern University and author of How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States, provides an excellent recounting of the United States’ drift toward and full embrace of expansionism and global empire while it seeks to minimize the optics of such egregious behavior. Starting with the founding of the original colonies up until the present day, Professor Immerwahr recounts with brilliant clarity the path of imperial growth and the exploitative behavior that we never learned about in school, and consequently are taught to conveniently ignore. This also explains why the United States now operates, almost invisibly, more than 800 military bases in 140 sovereign nations across the globe.
What is the cost of the United States’ ambivalence toward the negative externalities that primarily impact those who we have determined don’t belong? How does this ambivalence impact our work as peace activists, and what can we do about it? Because as George Satayana and Winston Churchill have said, “those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.”
Join us this coming October 21 to learn more about the history of our nation’s imperialism. With this new understanding we can engage in greater solidarity work with people the world over and not repeat the errors of our past. We will strive to articulate a vision for what Martin Luther King called a “radical revolution of values”, and begin to address and overcome the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and abject militarism.
Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/1np33Lamu
Ticket Link: bit.ly/CAPABenefit2021
Emergency Response if the US Attacks Iran
On the day of an attack, 5:30 PM
Trump Tower, Wacker & Wabash Ave
With the growing threat of a U.S. military attack on Iran and its forces in the region ─ which could lead to full-scale war killing many thousands ─ several organizations in the Chicago area have come together to have a unified response against war in the event of such an attack.
On the day of the attack we will gather for an action beginning at 5:30 pm in front of Trump Tower, corner of Wacker and Wabash Avenues in Chicago. If the attack is announced after 3 pm, the action will occur at 5:30 pm the next day. Further actions will likely be announced at this initial action.
For more information, please email chicagoantiwar@gmail.com
Cosponsors:
Albany Park, North Park, Mayfair Neighbors for Peace and Justice
ANSWER – Chicago
Chicago Area Peace Action
Chicago Anti-War Coalition
Chicago Committee Against War & Racism
Freedom Road Socialist Organization
Gay Liberation Network
Peace United Against Oppression
Voices for Creative Non-Violence
Protecting Our Planet
One Pipeline at a Time
Join us Sunday, October 17th, 2021 from 2-4pm
@ Elliot Park, 1200 Lake Shore Blvd in Evanston
for an afternoon of activism and connection!
Want to protect the water and the climate? Come join the
movement to stop two tar sand pipeline expansions in the Midwest!
Enbridge’s Line 3 crosses under the Mississippi, violates treaty rights, and is the
climate equivalent of building 50 new coal plants. Their Line 5 is drilling under the
straits of Mackinac in our very own Great Lakes!
Hear speakers from the front lines, listen to music from Creative Artists and Activists
in Service Together LIVE!, and learn how you can support the Water Protectors Legal
Fund. There will be an open mic if anyone has music or poetry to share.
Bring a chair or blanket, a mask, and a friend.
Hope to see you at the park! (unless it rains)
#WaterIsLife #StopLine3 #StopLine5
20 Years After 9/11: The Empire’s Descent
Wednesday, August 25th
6:00— 7:30pm CST
Buttercup Park Uptown
4901 N Sheridan Rd
The September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, DC ushered in a wave of political and social reaction that haunts the world to this day. Politicians cynically used the crisis atmosphere to “re-order” politics, increasing the U.S. government’s power both domestically and internationally.
Within weeks, the U.S. military, with overwhelming support from both major political parties, launched the war in Afghanistan, its longest war ever. Other “forever wars” in Iraq and elsewhere soon followed. Today the U.S. government’s “right” to bomb or outright invade other countries goes virtually unchallenged.
Meanwhile, anti-terrorist hype gave license to domestic police forces to pump themselves up with military-grade hardware and harass or repress those in oppressed communities who organize against them.
Following 9/11, the U.S. had a preview of the open bigotry of the Trump years with a wave of racist murders and other physical attacks against Arabs, Muslims, and South Asian people and their institutions. Racist depictions of Arabs became standard fare in movies, TV programs and legislatures.
Washington made an already hostile environment for immigrants much worse by passing the USA PATRIOT ACT that founded the Department of Homeland Security and its notorious subdivision, ICE. Further restrictions on the rights of asylum seekers and refugees followed.
A host of Constitutional principles protecting freedom of association, outlawing torture and forbidding imprisonment without due process were violated with impunity. Dissent was shouted down and whistle-blowers were vilified and persecuted, while high government officials sanctioning torture and murder were given a free pass by both parties.
On the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we invite you to participate in a community discussion of how this tragedy was used to brutalize our country while destroying hundreds of thousands of lives in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Only by knowing our history can we organize to win a non-dystopian future for ourselves and the world.
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To provide maximum protection against the pandemic and because it’s still summertime (!), our discussion will be held outside at Buttercup Park located at 4901 N Sheridan Road (4 blocks from the “Argyle” Red Line stop). Masks are required. There is some seating on the side of a planter and organizers will be bringing what extra folding chairs that we can. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lightweight portable chairs too, if it’s not too much trouble.
Rain location is underneath the large eaves of the McCutcheon Elementary School at the south end of Buttercup Park.
+++++++++++
Our discussion will be led by:
Michael Deutsch – Michael was one of the lawyers for the Attica prisoners following their 1971 uprising and the massacre of prisoners authorized by the governor of New York. He initially worked on the defense of prisoners charged with criminal offenses, and subsequently helped obtain a $12 million settlement for the prisoners’ class-action civil rights suit against New York State officials. He has represented Puerto Rican Independence activists over the past 40 years. He was lead counsel in obtaining the clemency release of the Puerto Rican nationalist prisoners, including Lolita Lebron and Rafael Cancel Miranda from President Jimmy Carter in 1979. In 2006, he and Erica Thompson successfully defended Muhammad Salah, a Palestinian indicted for allegedly running a terrorist-recruiting and financing cell in the United States. He is a past legal director of the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights.
Kathy Kelly – Kathy has traveled to war zones and lived alongside ordinary people in Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza, Lebanon, Bosnia, Haiti and Nicaragua. She and her companions in various peace team delegations believe the U.S. should end all U.S. military and economic warfare and pay reparations for the suffering that the U.S. has caused. Kathy has refused to pay all federal income taxes since 1980. She spent a year in maximum security prison for planting corn on nuclear missile silo sites, which was the first and longest of her three federal prison sentences following nonviolent direct actions.
2021 Peace Action Virtual Lobby Days Extravaganza
Tuesday, June 15— Thursday, June 16
Join the Peace Action network June 15-17 for our 2021 VLD Extravaganza — a conference consisting of briefings on key peace issues from nuclear disarmament to cutting Pentagon bloat to ending endless wars, along with direct advocacy trainings. Detailed agenda to come, but you can register now!
After the meeting, we’ll push to get one step closer to a sane foreign policy through advocacy meetings with Members of Congress!
If you are able, we ask you consider a $20 donation to help fund this work: bit.ly/2021VLD_Donation
Notes:
– If you are interested in participating in a lobby visit(s) with your Senators and Representatives alongside Peace Action staff or other leaders, we are requiring attendance of our Lobby Visit 101 training.
– Times listed are overestimated to allow wiggle room for folks to join early and stay on a little late to chat.
Defend Courageous Journalism! Defend Julian Assange!
Thursday, June 17th
4:30pm CST
British Consulate, 625 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange has been the target of U.S. persecution by both leading Democrats and Republicans ever since he helped expose U.S. troops’ slaughter of civilians, including journalists, in Afghanistan and Iraq (https://collateralmurder.wikileaks.org/).
By publishing documents provided by courageous whistleblowers such as Chelsea Manning, the Wikileaks team brought to public attention a host of other U.S. crimes, from the Obama administration’s support of a bloody coup against the democratically elected government in Honduras, to U.S. backchannel support for a host of wealthy dictators in North Africa.
Rather than prosecute U.S. troops who commit serious crimes or cut off aid to dictators bilking their own peoples, many U.S. politicians responded by launching a decade-long drive to extradite Assange from Britain to the U.S. to be tried for exposing these crimes.
Leading journalists and activists from Noam Chomsky to Alice Walker to Daniel Ellsberg have recognized that Assange’s work is in the finest tradition of courageous journalism exposing the crimes of the rich and powerful, and thus must be defended.
Chicago will soon be privileged to host Assange’s father and brother as part of a national tour to pressure the Biden administration to drop its drive to extradite and persecute Assange (www.AssangeDefense.org/tour). Please join us for a Thursday, June 17th rally at 4:30 pm in front of the British consulate, 625 N. Michigan. A program featuring Assange’s father and brother and local supporters will begin at 5 pm.
Ending the Climate Emergency While We Still Can
Thursday, June 3rd
7:00pm cst
Register via Zoom
A Webinar: Beyond the Green New Deal
An analysis of the complexities of the energy transformation in the U.S.
Featuring Stan Cox: Author and senior scientist at The Land Institute, Stan Cox, will explain the need for more serious actions to avoid climate disaster, The Biden plan is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done. In his fifth book, Cox analyzes critical issues not being addressed in the dominant discourse today. Save the date! Join us on June 3rd!
Moderated by Jerome McDonnell— longtime esteemed host of WBEZ World View
Co-Sponsored by: The Evanston Library, 350 Chicago, Citizens Greener Evanston, SOIL, 350 Kishwaukee,
NEIS, Sunrise Movement Chicago, Extinction Rebellion Chicago, CAPA Loyola Student Chapter, Sunrise Chicago, CAPA UIUC Chapter, Etown Sunrise
NEIS, Sunrise Movement Chicago, Extinction Rebellion Chicago, CAPA Loyola Student Chapter, Sunrise Chicago, CAPA UIUC Chapter, Etown Sunrise
Community Solar
Thursday, May 27th
7:00pm cst
Register Via Zoom
CAPA will host another webinar with Trajectory Energy Partners on May 27th at 7pm. The webinar will review the Community Solar program that is now underway in the Chicago Area and throughout the State of Illinois. This program will enable you to subscribe to solar energy for your home electric bills while providing the following benefits:
- No roof space required.
- No up-front investment required.
- Lower your present electricity costs from ComEd.
- Your individual and community carbon footprint will be lower. (The more solar panels we subscribe to the less electricity we will be drawing from coal, gas, and oil-fired facilities)
- Conserve energy and reduce transmission losses by putting production where power is consumed.
- Reduce infrastructure costs by reducing or eliminating the need to build additional power facilities to meet increasing power demands or to meet “Peak Demand Requirements”.
In addition, if you subscribe after reviewing the information discussed in the webinar you will be eligible to receive a limited promotional offer of $400 that can be applied to your solar monthly bills. The State of Illinois has placed a high priority on Community Solar to enable a fast transition to renewable energy. Register here to attend: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7N8NxEBqT7WOPYPrVOIOdA
May 22nd & 23rd, 2021— Peace Summit 2021: Organizing Towards Peace, Justice, and Conflict Resolution
CAPA Student Network Peace Summit 2021
Organizing Towards Peace, Justice, and Conflict Resolution
Saturday, May 22nd— Sunday, May 23rd
The Peace Summit may be over, but you can watch and engage with all the recordings by clicking here!
Chicago Area Peace Action’s Student Network is planning the second annual Peace Summit! This year’s theme is Organizing Towards Peace, Justice, and Conflict Resolution.
After a year that has reshaped so many of our ways of thinking and being, as we exit the Trump era and fend off complacency under a Biden administration, the need for a more organized and more connected peace and justice movement was decided to be one of the greatest needs for the 2021 Peace Summit. New skills are required in this virtual era, and we see the many activists and organizers, old and new, in need of an outlet to stay engaged after a tumultuous year.
This year’s Peace Summit will focus on forging and strengthening relationships, developing our collective skills, and expanding our knowledge base.
Check out some of the featured speakers and workshops:
- Keynote address from Margaret Flowers of Popular Resistance
- Media Strategy Panel with Jerome McDonnell, Leonna McAfee, Hassan El-Tayyab, and Chris Geovanis
- Activism 101 Workshop with Danaka Katovich
- Antiracism + Organizing Workshop facilitated by Beautiful Trouble
- Building a Local Peace Economy with Kelly Curry
- Activism Through Pop Culture with Frank Dorrel, the publisher of Addicted to War, and Emily Dorrel, CODEPINK’s Social Media and Communications Director
- Moving Beyond an Us vs Them Perspective with Peace Journalist Robert C Koehler
- And so much more! Check out the full program by clicking here.
Prohiting the First Use of Nuclear Weapons
Saturday, May 15th, 11:30am— 4:00pm cst
Register Via Zoom
A nuclear exchange between the US and Russia would incinerate hundreds of millions of people immediately, and lead to a Nuclear Winter which would slaughter an estimated 7 billion of the Earth’s 7.7 billion people, mostly through starvation. Building back civilization would require over 1,000 years [Daniel Ellsberg talk, 12/13/2020]. A U.S. nuclear strike against China would result in a similar catastrophe.
These are the stakes. As a step toward reducing the danger of Nuclear War, a coalition of groups has called upon Congress to legislate – and the President to declare – that the United States will neither initiate nor threaten to initiate the first use of Nuclear Weapons. Register to attend: bit.ly/nfu-register.
Click here to see the full schedule: http://masspeaceaction.org/prohibiting-the-first-use-of…/
Confirmed Speakers (partial list):
Rep. Ted Lieu (California)
Special message from Sen. Ed Markey
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA; video message)
William Perry (Sec. of Defense in Clinton adm.)
Ira Helfand (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War)
Elaine Scarry (Harvard; MA Peace Action; CPDCS)
Zia Mian (Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University)
Tom Collina (Ploughshares Fund)
Tong Zhao (Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy)
Joseph Gerson (CPDCS)
John Burroughs (Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy)
Kennette Benedict (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists)
Max Tegmark (MIT)
Tom Unterrainer (Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation)
Monica Montgomery, John Isaacs (Council for a Livable World)
David Swanson (World Beyond War)
Carley Towne (CODEPINK)
Anna Baker (GBPSR)
Kevin Martin (PA)
David Borris (CAPA)
Erica Fein (Win Without War)
Denise Duffield (PSR)
Jonathan King (MAPA/MIT)
William Hartung (Center for International Policy)
Joshua Bennett (Poet, Dartmouth)
Jillian Hanesworth (Buffalo Poet Laureate)
Breakout Topics:
Why No First Use Will Keep Us Safer
Communications & Messaging
Social Media / Street Theater / Artivism
Congressional Strategy
Recruiting/Organization Building
Back From the Brink
Stopping the Money Pit Missile and Reducing Nuclear Weapons Budgets
Declaring and legislating a No First Use policy would be a major step to help avoid:
A US nuclear attack that escalates
Russia or China attacking the US due to a false alarm
Violating the US Constitution by a first strike act of war
US threats of a nuclear attack which amount to bullying and blackmailing other countries, and which carry unacceptable risk of starting a general nuclear war.
With the support of a growing number of members of Congress, and President Biden’s 2019 statement that he has supported “No First Use” for twenty years, we have a real chance to take an important step toward reducing the risks of nuclear war in the next year by getting a No First Use policy declared and legislated into law!
Join us on May 15 at a conference to discuss and implement “Prohibiting the First Use of Nuclear Weapons.” Register to attend.
The conference is free but we appreciate donations to support this work.
Cosponsors: Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security (CPDCS); Mass Peace Action (MAPA); Council for a Livable World (CLW); CodePINK; Chicago Area Peace Action (CAPA); NY Peace Action (PANYS); Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility (GBPSR); Maine Peace Action; MIT Radius; Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR); Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard; Public Citizen; Maryland Peace Action; Institute for People’s Engagement; PeaceWorks Kansas City [list still in formation]
Vigil for Yemen: Remembering 6 Years of War
Thursday, March 25th, 5:30 PM
Federal Plaza, Chicago
March 25th is the sixth anniversary of the Saudi-led and U.S. supported war on Yemen. We will gather in Federal Plaza on March 25th, socially distanced and masked, to remember those harmed by this war. With US support, the war has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. We will mourn the lives lost, and call attention to the millions of Yemenis still at risk of famine, and honor those who are internally displaced within Yemen due to this war.
We encourage attendees to bring flowers to lay down to honor and remember the countless innocent people who have been killed or starved over the last six years. Attendees will have a chance to write notes of support people in Yemen, which will be sent to Yemen Relief and Reconstruction’s office in Yemen.
While the United States has ended all “offensive” support for the war on Yemen, there are still many questions ahead of us. There is still a reality to confront: that American tax dollars and military equipment helped destroy Yemen. While we fight for transparency in regard to U.S. involvement in the war, we cannot walk away from U.S. responsibility in creating this crisis. Stopping a few arms sales to Saudi Arabia is not enough. As we mark six years since the war began, we must confront these realities.
Cosponsors:
Action Corps Illinois
Chicago Area Peace Action
CODEPINK
SWANA Chicago
Action Corps Illinois
Chicago Area Peace Action
CODEPINK
SWANA Chicago
End the Endless Wars: US Troops Out of the Middle East
Saturday, March 20th, 1:30 PM— 3:00 PM CST
End the Endless Wars: US Troops Out of the Middle East!
18 years after President Bush invaded Iraq on March 19, 2003, the US remains at war in Afghanistan and Syria. President Biden bombed Syria on February 25. The US continues to support the wars in Yemen and Libya, stations troops in Iraq and Somalia, and is selling arms to its allies Saudi, UAE, and Israel as they prepare to confront Iran. Syria and Iran are heavily sanctioned, including new “Caesar Act” sanctions which are devastating Syria’s civilian economy, and President Biden’s team is moving much too slowly to rejoin the Iran Nuclear Deal. Presidents change but the endless wars continue and escalate. Get full speaker line-up here.
Endless Wars = Few or No Gains for Working People
Saturday, March 20th, 12:00 PM
Federal Plaza, Chicago
Every new Presidential administration starts with attractive promises made to working class people: Good jobs, healthcare, prosperity for all.
If the economy does well, working people may make modest gains – these are pennies compared to the unimaginable wealth shoveled into the pockets of America’s richest people. More often, there’s stagnation and, for the poorest, outright regression. Rightwing populists build their careers and dangerous movements – blaming immigrants, Blacks, Muslims, and Jews for the nation’s problems. They inflame bigotry against LGBTQs, women and others.
Few Americans realize that, compared to other industrialized nations, the richest country in world history has by far the WORST public benefits for working parents and their children.
The reasons are not hard to find. Since the end of World War II, U.S. rulers have dominated the world with a huge military apparatus designed to intimidate other nations into doing its bidding or, failing that, brutally punishing them. Like police forces on the local level, the U.S. military eats up an enormous part of spending: 50% of the federal discretionary budget.
Meanwhile, much poorer nations suffer wholesale death and devastation unimaginable to people in the U.S.
For all the U.S. soldiers killed, traumatized or otherwise disabled by war, there are many more times that number of Iraqis, Afghans, Syrians and others with destroyed homes and shattered lives. Thanks to the U.S. conducting constant drone bombings, its support for brutal dictators, sanctions, threats of invasions and coups, the working people of these violated countries have far fewer resources to recover from wars and climate disasters. Many are forced into desperate migrations from their homes and communities in Central and South America, northern Africa, the Middle East, southern Asia and elsewhere.
In addition, the U.S. military is the world’s biggest polluter. It is the #1 contributor to the growing climate catastrophe. While politicians debate the proposed $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, none mention the U.S.’s projected $3 trillion nuclear weapons “modernization” program.
We must end this death spiral. At best, the leading politicians of both parties have tinkered around the edges of these massive, deadly problems. At worst, they’ve thrown more gasoline on the fire. Either way, their measures fall far short of what working people need, especially Black, Latinx and Native American people.
For all the “change” they promise, both parties stay committed to preserving and extending U.S. domination of the world. They each have an iron-clad commitment to funding its massive nuclear and conventional arsenals with a devastating cost to working people here and abroad.
History has shown that the only times we get changes of the magnitude we need are when masses of working people, organized and with clear strategy, take matters into their own hands. This was the power behind the union struggles of the Great Depression, the struggles of Black people and their allies in the Civil Rights Movement, and the anti-war, Black Power, Chicano, feminist and LGBTQ movements of the late 1960s.
In the spirit of those earlier movements, on Saturday, March 20th – the 18th anniversary of the United States’ second longest Forever War, the invasion and occupation of Iraq – please join us as we demand:
** End State Repression & Institutional Racism
http://ccawr.org/end-state-repression-institutional-racism/
** Promote an Economy That Serves Working Class People
http://ccawr.org/promote-an-economy-that-serves-working…/
** Housing, Food, Education & Healthcare are Human Rights
http://ccawr.org/housing-food-education-healthcare-are…/
** We Have the Right to Control Our Bodies
http://ccawr.org/we-have-the-right-to-control-our-bodies/
** International Peace & Human Rights
http://ccawr.org/international-peace-human-rights/
** Protect the Planet, Protect Us All
http://ccawr.org/protect-the-planet-protect-us-all/
CAPA Open Membership Meeting
Friday, March 19th, 6:30— 8:00 PM CST
It’s a New Year, a new President in DC, and CAPA is up to new work!
In our 40 year history, we’ve stayed busy no matter who is in office, because when it comes to US imperialism, the US government doesn’t sleep! We’ve seen some mild improvements over the first days of the Biden Administration, but also many toothless measures and unfortunately a status quo belligerent attitude towards China, making diplomacy more difficult in favor of rationalizing the ever increasing Pentagon budget.
This year, CAPA’s two working groups have developed five specific advocacy campaigns, and we want to bring you up to speed on our work, let you know how you can get involved, and find ways to work together as progressives working towards a better world.
2021 Campaigns:
Defund The Pentagon, by 10% in 2022
Nuclear No First Use
No New Cold Wars
Palestinian Civil and Human Rights
Climate Group Campaign Updates
Defund The Pentagon, by 10% in 2022
Nuclear No First Use
No New Cold Wars
Palestinian Civil and Human Rights
Climate Group Campaign Updates
You’ll have the opportunity to choose two of the five campaigns during the meeting to learn more about each in specific breakout sessions.
The Doomsday Machine- Talk with Daniel Ellsberg
Thursday, March 18th, 6:00— 7:00 PM CST
As part of an ongoing series of of events this year addressing the dire nature of U.S. nuclear weapons policy, CAPA and other Peace Action affiliates are pleased to invite you to a conversation with Daniel Ellsberg about his blockbuster book, The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner. In Edward Snowden’s words, “The father of American whistle-blowing” has written an urgent chronicle that “is both an urgent warning and a call to arms to a public that has grown dangerously habituated to the idea that the means to our extinction will forever be on hair trigger alert.”
Please join us for an important evening that will offer you insight into what you can do as a private citizen to shine a bright light on a frightening under reported unstable architecture and help move us one step closer to the dream of abolition .
CAPA is a cosponsor of this event. Learn more here.
International Day of Action for Yemen
Monday, January 25th, 5:00 PM CST
Chicago Federal Plaza
The country of Yemen is widely recognized as suffering the world’s deadliest humanitarian crisis, a crisis that owes much of its severity to actions by our government. The United States has provided arms and other aid to a bombing campaign begun in 2015 by its close ally, the dictatorship which currently controls Saudi Arabia.
Join us to demand an end to the war on Yemen!
On January 25th we will be gathering at Chicago’s Federal Plaza (230 S. Dearborn) at 5:00PM because #YemenCantWait! You can also take action from home using this toolkit: https://bit.ly/EndYemenWarNow
Since 2015, the Saudi-led bombing and blockade of Yemen has killed hundreds of thousands of people and devastated the country. Yemen has one of the very worst COVID death rates in the world: It kills 1 in 4 people who test positive. The pandemic, along with withdrawal of aid, is pushing more people into acute hunger. Half the country’s health care facilities have been destroyed; hundreds of doctors are dead or have fled the country; public sector salaries of nurses and other medical workers have gone unpaid; and sanitation and clean water are in short supply. And yet Saudi Arabia is escalating its war and tightening its blockade.
The war is only possible because Western countries — and the United States and Britain in particular — continue to arm Saudi Arabia and provide military, political and logistical support for the war.
The disaster in Yemen is human-made. It is caused by the war and blockade. It can be ended.
Over 115 organizations from the US, UK, Yemen, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, France, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and across the world, are coming together to call for an end to the war in Yemen and solidarity with the people of Yemen.
Over 115 organizations from the US, UK, Yemen, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, France, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and across the world, are coming together to call for an end to the war in Yemen and solidarity with the people of Yemen.
On January 25th, just days after the U.S. presidential inauguration, we are demanding that President Biden commit to the following during his first 100 days:
– Restore all humanitarian and food aid to Yemen, including USAID that was cut by President Trump at the beginning of the pandemic
– Stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
– Stop all US involvement in the war in Yemen including intelligence and logistics support.
– Pressure Saudi Arabia to stop the blockade that is starving Yemen.
– lift the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization
– Restore all humanitarian and food aid to Yemen, including USAID that was cut by President Trump at the beginning of the pandemic
– Stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
– Stop all US involvement in the war in Yemen including intelligence and logistics support.
– Pressure Saudi Arabia to stop the blockade that is starving Yemen.
– lift the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization
Speakers for the January 25th event include:
° Danaka Katovich of CODEPINK
° Grace of CAPA DePaul
° SJP Chicago
° Nancy of SWANA Chicago
° Nadiah who will be sharing a poem
° Danaka Katovich of CODEPINK
° Grace of CAPA DePaul
° SJP Chicago
° Nancy of SWANA Chicago
° Nadiah who will be sharing a poem
Read more about the conflict here: https://www.brookings.edu/…/who-are-the-houthis-and…/
Co-Sponsors
Action Corps Illinois
Chicago Area Peace Action
Chicago Area Peace Action— DePaul Chapter
Chicago Committee Against War and Racism
Chicago Democratic Socialists of America
CODEPINK
SJP Chicago
Action Corps Illinois
Chicago Area Peace Action
Chicago Area Peace Action— DePaul Chapter
Chicago Committee Against War and Racism
Chicago Democratic Socialists of America
CODEPINK
SJP Chicago
Ban Nuclear Weapons Car Caravan
Friday, January 22nd
12 PM
Around Federal Plaza, Chicago
A landmark U.N. treaty that criminalizes nuclear weapons will become international law on January 22nd. Join activists from the Chicago area on January 21st and 22nd to celebrate this historic moment and call on the United States to take tangible steps to change its nuclear weapons policies. Grassroots support for changing policy is a critical next step in moving towards complete abolition of nuclear weapons.
Take action and join the caravan!
Sign-up for the caravan: https://forms.gle/akKQrA7emtxZzoM19
We are demanding that when President-Elect Joe Biden takes office, he takes the following actions within his first 100 days:
– Declare a no first use policy on nuclear weapons
– Renew New START for 5 years
– Reengage in the INF and Open Skies treaties
– Declare a no first use policy on nuclear weapons
– Renew New START for 5 years
– Reengage in the INF and Open Skies treaties
Co-sponsors
Chicago Area Peace Action
Chicago Area Fellowship of Reconciliation
Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism
Chicago Physicians for Social Responsibility
Nuclear Energy Information Services
Union of Concerned Scientists
Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Panel: Is this the end of nuclear weapons?
Thursday, January 21st
6:00 PM
A landmark U.N. treaty that criminalizes nuclear weapons will become international law on January 22nd. Join activists from the Chicago area on January 21st and 22nd to celebrate this historic moment and call on the United States to take tangible steps to change its nuclear weapons policies. Grassroots support for changing policy is a critical next step in moving towards complete abolition of nuclear weapons.
Tune in for the panel:
Join a panel of nuclear weapons experts to learn more about the significance of the ban treaty entering into force, and what the U.S. can do to move toward nuclear weapons abolition. The United States has not yet signed the ban treaty, but substantial reforms are possible in 2021 including renewed international agreements, reductions in nuclear weapons spending, and bold policies like a No First Use position.
Join a panel of nuclear weapons experts to learn more about the significance of the ban treaty entering into force, and what the U.S. can do to move toward nuclear weapons abolition. The United States has not yet signed the ban treaty, but substantial reforms are possible in 2021 including renewed international agreements, reductions in nuclear weapons spending, and bold policies like a No First Use position.
Register via Zoom: https://zoom.us/…/tJYsf–orj4rHdHqEkAWEtsBNso7JD6_np7m
Co-sponsors
Chicago Area Peace Action
Chicago Area Fellowship of Reconciliation
Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism
Chicago Physicians for Social Responsibility
Nuclear Energy Information Services
Union of Concerned Scientists
Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Inauguration Eve: Demand REAL Change
Tuesday, January 19th
4:00 PM
Chicago’s Federal Plaza
** EL ESPAÑOL SIGUE EL INGLES **
After four nightmarish years of Trump, we need to do more than breathe sighs of relief as the Biden-Harris administration takes office.
During previous Democratic administrations, many hoped that the rhetoric about promoting diversity and ending “stupid wars” would translate into sweeping civil rights progress and redress growing economic inequalities.
Instead we got:
** continuing police murders of Black and Brown people
** bailouts of banks and other big businesses while millions lost their homes
** failure to honor long-standing promises to legislate a level playing field for unions to organize
** expansions of U.S. wars
** expansion of already-bloated Pentagon budgets
** arms exports to oppressive governments
** drone bombings
** record deportations
** record attacks on whistle-blowers
** continued attacks on the right to choose abortion, and
** huge expansion of the petroleum industry thru fracking.
We cannot afford another Democratic administration that fails to meet the needs of those who hoped it would bring sweeping change. If there is little progress to diminish the huge inequalities in this country, many will drift into apathy or end up supporting another right-wing demagogue in 2024.
We must pro-actively make demands on the new Biden-Harris administration:
** End State Repression & Institutional Racism
http://ccawr.org/end-state-repression-institutional-racism/
http://ccawr.org/end-state-repression-institutional-racism/
** Promote an Economy That Serves Working Class People
http://ccawr.org/promote-an-economy-that-serves-working…/
http://ccawr.org/promote-an-economy-that-serves-working…/
** Housing, Food, Education & Healthcare are Human Rights
http://ccawr.org/housing-food-education-healthcare-are…/
http://ccawr.org/housing-food-education-healthcare-are…/
** We Have the Right to Control Our Bodies
http://ccawr.org/we-have-the-right-to-control-our-bodies/
http://ccawr.org/we-have-the-right-to-control-our-bodies/
** International Peace & Human Rights
http://ccawr.org/international-peace-human-rights/
http://ccawr.org/international-peace-human-rights/
** Protect the Planet, Protect Us All
http://ccawr.org/protect-the-planet-protect-us-all/
http://ccawr.org/protect-the-planet-protect-us-all/
+++++++++
To protect the safety of everyone, all attendees are required to wear masks properly and do their best to keep a minimum of 6 feet distance from others not in their households. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, please respect the safety needs of others by not attending. Thank you.
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Evento del Comité de Chicago contra la Guerra y el Racismo
230 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60603, Estados Unidos
Martes, 19 de enero de 2021 a las 4 PM CST – 5 PM CST
Después de cuatro años de la pesadilla de Trump, necesitamos hacer más que suspirar con alivio cuando la nueva administración demócrata Biden-Harris asuma el cargo.
Durante las administraciones demócratas anteriores, muchos esperaban que la retórica sobre la promoción de la diversidad y el fin de las “guerras estúpidas” se tradujera en un avance radical de los derechos civiles y corrigiera las crecientes desigualdades económicas.
En cambio, lo que obtuvimos fue:
** continuos asesinatos policiales de personas negras y latinas
** rescates económicos de bancos y otras grandes empresas mientras millones perdieron sus hogares
** incumplimiento de las viejas promesas de leyes para lograr un terreno de juego nivelado para que los sindicatos puedan organizar
** expansiones de las guerras de Estados Unidos
** expansión de los presupuestos del Pentágono ya de por sí abultados
** exportación de armas a gobiernos opresores
** bombardeos con ‘drones’ (aviones no tripulados)
** récords del número de deportaciones
**ataques récord a denunciantes de corrupción gubernamental** continuos ataques contra el derecho a elegir el aborto, y
** enorme expansión de la industria petrolera a través del fracking.
No podemos permitirnos otra administración demócrata que no satisfaga las necesidades de quienes esperaban que trajera un cambio radical. Si hay poco progreso para disminuir las enormes desigualdades en este país, muchos caerán en la apatía o terminarán apoyando a otro demagogo de la derecha en las elecciones del 2024.
Debemos hacer demandas proactivamente a la nueva administración de Biden-Harris:
** Fin al Estado de Represión y Racismo Institucional
http://ccawr.org/poner-fin-a-la-represion-estatal-y-el…/
http://ccawr.org/poner-fin-a-la-represion-estatal-y-el…/
** Promover una economía que sirva a la gente de la clase trabajadora
http://ccawr.org/promover-una-economia-que-sirva-a-la…/
http://ccawr.org/promover-una-economia-que-sirva-a-la…/
** Vivienda, alimentos, educación y atención médica son derechos humanos
http://ccawr.org/vivienda-alimentacion-educacion-y…/
http://ccawr.org/vivienda-alimentacion-educacion-y…/
** Tenemos el derecho a controlar nuestros cuerpos
http://ccawr.org/tenemos-el-derecho-a-controlar-nuestros…/
http://ccawr.org/tenemos-el-derecho-a-controlar-nuestros…/
** Paz y derechos humanos mundialmente
http://ccawr.org/paz-y-derechos-humanos-en-todo-el-mundo/
http://ccawr.org/paz-y-derechos-humanos-en-todo-el-mundo/
** Proteger el planeta, Protegernos a todos
http://ccawr.org/proteger-el-planeta-protegernos-a-todos/
http://ccawr.org/proteger-el-planeta-protegernos-a-todos/
+++++++++
Para proteger la seguridad de todos y todas, es requisito que todos y todas las y los asistentes a este evento usen mascarillas apropiadamente y traten de mantener la distancia mínima de 6 pies de la mejor manera posible con aquellos que no vivan con Uds. Si Ud. resultó positivo al COVID-19 o tiene algún síntoma, favor de no asistir por respeto a la seguridad de los demás. Gracias.
Webinar: Stop the War on Yemen!
Thursday, January 14th
6:00 PM CST
This month, people in the U.S. and around the world are demanding an end to the brutal U.S.-supported war on Yemen. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have waged war against Yemen, killing and injuring thousands of Yemeni civilians. After five years of war, roughly 14 million people are at risk of famine and over 24 million people rely on food assistance for survival.
Please join the following presenters to learn more about this critical issue — and what you can do to help put an end to this horrific war:
> Aisha Jumaan, MPH, PhD., President of the Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation
> Hassan El-Tayyab, Friends Committee lead lobbyist on Middle East policy
> Danaka Katovich, Yemen campaign coordinator for CODE PINK.
> Haig Hovaness, Secretary of Green Party Peace Action
> Hassan El-Tayyab, Friends Committee lead lobbyist on Middle East policy
> Danaka Katovich, Yemen campaign coordinator for CODE PINK.
> Haig Hovaness, Secretary of Green Party Peace Action
PLEASE REGISTER HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR ON ZOOM: https://zoom.us/…/tJEvceuqpzwjE9LeaIsWDczsGXfsAHJoxUnX
President-elect Joe Biden has promised to end U.S. involvement in the war. However, experience teaches us that a complete cessation to U.S. support for the war is unlikely to occur without strong and highly visible public demands for it.
CAPA Membership Meeting
Monday, December 7th, 7:00— 8:30 PM
This is a critical moment that we as progressives might feel like we can step back, feeling more secure under a Biden presidency, or choose to step up and work even harder to push more just policy and shape a better world.
We’re working towards a world in which justice prevails for all — free of the devastation caused by war, racism, poverty, nuclear weapons, and environmental degradation. And we can’t do it without you.
Join us virtually next Monday, December 7th at 7pm to learn more about CAPA’s work, share your ideas and vision, and find your place in the movement.
We’ll be giving report-outs on the work of our Climate and Foreign Policy working groups, as well as a presentation from our students on digital advocacy. Once you’re up to speed on our current work, we’ll go into breakout rooms for open discussion and get your feedback and visions for our work going forward.
Register via Zoom here: https://zoom.us/…/tJ0lceispjgsGN1UmxM613GWSswTXm6oKJCY
41st Annual Benefit
Thursday, November 12th
6:00 PM— 7:30 PM CST
For the past forty years, we’ve gathered with fellow peace, justice, and climate activists to dine and learn together at CAPA’s annual fall dinner. Due to the circumstances of this unusual year, we, like many other groups, are going virtual. What once seemed like a hindering obstacle, has instead revealed a unique opportunity to rethink our yearly program.
While we may not be gathering together in person this year, the need for peace and justice minded individuals to learn, connect, and activate is greater than ever.
We are thrilled to host the progressive champion, US Representative Ro Khanna to speak on Building Bridges, Not Barriers: Redefining Security. At a time when our nation will still be reeling from the recent election, as the world battles pandemic, climate catastrophe, and widespread war, we must all bring a critical and creative eye to rethink what security really entails.
For too long, our nation has bought into a broken “post 9/11 siege mentality” of amorphous external threats requiring bullets, bombs and intimidation to keep us “strong and safe”. Now, we are seeing more clearly than ever, that true security for all must include: access to healthcare, intentional peace building, attention to the global effects of climate change and the thoughtful dismantling of systemic racism.
No matter the outcome of November’s election, we, as lovers of peace and justice, have a lot of work to do and can not afford to sit on the sidelines. With nearly uncontested bipartisan support of the Pentagon’s $690 billion budget and plans to spend a trillion dollars on modernizing the US nuclear arsenal and delivery systems over the next thirty years, we must be prepared to call for bold steps to redefine security!
Join us to learn what must be done, discuss solutions, and get activated to be the change we want to see in the world!
Wednesday October 7th
Chicago Federal Plaza
12:00 PM— 1:30 PM
October 7 marks the 19th anniversary of the longest war in U.S. history, the 2001 invasion and occupation of Afghanistan.
And Afghanistan is just one piece of a worldwide kaleidoscope of US military violence around the world including:
- occupations of Iraq and Syria
- drone bombings from Africa to Pakistan
- the proxy wars of Saudi Arabia vs. Yemen and Israel vs. Palestine
- threats to invade Venezuela
- devastating sanctions against dozens of countries
- over 500 military bases around the world, many with nuclear weapons — daggers at the throats of the peoples nearby them.
Almost an entire generation of Americans has lived with endless war. Babies not even born at the time of the US invasion of Afghanistan are now fighting in that country. Far worse, however, is the fact that over 1 million Middle Easterners are now dead to avenge the 3000 killed in the 9/11 attacks, and war has spread throughout the Middle East.
As revealed in the so-called Afghanistan papers – government documents released through Freedom of Information Act requests – senior U.S. officials have knowingly lied throughout the war, making optimistic pronouncements of success even while hiding evidence that the war was a disaster.
Despite this, in an effort to turn the tide of the Afghan war in the U.S.’s favor, Presidents Obama and Trump have both launched “troop surges.” Death and destruction were the predictable results while the puppet Afghan regime’s hold on the country, far from being strengthened, remained as precarious as ever.
While people in this country do not feel the direct physical effects of these wars, every bomb
dropped represents millions of dollars less for our schools, health care, affordable housing, public transportation, physical infrastructure, and a myriad of other social services desperately needed in a time of pandemic and severe economic recession. With one-half of the federal discretionary budget going to the US military, and much of the rest given over to subsidizing the already-rich, it’s little wonder that there are only crumbs left for the left of us.
US politicians’ support for war and U.S. domination has been and remains thoroughly bipartisan. The 2020 election will not change that. To establish their “patriotic” credentials, Democrats typically vote for military financing and war with the same frequency as Republicans.
On the 19th anniversary of the United States’ Forever War, and relentless US violence around the world, please join us to denounce these wars that both major political parties continue to finance.
We will be having our event on the Plaza so that we can be socially distanced. Out respect for the health of everyone, please wear a mask.
View the Facebook Event here.
Saturday, September 26th
Stay tuned for more details to come!
Wednesday, August 26th, 6:00— 7:00 PM CST
This is an online event. Please register here to receive a Zoom link.
Join us on Wednesday, August 26th for a discussion with Danny Sjursen on a his new book Patriotic Dissent: America in the Age of Endless War published by Heydey books. He’ll join us virtually from his home in Kansas to talk about his latest work and take your questions.
This incendiary work by Daniel Sjursen is a personal cry from the heart by a once-model US Army officer and West Point graduate who became a military dissenter while still on active duty. Set against the backdrop of the terror wars of the last two decades, Sjursen asks whether there is a proper space for patriotism that renounces entitled exceptionalism and narcissistic jingoism. Once a burgeoning believer and budding conservative, Sjursen performed an intellectual and spiritual about-face. He now calls for a critical exploration of our allegiances, and he suggests a path to a new, more complex notion of patriotism. Equal parts unsentimental and idealistic, this is a story about what it means to be an American in the midst of perpetual war, and what the future of patriotism might look like.
Danny Sjursen is a retired U.S. Army Major and regular contributor to antiwar.com, Truthdig, The Nation, Tom Dispatch, The Huffington Post, and The Hill. His work has also appeared in Harper’s, The LA Times, and Buzz Feed. He served combat tours with reconnaissance units in Iraq and Afghanistan and later taught history at his alma mater, West Point. He is the author of a memoir and critical analysis of the Iraq War, Ghost Riders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge (2015). He co-hosts the progressive veterans’ podcast “Fortress on a Hill.” Follow him on Twitter at @SkepticalVet.
Sunday, August 9th 12:15— 3:30 PM,
4600 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60640
August 9th is the 75th Anniversary of the U.S. nuclear bombing of the city of Nagasaki, Japan, just 3 days after the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima. The two attacks killed in excess of 150,000 people immediately, and caused cancers, birth defects and premature deaths to this day.
Humanity arguably now faces a worse nuclear danger than it did at the height of the Cold War. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists have set their famed “Doomsday Clock” at 100 seconds, the “Clock’s” first time counted in seconds. Currently 40 out of a needed 50 nations have ratified a U.N. treaty definitively criminalizing the world’s few nuclear stockpiles. Yet vital international agreements to reduce and control nuclear weapons worldwide are being abandoned by the Trump administration. And rather than reduce nuclear weapons, the Obama administration launched a multi-billion dollar “modernization” of the US nuclear arsenal, which continues under Trump.
At a time when the #BlackLivesMatter movement has sparked a new public consciousness about the diversion of community resources to state violence, the federal budget for developing and producing new nuclear weapons continues to grow. Tensions among nuclear-armed nations are rising to levels not seen since the Cold War.
People created nuclear weapons and designed the systems governing their use — and people can work to eliminate them.
People created nuclear weapons and designed the systems governing their use — and people can work to eliminate them.
As the only country to use nuclear weapons in conflict, the United States has a moral obligation to lead the world in ending this threat and to remember all those who were harmed in their detonation, testing and development.
As residents of, by far, the biggest military power in the world, we must continually press our leaders to take the actions necessary to ensure nuclear weapons are never used again, and to negotiate in good faith the global elimination of these most devastating weapons of mass destruction.
Event details:
12:15p – Gathering & preparation of the cars for the Memorial procession at the Staples parking lot, NW corner of Wilson and Clark in Chicago (4600 N. Clark Street).
1:00p – Speakers in Staples parking lot before send-off of car procession (Route to be provided to those who RSVP)
Roughly 2:45-3p – Procession arrives at the Henry Moore sculpture, 5625 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, for additional speakers, a memorial and acknowledgement of the lives lost.
1:00p – Speakers in Staples parking lot before send-off of car procession (Route to be provided to those who RSVP)
Roughly 2:45-3p – Procession arrives at the Henry Moore sculpture, 5625 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, for additional speakers, a memorial and acknowledgement of the lives lost.
Out of respect for others, all attendees and speakers will practice social distancing and wear masks.
Nagasaki Memorial Procession drivers should arrive early so that themed, consistent signage along with large, black event flags can be attached by poles to their cars (we will provide both). RSVP here (https://forms.gle/SBG5jE2z65Ai2eHu5)
We plan for the procession to be solemn and slow ending at the Henry Moore sculpture, site of the world’s first nuclear chain reaction.
Sponsoring organizations in formation: Chicago Area Peace Action (CAPA), Chicago Committee Against War & Racism (CCAWR), Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Fellowship of Reconciliation – Chicago, Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS), Neighbors for Peace – Evanston, Union of Concerned Scientists – Chicago
Tuesday, August 4th 6:30— 8:00 PM CST
This is an online event. Register to receive Zoom link here.
This summer’s nationwide struggle against police violence faces a multinational movement.
Speakers:
Col. Lawrence Wilkerson is a distinguished professor of government and public policy at the College of William and Mary and was Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell from 2002 to 2005. Wilkerson is a critic of the US invasion of Iraq, the ongoing War on Terror now in its 18th year, and the turn to a new nuclear arms race. He asserts the U.S. is not a democracy but a war state that forces its will on the global community, and recently has worked on bipartisan projects to assess what will happen if a defeated Donald Trump refuses to leave office.
Mic Crenshaw is an independent Hip Hop artist, respected emcee, poet, educator and activist. He is the Lead U.S. Organizer for the Afrikan HipHop Caravan and uses Cultural Activism as a means to develop international solidarity related to Human Rights and Justice through Hip Hop and Popular Education. Mic is the NW Regional Director of Hip Hop Congress and will give us a firsthand report of the struggle in Portland.
Hosted by: Massachusetts Peace Action
Wednesday, July 15th
This is an online day of action. See more details here.
Join us Wednesday, July, 15th for a National Day of Action to urge Members of Congress to pressure humanitarian agencies (USAID) to restore and expand aid into Yemen, to withdraw military support and to cut arm sales to the coalition-especially while Yemen is dealing with COVID.
Yemen has been enduring the world’s worst humanitarian crisis that we’ve seen in modern history. Over five years of war, a blockade, disease, famine and now COVID. In order for Yemen to breathe, the war must end NOW!
WHEN: Wednesday, July 15th, ALL DAY
WHERE: Online (wherever you are)
WHY: To raise awareness about Yemen and to urge our lawmakers that Yemen can not wait, Yemen needs medicine and aid, not bombs and a blockade!
HOW: People HAVE power! ON the Day of Action (July 15th)
Use your social media platforms (FB, Twitter, IG, etc) to share our graphics, record a short video and tag your Member with a script that we’ll provide AND donate to Yemen:
Use your social media platforms (FB, Twitter, IG, etc) to share our graphics, record a short video and tag your Member with a script that we’ll provide AND donate to Yemen:
Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation
More details will be posted soon! Please stay tuned!
Are you an organization that would like to sponsor this action?
Message us or email: yemenialliancecommittee@gmail.com
Message us or email: yemenialliancecommittee@gmail.com
HOSTED BY: Yemeni Alliance Committee
SPONSORS:
Friends Committee on National Legislation – FCNL
Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation
Action Corps
Freedom Forward
Students for Yemen
Just Foreign Policy
CODEPINK: Women For Peace
Demand Progress
US Palestinian Community Network
Arab American Action Network
Chicago Area Peace Action
Win Without War
STAND
SJP Chicago
Tuesday, July 14 5:00 PM- 6:00 PM
Federal Plaza
219 S Dearborn
Chicago, IL
July 14th marks the 5th anniversary of the Iran-EU-US nuclear agreement that was to pave the way for lessening economic sanctions against Iran. But Trump nixed that agreement and imposed more sanctions that, during a pandemic, make supplies urgently needed to protect public safety more expensive and often impossible for Iran to obtain.
People in a host of countries – Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, Palestine, Yemen and more – suffer as their economies crumble under the effects of US sanctions imposed by politicians of both parties. Lack of essential food and medicines mean people die.
In Iran, for example, the U.S. continues to uphold sanctions that have caused a deep recession in that country. As a result of U.S. policies, Iran no longer has the means to purchase medical, pharmaceutical or hospital equipment.
U.S sanctions on Venezuela have resulted in 40,000 deaths. Importation of needed health care resources and supplies have been blocked by the U.S. in an attempt at regime change.
The U.S./Saudi blockade has starved 87,000 Yemeni children during a three year civil war. Even before the pandemic, Yemen was suffering from a severe cholera outbreak due to bombing of water treatment facilities. Yemen continues to battle COVID with the highest death rate in the world.
In the West Bank, a new wave of the virus, even stronger than the first wave, is striking Palestine. Israeli military operations in the West Bank—including raids, home demolitions, arrests, detention, and land confiscation—have continued, exposing the affected Palestinians to a greater risk of infection. The Gaza strip, blockaded by the Israelis, is potentially vulnerable to COVID-19 since people living there have a low level of health access and are trapped in one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
In these countries and others throughout the world, lethal U.S. sanctions are causing misery and pain. They are morally untenable. Join us in standing against U.S. sanctions.
Event begins at Federal Plaza at 5 pm. for an in-person press conference (Please respect your fellow demonstrators by wearing a mask and, where possible, social distancing.)
*Car-a-van – Those wishing to participate via car caravan are asked to line up in front of Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn, at 4:20 PM. Bedeck your car with lots of signs on both sides. Express your outrage and your creativity! (Route details will be provided onsite)
Tuesday, May 26th, 6:00— 7:00 PM CST
Online Event. Register here to get Zoom link.
We will examine the role that sanctions play as important tool of U.S. foreign policy. We will hear from 3 speakers on the toll that sanctions, which are economic warfare, take on the civilian populations of the nations targeted. We will present a general overview and then more specifically issues surrounding their use against North Korea and Iran.
Introduction by Jeff Hoey, Executive Director of New Jersey Peace Action
Panelists:
Cavan Kharrazian
Researcher @Center for Economic and Policy Research
Cavan Kharrazian is an Iranian-American researcher at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC, where he has studied humanitarian impacts of US economic sanctions, along with their legal implications both domestically and internationally. He co-authored the Jacobin article “US Sanctions Are Designed to Kill” See https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/09/us-iran-sanctions-donald-trump-iran-deal-oil-bank
Cavan Kharrazian
Researcher @Center for Economic and Policy Research
Cavan Kharrazian is an Iranian-American researcher at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC, where he has studied humanitarian impacts of US economic sanctions, along with their legal implications both domestically and internationally. He co-authored the Jacobin article “US Sanctions Are Designed to Kill” See https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/09/us-iran-sanctions-donald-trump-iran-deal-oil-bank
Minju Bae
@Nodutdol for Korean Community Development
Minju Bae is an educator and historian of Asian America. She is a member of Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, a New York City-based organization of diasporic Koreans and comrades that organizes to advance peace, decolonization, and self-determination in Korea and Turtle Island.
@Nodutdol for Korean Community Development
Minju Bae is an educator and historian of Asian America. She is a member of Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, a New York City-based organization of diasporic Koreans and comrades that organizes to advance peace, decolonization, and self-determination in Korea and Turtle Island.
Diana Duerte
Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement @MADRE
Diana Duarte is the Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement at MADRE, leading the organization’s policy, public education and communications work, and designing and implementing campaigns to advance women’s human rights. She directs MADRE’s Feminist Foreign Policy Jumpstart initiative, bringing grassroots women’s perspectives and analysis into US policy making. For more than 14 years, she has worked in policy analysis and communications to advocate for human rights, gender justice, and progressive change. She has served as a board member of Women, Action and the Media: NYC and currently is the board chair of ActionAid USA.
Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement @MADRE
Diana Duarte is the Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement at MADRE, leading the organization’s policy, public education and communications work, and designing and implementing campaigns to advance women’s human rights. She directs MADRE’s Feminist Foreign Policy Jumpstart initiative, bringing grassroots women’s perspectives and analysis into US policy making. For more than 14 years, she has worked in policy analysis and communications to advocate for human rights, gender justice, and progressive change. She has served as a board member of Women, Action and the Media: NYC and currently is the board chair of ActionAid USA.
Thursday, February 27th 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM
DePaul University- Lincol Park Campu
Room TBA
CAPA DePaul will be joining DePaul Islamic World Studies for this event.
Being young and Muslim in the United States has only gotten more complicated since the terrorist attacks of 2001. From warrantless government surveillance to rising incidents of hate crimes, Muslim Americans have had to deal with their new reality in many different ways, ways that are sometimes heartbreaking and just as often inspiring. In this lecture, author Moustafa Bayoumi will survey what being young and Muslim has meant since 2001 and ask if and how Muslim American life has changed under the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations. Bayoumi will also focus on how we, as a nation, must think beyond our perceived conflicts and look instead through the long lens of justice as a means of securing our country and our shared humanity.
Facebook Event can be found here.
Thursday, February 20th 6:30 PM- 8:00 PM
DePaul University – Lincoln Park Campus
Student Center
2250 N. Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
The Trump administration, and their predecessors, love to blame immigrant families just looking for a better life for themselves and children, but who really caused the need for people to flee from their homes?
Presenters Victoria Cervantes and Laura Nussbaum, of La Voz de los de Abajo, will share and discuss the impact of U.S. policy and actions in Latin America, and how military and economic violence in the region is the underlying cause of the immigration crisis.
We must not let the U.S.’s violent imposition continue to destroy an entire region, while criminalizing the victims of our actions. We’ll learn what it means to oppose U.S. interference in Latin America and begin taking the very important steps towards change.
This is a free event, but please let us know you are coming by signing up through this ticket link!
Facebook Event can be found here.
January 21st 7:00-8:00 PM
DePaul University
Room TBA
Chicago, IL 60604
Immigration and Customs Enforcement. What is it? How does it work? Who do they target? Who is in charge? What are my rights? What does Abolish ICE mean? Join Chicago Area Peace Action DePaul for small group discussions about how ICE has changed under Trump, ICE Methods, Trial & Rights, ICE Detention Centers, and more.
Facebook Event can be found here.
January 13th 7:00 PM
Evanston City Council
2100 Ridge Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
Residents of greater Evanston are urged to come to City Hall Council Chambers for the beginning of the City Council meeting at 7pm to stand in support as Evanston residents speak to Resolution 136 R 19 which calls for the US to ratify the International Convention on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (“ICAN”) that has already been approved by 122 nations at the UN, signed by 79 countries, and ratified by 33. The Evanston resolution, similar to those adopted by 43 other US cities, will be proposed as part of the Consent Agenda at the beginning of the meeting.
If the City Council passes this resolution, it will be the first Midwest city to join the campaign to convince the US government to sign the ICAN treaty.
See the resolution here.
We will not be forced into another war. CAPA will join with Indivisible Evanston and others in the anti-war majority in this country will get visible to oppose Trump’s war and say #NoWarWithIran.
Evanston – 5:00pm – Church and Benson
Chicago – 5:30pm – Wabash and Wacker
CAPA joins with CCAWR, ANSWER, VCNV and many other Chicago area peace groups to say, We will not be forced into another war.
5:30pm Corner of Wabash and Wacker, Chicago
December 8th 1:30 PM- 3:30 PM
Evanston Public Library
Third Floor, Falcon Room
1703 Orrington Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
Join us this Sunday from 1:30-3:30 for a screening of “The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons” and a discussion of the Treaty to Prevent Nuclear Weapons with David Combs (Union of Concerned Scienctists) and David Kraft (NEIS).
This important program comes just one day before the Evanston City Council takes up “Back from the Brink” anti-nuclear resolution that has the support of nineteen greater-Evanston faith communities and peace and justice organizations.
Sponsored by:
Chicago Area Peace Action
Neighbors For Peace
Union of Concerned Scientists– Illinois
Nuclear Energy Information Service
Physicians for Social Responsibility– Illinois
November 14th 7 PM – 9 PM
Loyola University
Cudahy Science Hall, Room 202
Chicago, IL 60660
Join Chicago Area Peace Action’s Loyola Chapter for a conversation about the uncharted effects of climate change and potential solutions. The panel discussion with feature activists, professors, researchers, and students.
October 19 2p-4p
Grace Lutheran Church
1430 South Blvd
Evanston, IL 60202
The military is sacrosanct in this country. We’re taught to honor the military, even though it has played, and continues to play, an outsized role in our extinction. The military protects Big Oil and other extractive industries. It is the single largest institutional consumer of fossil fuels in the world. Military operations leave a toxic legacy on their bases and across the world. Wars ravage fragile ecosystems and kill plants, animals, people and the earth. Join us as we examine the nexus between “Climate Disruption and U.S. Militarism”.
Sponsored by Veterans for Peace – Chicago Chapter. Co-sponsored by Chicago Area Peace Action (CAPA).
6 PM, Wednesday, October 9th Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn St.
On the anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, please join a conversation with two of the most thoughtful anti-war activists in the U.S.
CAPA is a co-sponsor of this event. Click here for more information.
CAPA Climate group and other CAPA friends will be participating in the events called for by Extinction Rebellion Chicago (XR Chicago) Daley Plaza, Chicago – 4pm-7pm. Click here for more details
With keynote – June Sekera
A MEMORIAL TO THE VIETNAMESE VICTIMS OF THE AMERICAN WAR
My Lai Memorial Exhibit provides participants with a powerful anti-war experience. The experience invites participants to make a renewed commitment to peace and social justice and provides opportunities to support initiatives working to reduce violence and militarism both at home and abroad.
Veterans for Peace-Chicago Chapter and CAPA board member, Gerry Gorman worked together to put this exhibit together at UIC where Gerry is a faculty member along with many other activities.
Come find us from 1 to 5PM at Evanston’s Streets Alive fair!
https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/parks-recreation-community-services/programs-events/festivals-events/streets-alive
CAPA’s Loyola and DePaul Chapters ask you to join them
Wednesday Aug. 7th at 11am
at Federal Plaza
(NE corner of Dearborn and Adams)
On 9 August 2018, Saudi Arabian expeditionary aircraft bombed a civilian school bus passing
through a crowded market with U.S.-made bombs in Dahyan, Saada Governorate, Yemen.
Thirty-four students and 4 of their teachers were killed along with 12 passers-by.
An additional 78 people were wounded, including 55 students.
This rally is to remember the lives lost as well as we urge Congress to end the Yemen war
during consideration of the defense budget. Come out to support and stand in solidarity!
Event co-sponsored by Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Chicago Committee Against War and Racism, Neighbors for Peace-Evanston and others
An ad hoc group of peace and justice activists
will gather in Hyde Park on
Tuesday, August 6th 2019
5:30 to 6:30pm
(rain or shine, program subject to change)
Meet at the Henry Moore sculpture, University of Chicago, E. 56th St and S. Ellis Ave.
Bring seating (chair or blanket) and umbrella; bring a hat and sunscreen
Come Join Us!
For a one hour commemoration featuring representatives
of peace and justice groups offering brief:
Readings; Songs; Poetry
Mindful breathing and walking meditation
From July 18-20, 2019, Voices for Creative Nonviolence will join with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s US Boats to
Gaza campaign, supporting their North American Freedom Flotilla for Gaza project with three days of Chicago
actions to include a Saturday July 20th mini-flotilla of kayaks and other craft on the Chicago River, joining shore-
based protesters to urge freedom for the people of Gaza starting at 11:00am from the Lake Street Bridge, NE corner!
From July 18-20, 2019, Voices for Creative Nonviolence will join with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s US Boats to
Gaza campaign, supporting their North American Freedom Flotilla for Gaza project with three days of Chicago
actions to include a Saturday July 20th mini-flotilla of kayaks and other craft on the Chicago River, joining shore-
based protesters to urge freedom for the people of Gaza.
On Friday, July 19th, we’ll have gathered at 11:30am outside the Israeli Consulate at 500 W. Madison and proceed
to warmaker Boeing’s corporate HQ at 100 N. Riverside Plaza for a rally at Noon.
From July 18-20, 2019, Voices for Creative Nonviolence will join with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s US Boats to
Gaza campaign, supporting their North American Freedom Flotilla for Gaza project with three days of Chicago
actions to include a Saturday July 20th mini-flotilla of kayaks and other craft on the Chicago River, joining shore-
based protesters to urge freedom for the people of Gaza.
On Thursday July 18th, we’ll host four-time flotilla veteran (Ret.) Col. Ann Wright and Gazan
scholar/activist Jehad Abusalim for a 7pm speaking event at Chicago’s Grace Episcopal Church at 637 S. Dearborn.
Lecture: DeCOALonize and Degrow: Ending the Tyranny of Growth and Revitalizing our Future.
Where: College of the Complexes, Dappers East Restaurant
Address: 2901 West Addison 3600 North between California and Sacramento.
Time: 6:00PM sharp
More information:
http://www.collegeofcomplexes.org
Each year on the last Friday of the Chicago Public School year, Faith Community of Saint Sabina hosts a summer kickoff rally and march for peace.
The rally is on the front of the steps of Faith Community of Saint Sabina followed by a march through the community with special guests. Join as we Unite and bring Peace for our Children
Date: June 14th
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: 1210 West 78th Place
Where: In Logan Square at the Dill Pickle Food Coop
When: June 1, from 1PM – 3PM
We are almost out of time to stop global warming. Come to the Dill Pickle on Saturday, June 1, starting at 1 pm, and join with your neighbors to see these presentations addressing the challenge of global warming with performance, a strategy for collective non-violent direct action, an existential description of our problem, and the concept of degrowth.
June 1 is Global Degrowth Day (www.degrowth.info/en/globalday/participate). Degrowth ideas began in France. The movement started about 10 years ago. DegrowUS (www.degrowus.org) started in Chicago last fall with a vision of a popular movement for a transition to a just, participatory, and ecological future for all.
The degrowth movement chooses to face head-on the existential truth that the survival of humanity as we know it and the progress of democracy depend on reducing our consumption of the Earth’s resources and breaking the link between economic growth as we know it and human needs such as employment, education, and health care.
Degrowth challenges us to reimagine our resource-intensive convenience-obsessed civilization: Why disposable instead of reusable, products that can’t be repaired rather than a culture of repair, and high tech extreme measures health care but little real focus on disease prevention?
More information about Global Degrowth Day from www.degrowth.info: https://www.degrowth.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Global-Degrowth-Day-Call-for-Participation-English.pdf
We’ll start this first DegrowUS Chicago event with a short piece of pop-up theater. The main presentations will run 15-20 minutes. There will be short presentations about local activities. Global vision, local action! You are also invited come early or stay later and enjoy some food or drink from the Dill Pickle.
Awaken Giant!
Barry Feldman, Rebel For Life Pop-Up Theater
HEADING FOR EXTINCTION & WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT!
Joe Phillips, Local Coordinator for Extinction Rebellion Chicago
How We Got Here; How We Get Out of Here
H. Peter Steeves and Danielle Meijer, DePaul University Department of Philosophy
DeCOALonize and DeGrow:
Ending the Tyranny of Growth and Creating a Revitalized Sense of Possibility
Rachel Elfant, Climate Justice Organizer at CAPA, Youth Worker at Centro Romero, and student of DeGrowth
Master of Ceremonies
Mike Strode, The Kola Nut Collaborative
Chicago Area Peace Action DePaul will be hosting a panel about climate change featuring Dr. Sean Kirkland, Dr Liam Heneghan, Rachel Elfant, and Rose Gomez.
In this panel we will move past the conversation of climate change denial. It is real and happening. In the face of catastrophe why can’t we seem to take action? How does climate change disproportionately affect communities of color? What does climate change look like right now? We will tackle those important questions in this event.
Come join us for food and conversation!
When: Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at 6 PM – 7:30 PM
Where: Arthur J. Schmitt Academic Center (SAC) located at 2320 N. Kenmore Avenue, Chicago, IL
Join Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah, Faith in Place, Go Green Wilmette, and Chicago Area Peace Action to dive deeper into the process of installing solar on your House of Worship. In the first workshop held on January 16th, we explored the benefits of going solar, learned from examples of other faith communities that have installed solar, and discussed a variety of ways to finance solar projects at your house of worship.
This workshop will build on those lessons!
- Learn from examples of faith communities installing solar
- Dive into financing solar for your House of Worship – bring your electric bills & a satellite view of your roof
- Learn about ways to advocate for a just solar economy
The event is free and open to anyone who is interested in bringing solar to their faith community.
Date: Thursday, May 23, 2019 from 10:00am to 11:30am
Location: Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah 3220 Big Tree Lane, Wilmette, IL 60091
Tuesday, May 21 join us as we demonstrate against Chase Bank’s continued funding of tar sands oil pipeline construction and to support efforts to stop Line 3 in MN. Fellow climate activist organizations Rising Tide Chicago and Rainforest Action Network are organizing this rally to coincide with Chase’s annual shareholder meeting.
When: Tuesday, May 21 at 11 AM – 12:30 PM
Where: Chase Tower, 21 S Clark St, Chicago
Why: To make it clear that we can’t continue with ‘business as usual:’ continued investment in fossil fuel infrastructure will plunge our home planet further into a climate crisis with unimaginable impacts on our families, communities and future generations.
Check out this Facebook event page for further details: https://www.facebook.com/
Amira Hass brings a fresh and much needed insight to the past, present, and future of Palestinian Israeli relations. She draws on 30 years of experience as an Israeli journalist and analyst who has sought and achieved unparalleled immersion in Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza.
Born in Jerusalem in 1956, Hass joined the Israeli daily Haaretz in 1989 and had been its correspondent for the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 1993. She has lived in the West Bank city of Ramallah since 1997. “Ramallah Chronicles”, a compilation of her articles between 1997-2003, was published in 2005. Before taking up residence in the West Bank, Hass lived in Gaza for three years, which experience served as the basis for her widely acclaimed book “Drinking the Sea at Galilee”.
Hass is the only child of a Sarajevo-born Jewish mother who survived nine months in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and a Romanian born Jewish father who survived three wartime years in a ghetto.
Meet us there from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM at the Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary 2121 Sheridan Rd. Evanston, IL.
Dilemmas of an Israeli Journalist Covering
Palestine: Amira Hass
Monday, April 29, 2019
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave., Evanston, IL 60201
Amira Hass brings a fresh and much needed insight to the past, present, and future of Palestinian Israeli relations. She draws on 30 years of experience as an Israeli journalist and analyst who has sought and achieved unparalleled immersion in Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza.
Born in Jerusalem in 1956, Hass joined the Israeli daily Haaretz in 1989 and had been its correspondent for the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 1993. She has lived in the West Bank city of Ramallah since 1997. “Ramallah Chronicles”, a compilation of her articles between 1997-2003, was published in 2005. Before taking up residence in the West Bank, Hass lived in Gaza for three years, which experience served as the basis for her widely acclaimed book “Drinking the Sea at Galilee”.
Hass is the only child of a Sarajevo-born Jewish mother who survived nine months in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and a Romanian born Jewish father who survived three wartime years in a ghetto.
A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning
an activist training with legendary Quaker civil rights activist/author
George Lakey
Saturday, April 27, 2019
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
NEIS, 3411 W. Diversey, Chicago.
(Logan Sq. “Blue” Line stop; #76, 82, and 56 Buses; 5 blocks
south of the Kennedy X-pwy, Kimball Ave. exit. Street parking.)
Suggested donation: $25, $10 for
students/low-income individuals.
A non-violent, direct-action
training, based on the highly
praised, new book by George Lakey, “How We Win: A
Guide to Non-Violent Direct Action Campaigning.” $13.59.
https://www.mhpbooks.com/books/how-we-win/
Advance registration required through NEIS by e-mail
(neis@neis.org), or phone (773)342-7650, space limited to
the first 30 registrants. Make checks payable to “NEIS”
and send to above address; or pay online at
www.neis.org/donate/).
Chicago Area Peace Action is partnering with Love Without Borders to bring art made by Refugees displaced in Greece to be displayed for purchase at DePaul. All money made from a sale goes back to the artist. The art we will be displaying will be primarily from Yemeni, Palestinian, Syrian, and Iraqi refugees. This event is open to the public. Thank you to our cosponsors: the Islamic World Studies Program, the International Studies Department, the Department of History of Art and Architecture, the Department of Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies, Students for Justice in Palestine, and the Art History Club.
April 6 – 2019 Chicago Peace Summit
The Chicago Peace Summit will feature national peace movement activists and foreign policy experts from across the country and around the world. Join us to hear from Kathy Kelly, Jehan Hakim, Natasha Erskine, Kevin Martin, Vincent Emanuele, Nan Kim, Robert Naiman, Paul Street, Rachel Elfant, and other noteworthy leaders about pressing issues of peace.
- Drawing from her experiences living in war zones and prisons in the U.S., keynote speaker Kathy Kelly will discuss the consequences of U.S. militarism and strategies to withdraw consent for endless wars. Across various panels, these experts will address Climate Change, Middle East conflicts, and nuclear warfare. Their presentations will be followed by Q&A as well as interactive breakout sessions co-led by student activists.
All are welcome! Please come out to learn more about the dire peace issues plaguing communities in our own backyards and across the world.
- Loyola University Chicago
Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 10 AM – 4 PM CDT
CAPA’s FPWG is co-sponsoring with Evanston Neighbors for Peace, programs at EPL (2-5p) and the Sulzer Library in Chicago (7-8:30p)
See the Facebook event page for more details.
Global Climate Strike. All over the nation and world,
the Youth will lead a strike. Ours in Chicago is from 11AM – 2PM and
meets in Grant Park.
