Posted on 03/18/2004 8:21:11 AM PST by m1-lightning
On April 23, in Peoria, Illinois, three peace activist groups, including Rachel Corrie's parents, intend to protest the manufacture of Caterpillar bulldozers that are bought by Israel. The details of the protest are in the below pro-palestinian propaganga:
Description: Buses from Chicago and the surrounding area are being organized, for tickets contact me at matt@stopcat.org Our plans for April 23rd are to meet at Bradley Park (1700 Park Ave) in Peoria at Noon for a short rally, then march to CAT headquarters and demand that James Owens, the current CEO, meet with a delegation made up of victims of violence and destruction perpetrated using CAT equipment. Flyers will be available at the March 20th demonstration, and there will be a Stop Cat contingent during the march, if you would like to join us, just look for our banner.
Starts: April 23, 2004, 12:00 PM
Where: Bradley Park
1700 Park Ave
Peoria, IL
matt@stopcat.org
http://www.stopcat.org
Whereas, the Caterpillar Corporation's D-9 bulldozer physically embodies the horrible atrocity that is happening to the Palestinian people - the continuing nakba (Great Catastrophe) - the ethnic cleansing of Palestine;
Whereas, the Caterpillar Corporation's machinery is directly implicated in grave abuses of Human Rights by the Israeli Defense Forces including the collective punishment of the Palestinian people through house demolitions, clearing a path for and constructing the Apartheid Wall and murder of civilians;
Whereas, these actions are illegal under international law - specifically violating the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Hague Conventions;
Whereas, the sale of the Caterpillar D-9 bulldozer to Israeli Defense Force violates the U.S. Arms Export Control Act;
Whereas, the Caterpillar Corporation's agreements with the Israeli Military stand as a stark example of the material, economic and political aid given by the United States Government and Multinational Corporations - the aid that enables these atrocities;
Whereas, U.S. economic and military aid to Israel is funded entirely by the publics tax money, while public education and social services institutes are suffering severe budget cuts from the federal government;
Whereas, the Caterpillar Corporation's business is largely civilian in nature, it is not dependent on these military contracts to survive as a corporation and therefore can afford to sever these contracts;
Whereas, we are more powerful when united internationally against a common target, a target that has important symbolic relevance, and a target that represents a winnable victory;
Whereas, the Caterpillar Corporation has offices, manufacturing facilities and subcontractors throughout the world;
Whereas, April 9th will be the 56th anniversary of the Deir Yassin massacre, the commemoration of which is meant to recognize and remember the nakba of ethnic cleansing, murder, terrorism and particularly house and village demolition that befell the Palestinian people in 1948. The ethnic cleansing, murder, terrorism and house demolition have continued to this day (the Jenin Massacre was unfolding two years ago at this same time);
We therefore call for an International Day of Action against the Caterpillar Corporation on April 23 demanding that: 1. The Caterpillar Corporation must sever all contracts with the Israeli Military. 2. The Caterpillar Corporation must draft a public letter explaining why they have done so.
We encourage peace and justice loving people from around the world to organize actions or events addressing the role of Caterpillar in supporting the attacks against the Palestinian People. Possible Actions:
1. Organize an action at your local Caterpillar Representative or Sales Representatives Offices and demand they sign on to the demands of the campaign.
2. Student and Community groups call for their institutions, city councils, churches or unions to pass resolutions divesting from the Caterpillar Corporation until the campaigns demands are met.
3. Activists who are far away from a possible target for action or divestment can organize an educational event to demonstrate to communities the role of Caterpillar in supporting the oppression of the Palestinian people.
4. Activists who do not have the capacity to organize an action or event can stage a “Banner Drop.” This action requires a minimum of two individuals to create a banner with a message supporting the international day of action and display this banner in a high traffic location (i.e. freeway overpass, tall building, etc.)
We suggest that people work democratically, to work in coalition with a diverse group of people and to be creative in their actions. We also encourage actions to be announced and documented on a central website [www.catdestroyshomes.org], which will have campaign updates as well as resources and information about The Caterpillar Corporation and its relationship with the Israeli Military. We propose that the international center of this Day of Action be in Peoria, Illinois, USA - the Headquarters of the Caterpillar Corporation.
We propose that the action here be two-fold:
1. A delegation of community leaders who will attempt to visit the CEO to explain how Caterpillar products are being used in Occupied Palestine and to demand that their relationship with the Israeli Government be severed.
2. A mass mobilization of people outside the office demanding the same. If your organizations would like to be a part of the Peoria action, please send a message to info@catdestroyshomes.org.
Israel has used Caterpillar bulldozers to demolish more than 12,000 Palestinian homes; to uproot 385,000 Palestinian olive trees; to kill Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist, as she nonviolently tried to prevent the razing of a Palestinian home; and to build a 25-foot-high wall and fence that will confiscate about 40 percent of the territory of the West Bank.*
On April 23, people from around the country will be gathering at Caterpillars Headquarters in Peoria Illinois to demand that Caterpillar stop selling bulldozers to Israel. Craig and Cindy Corrie (Rachel’s Parents) will be part of a delegation attempting to meet with the Caterpillar CEO to deliver our demands.
For details please go to www.stopcat.org. For ride info contact: Twyla: (313)207-3804 or Mike: (517) 449-1481 Email: Please RSVP ASAP.
For a flyer, click here (.doc file)
RACHEL: 0
Sandy-
Haven't you been paying attention? SUV's are responsible for road accidents, therefore CAT's are responsible for stupid people...
That one still makes me laugh.
Also we need to determine who provided the fuel for the ‘Cat and picket them also. Wait, I bet the fuel was from crude pumped from Saudi Arabia. They should PICKET THE ARABS. IT WAS THEIR FAULT. If they hadn’t sold the oil, that produced the diesel, that powered the Cat, the poor child would still be with us today.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.