We meet the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at St. Gertrude's Ministry Center
(6214 N. Glenwood), beginning at 8:00 p.m. Folks are welcome to join us at anytime.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Kairos Chicago Participates in Camp Hope

As millions of Americans waited with hope and anticipation for President Barack Obama's historical inauguration as the 44th President of the United States of America, hundreds of Obama supporters and peace and justice advocates from around the country braved sub-zero temperatures and snowy January days hoping President Obama will follow through with his promises of hope and change. Camp Hope: Countdown to Change was a 19-day presence near Barack Obama's home in Hyde Park, Chicago. All day and every day from New Year's Day to Dr. Martin Luther King Day, we set up Camp Hope to congratulate President Obama and recommit ourselves to the progressive actions he promoted on his campaign trail. In the evenings forum, films, workshops, theater, and speakers helped us to stregthen the local movement for peace and build the relationships to let social justice flow like a river. People like Kathy Kelly from Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Dr. Quentin Young from Physicians for a National Health Program, Ali Abunimah from Electronic Intifada, and groups like Chicago Metropolitan Sactuary Alliance and Witness Against Torture attracted over a thousand people to participate in Camp Hope in someway - from attending a workshop to spending all 19 days out at the vigil. While recognizing the need for profound policy change, Camp Hope asked, President Obama to take eight actions upon being sworn into office The eight asks, representing over 40 social justice organizations, of Camp Hope were:

  • Regarding Iraq, withdraw troops by 6,000 a month and cease combat operations; commit to the primacy of diplomacy, announce a new diplomatic initiative to end violent actions against Afghanistan and Pakistan
  • Take all nuclear weapons off hair trigger alert and work to eliminate nuclear weapons all together
  • Close Guantánamo, eliminate military tribunals an allow detainees access to the U.S. court system
  • Suspend deportation of immigrants, stop breaking up families and end raids at workplaces
  • Submt the Kyoto Protocol for ratification...
  • Establish a commission to develop policies for full employment
  • Issue a 90-day moratorium on housing foreclosures
  • Start a commission to develop policies on Universal Health Care

These are merely starting points for the new administration to begin working toward the fundamental change needed in this country. Our eight asks are not exhaustive and were never intended to be. We fail to address the occupation of Gaza, alternative energy, unfair trade policies such as NAFTA and CAFTA and much else. We realize all of these are interconnected and that, as Dr. King said, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Camp Hope was just one action among many, but it was one with an air of positivity and hope that change has indeed come to America.

Barack Obama may have been inaugurated today by Chief Justice John Roberts, but yesterday almost 200 Chicagoans celebrated the birthday of Dr. King and Obama's presidency with "A People's Inauguration: Reclaiming Our Democracy" in Federal Plaza. Artists, activists, students, musicians, poets and many others gathered to close Camp Hope, challenge ourselves to live the radical vision of Dr. King, and usher in an era where communities acting on progressive values to better the lives of the marginalized and the poor will be welcomed in Washington.

And now that President Obama's time has come and his administration looks forward to define the Obama presidency in the first 100 days of his tenure, the time for waiting for change is over. Now is the time for action. Those of us from Camp Hope will leave our handwarmers and campfires from 51st and Drexel Avenue and continue our working for peace and justice in places like the Middle East, Columbia, the Borderlands and organize at home in Chicago and in Washington for more jobs, less poverty, no more torture. Yes, we can; Yes, we did; Yes, we must! So, Mr. President, now it's your turn to do right. We haven't quit yet and are inviting you to be part of the widespread change that is happening at grassroots levels. And just in case you forget what you've promised, we are not afraid to come to D.C. to make sure the voice of the people is not lost among the lobbyists and lawmakers. Camp Hope congratulates you President Obama and, like much of America, is ready for some action - don't leave us out in the cold.


Members from Kairos Chicago at Camp Hope site in Hyde Park on January 3rd!


Jake Olzen is a graduate student at Loyola University Chicago and a co-coordinator of Camp Hope: Countdown to Change on behalf of Kairos Chicago

Monday, January 26, 2009

Updated DC info from Luke

Friends,

Here are some notes from our meeting on Thursday, along with more logistical information gathered from a conversation that I had with Carmen Trotta (WAT organizer) last night.

-PARTICIPANTS. Six of us are definitely going (Anna, Jake, Jerica, John, Luke, and Zac). Several others remain interested. Please forward this email to others who are interested. Everyone is welcome.

-TRAVEL. We'll rent a van (or vans). The cost should be between $50-90/person (includes gas), depending on how many of us there are. We plan on leaving early Saturday morning, Feb. 28th. With stops, it should take about 13 hours to get there. We have three options for our return trip. (1) Drive back to Chicago on Friday, Mar. 6th. (2) Drive to the Cleveland area, stay overnight at Anna's, and then finish the drive on Saturday morning. (3) Drive back to Chicago on Sat., Mar. 7th. We'll come to a decision later.

-HOUSING. We will be staying at a Buddhist Temple. There is lots of space, and it's likely that we'll all have beds. While they do have some sleeping bags, we should also bring a few because it can be chilly there.

-FOOD. They have been "begging" for food and will be able to provide many of the meals. When this isn't low, we'll buy groceries and eat as a community when possible. This will enable us to keep food costs at a minimum. I'm sure that we'll want to eat a restaurants at least a couple times during the week, too.

-FUNDRAISING. Aside from travel (about $75) and meal costs (about $50), it would be nice to make a donation (about $25) to Witness Against Torture for providing housing and organizing the campaign. This brings the total cost to about $150 for the week, plus whatever else you want to spend money on in D.C. This is probably a high estimate. Some of us may want to fundraise this money. The IPS students will be asking Randy Gibbons for money (Jerica is on this). Luke and Zac will approach the theology department. There may be other campus groups who are willing to help. We already have $600, but we'll need to raise more.

-WAT ACTIVITIES. It will be important for all of us to participate in the daily vigil each day (11am-1pm), plus any other WAT-sponsored activities. (There will likely be one per day.) This includes a film night, meeting with members of Congress (organized by WAT), hearing a speaker, etc. We can add anything to this list that we want! This includes organizing a nonviolent direct action, which may be "street theatre." It may also include setting up additional meetings with our own representations and/or senators.

-OTHER ACTIVITIES. Aside from those community activities, the rest of the week will includes lots of free time. There are many other D.C. sites to visit, and I'm sure that several of us have family and friends in the area. It is important to have this free time. This is not a school "field trip"; we will not have organized activities for eight hours each day. We are adults traveling to D.C. to participate in this campaign (primarily), but there will be lots of other time to have fun and pursue other areas of interest. Some of us may want to visit the Holocaust Museum; a White House tour is always possible (and being looked into by Jerica).

We will meet again next THURSDAY (1/29) after the Naomi Klein event. Even though the event is scheduled from 7-10pm (according to Facebook), I suspect that it will end about 9pm. Let me know if you would like me to call you about 15 minutes before our meeting. We'll meet at Hopkins House. The agenda for that meeting with include (1) who is else going? (2) fundraising and (3) nonviolent action planning.

Before the meeting, I suggest reading the following WAT articles about Obama's Executive Orders:
- "Yes, We Can Close Guantanamo. No, We Can't Wait Another Year!"
- "Witness Against Torture Praises Executive Orders on Guantanamo and Torture; Calls on Obama Administration to Take Additional Steps"

Also, I have attached two helpful articles. One is from politico.com, and offers a helpful analysis of what the Executive Orders do and don't do. The second is from CNN, and describes who is at Guantanamo; is it the "worst of the worst" (as popularly believed)? This is helpful in light of some recent Pentagon press releases.

Anna is generously creating a blog for Kairos and our group, so we can update each other with ideas for activities and actions while in D.C. Anna will send the link to the group when it's up and running.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

Peace,
Luke