GAZA CRISIS: Chicago Activists Occupy Senator Durbin's Office

January 16, 2009 10 social justice advocates were arrested today in the Chicago office of Senator Dick Durbin in response to the Gaza crisis. They sought a public statement from Senator Durbin that would call upon Israel to: 1) end its military offensive against Gaza; 2) withdraw all of its military forces from Gaza; and, 3) open the border crossings with Gaza to allow for the free and unfettered flow of humanitarian supplies into Gaza. Four participants met briefly with two staff members from the Senators office. At the conclusion of the meeting, they informed the Senators staff that they would not leave the office until the Senator issued the public statement. The 10 were directed to leave the office after the meeting ended. Subsequently, ten individuals were arrested on federal charges for failure to comply with a lawful directive to leave the office. All have since been released. Participants in the action came from: Voices for Creative Nonviolence; 8th Day Center for Justice; Francis of Assisi House Catholic Worker; Palestine Solidarity Group Chicago; Fight Back News; Christian Peacemaker Teams Chicago; and Strangers & Guests Catholic Worker Farm. Category: Nonprofits & Activism