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BootCAT News Blog
News and Events on the BootCAT Campaign to Stop Caterpillar
:: Thursday, March 31, 2005 ::
Final Saturday Protest at Milton-CAT!
Continue the campaign to influence the April 13th CAT shareholders meeting!
Final Saturday @ CATERPILLAR
*RAIN LIKELY: BRING AN UMBRELLA!
JOIN US at Milton-CAT in Milford, MA: This Saturday April 2nd, 2005
10AM - carpool from Porter Square, Somerville (Star Market Pkg lot near red line T)
11AM-12:30PM or so: demo/leafleting at Milton CAT in Milford, MA.
(directions below)
NEWS COVERAGE
Milford Daily News (great article!): http://www.milforddailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=67603
Boston Indymedia (great photos!): http://boston.indymedia.org/
Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2005/03/24/protesters_target_caterpillar_dealer/
WE CAN influence the April 13th shareholder's meeting! To join the planning of this campaign (and beyond), contact BootCAT and/or email: bostontopalestine@palsolidarity.org
-------------------------
DIRECTIONS from BOSTON to Milton-CAT at 100 Quarry Drive, MILFORD, MA 01757
Take I-90 WEST out of Boston - go 27.5 mi
Take exit #11A towards CAPE COD onto I-495 SOUTH - go 7.9 mi
Take exit #20 towards MILFORD
At the bottom of the offramp, turn Right onto RT-85
Turn Left at first light onto FORTUNE BLVD
Turn Right on QUARRY DR - go 0.2 mi
Continue on QUARRY past the CAT complex
PARK in the shopping center parking lot just ahead.
(see attached map of approach to final destination)
:: Friday, March 25, 2005 ::
April 5th BootCAT meeting
Next BootCAT meeting:
Tuesday, April 5
6:30-8:30pm
Christ Church Cambridge Vestry
(Harvard Square T Stop)
Saturday demonstrations at Milton CAT in Milford
Continue the campaign to influence the April 13th CAT shareholders meeting!
Saturdays @ CATERPILLAR
JOIN US at Milton-CAT
March 26th, April 2nd and April 9th (?-April 9th may not happen depending on possible CAT action in Cambridge)
10AM - carpool from Porter Square, Somerville (Star Market Pkg lot near red line T)
11AM-12:30PM or so: demo/leafleting at Milton CAT in Milford, MA.
(directions below)
NEWS COVERAGE
Milford Daily News (great article!): http://www.milforddailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=67603
Boston Indymedia (great photos!): http://boston.indymedia.org/
*NEW: Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2005/03/24/protesters_target_caterpillar_dealer/
WE CAN influence the April 13th shareholder's meeting! To join the planning of this campaign (and beyond), contact us and/or email bostontopalestine@palsolidarity.org
Directions to Milton CAT
:: Sunday, March 20, 2005 ::
BootCAT Meeting- Tuesday, March 22nd
Next meeting of the BootCAT Campaign
Tuesday, March 22nd
6:30-8:30 pm
at Christ Church Cambridge Vestry
Zero Garden Street (Harvard Square T Stop)
:: Saturday, March 19, 2005 ::
Family of Rachel Corrie Sues Caterpillar - Reuters article and lawsuit
News Article reported in Reuters, along with press release and full text of lawsuit filed by family of Rachel Corrie (downloadable PDF files linked below).
Reuters: CHICAGO, March 18, 2005 - The family of a 23-year-old activist killed two years ago in the Gaza Strip by an Israeli bulldozer accused its maker Caterpillar Inc. of "war crimes" in a federal lawsuit, according to court papers. The suit was filed earlier this week in U.S. District Court in Seattle by Cynthia and Craig Corrie, the parents of Rachel Corrie, a college student who died on March 16, 2003, while trying to block the demolition of Palestinian homes in the Rafah refugee camp. A spokesman for Peoria, Illinois-based Caterpillar declined comment except to say it was reviewing the suit and referenced an earlier statement that said the company has "neither the legal right nor the means to police individual use" of its equipment after it was sold. Filed with the aid of the Center for Constitutional Rights, the lawsuit seeks at least $75,000 in compensatory damages plus unspecified punitive damages from Caterpillar. "The family has been trying to get some accountability for a while," said the center's spokeswoman, Jen Nessel. "They cannot bring a criminal complaint so the only way is to file a civil suit seeking damages." The complaint alleged Caterpillar was a party to "war crimes; aiding and abetting extrajudicial killing; cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; wrongful death; and negligence." Companion litigation was filed in Israel against the Israeli government, Nessel said. In its investigation, Israel concluded Corrie's death was an accident and that the driver of the bulldozer did not see her. The probe said a slab of concrete slid down a mound of earth and crushed her. But the lawsuit claimed there were two soldiers on the bulldozer as well as a spotter nearby who could not have missed seeing Corrie, who was wearing a bright red vest and waving her arms when she was run over. There were running arguments between the demolition teams and the activists that day, the suit said. Corrie was among a group of activists from Olympia, Washington, who arrived in the Middle East in January 2003 to stage nonviolent actions and attempt to block the demolition of Palestinian homes. Human Rights Watch and other groups have called on Caterpillar to stop supplying bulldozers and parts to Israel.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7948048
Related Resources:
* Press Release: Family of Rachel Corrie Charges Bulldozer Manufacturer Knowingly Sold Machines Used to Violate Human Rights, March 19, 2005
* Full text of lawsuit filed in US District Court, Seattle, Washington, March 15, 2005
:: Friday, March 18, 2005 ::
We Need People for Milford Demonstration tomorrow!
Friends,
We just discovered that the Boston Globe is interested in covering our event
tomorrow at CATERPILLAR dealer in Milford!!
WE NEED TO BE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE!!!
PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW AT OUR PROTEST IN MILFORD.
details are attached below. you can get a car ride with us at Porter sq
tomorrow at 10am. come a bit earlier!
make an extra effort, considering that finally get a chance to get media
coverage on Israel's policies and the use of CAT in occupied Palestine!
hope to see you there
BootCAT and bostontopalestine
***************
Continue the campaign to influence the April 13th CAT shareholders meeting!
JOIN US at Milton-CAT
Saturday March 19th
10AM - carpool from Porter Square, Somerville (Star Market Pkg lot near red
line T)
11AM-12:30PM or so: demo/leafleting at Milton CAT in Milford, MA.
(directions below)
bring signs!
suggested wording: CAT profits from buiding settelments, CAT profits from
uprooting trees, CAT profits from demolishing homes, CAT profits from
Isarel's war crimes, CAT profits from building the apartheid wall.
or make your own!
ORGANIZED BY BootCAT and bostontopalestine
DIRECTIONS from BOSTON to Milton-CAT at 100 Quarry Drive, MILFORD, MA 01757
Take I-90 WEST out of Boston - go 27.5 mi
Take exit #11A towards CAPE COD onto I-495 SOUTH - go 7.9 mi
Take exit #20 towards MILFORD
At the bottom of the offramp, turn Right onto RT-85
Turn Left at first light onto FORTUNE BLVD
Turn Right on QUARRY DR - go 0.2 mi
Continue on QUARRY past the CAT complex
PARK in the shopping center parking lot just ahead.
(see attached map of approach to final destination)
:: Thursday, March 17, 2005 ::
Protest/Vigil for Rachel Corrie at Milton-CAT and U.S. CAT Lawsuit
Two years ago on March 16th, Rachel Corrie, a young American human rights worker with the International Solidarity Movement, was killed by a Caterpillar-made Israeli military bulldozer while defending a Palestinian home from demolition. On March 16th 2005, BostontoPalestine along with BootCAT and Jeff Halper, organized a protest and vigil for Rachel and to demand justice for Palestinians at the Caterpillar Company's regional distributor, Milton-CAT, in Milford, MA.
* Protest/Vigil for Rachel Corrie at Milton-CAT (held every Saturday until April 13th)
* Boston Globe article: Protesters Target Caterpillar Dealer, March 24, 2005.
* Boston Independent Media Center: Palestinian Rights Protest at Caterpillar's offices in Milford, Mass., March 16, 2005. (images)
* Milford Daily News: Rally decries bulldozer death, March 17, 2005
* Reuters Article: Family of Rachel Corrie Sues Caterpillar, March 18, 2005
* Press Release: Family of Rachel Corrie Charges Bulldozer Manufacturer Knowingly Sold Machines Used to Violate Human Rights, March 19, 2005
* Full text of lawsuit filed in US District Court, Seattle, Washington, March 15, 2005
Images from March 16th demonstration at Milton CAT in Milford, for Rachel Corrie Day of Remembrance. (click on links to view pictures).
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Milford Daily News Article on March 16th demonstration
Activists protest CAT bulldozer use by Israel: Firm claims no legal right to police use of equipment
By Sara Withee / Daily News Staff
Thursday, March 17, 2005
MILFORD -- Activists protesting the death of a young woman who lost her life
while trying to stop the Israeli military from bulldozing a Palestinian home
brought their message to Quarry Drive yesterday.
The group of 40 staged a two-hour rally near the entrance of Milton
CAT, which sells products by Caterpillar, the Illinois-based maker of the
bulldozers the Israeli military uses to level homes.
The group handed a Milton CAT representative a letter at the end of the
company's driveway yesterday while Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin and
several officers stood by. No problems were reported.
The Milton CAT representative released a statement from Caterpillar
that said the company shares the world's concern about the Middle East
situation, but that it has neither the legal right nor the means to police
use of its equipment.
The members of the BootCat Chapter of the Boston Committee for
Palestinian Rights and Boston to Palestine support group for the
International Solidarity Movement vowed to return each Saturday until April
13, when Caterpillar holds its annual meeting in Chicago. Shareholders are
expected to consider a resolution stating Caterpillar is violating its code
of ethics with sales to Israel for demolitions.
Yesterday's rally marked the second anniversary of Rachel Corrie's
death. The 23-year-old human rights worker from Washington state was killed
when she stood in front of a Palestinian home and tried to block the Israeli
military from demolishing it with a Caterpillar D9 bulldozer.
Activists have long called for a U.S. investigation into Corrie's death
and earlier this week, a lawsuit was filed against Caterpillar on her
parents' behalf in U.S. District Court.
Yesterday, Jeff Halper, of the Israeli Committee Against House
Demolitions, told the group the Caterpillar's D9 bulldozers are larger than
those commonly seen on United States soil.
"It's a powerful machine that's specifically designed to demolish
Palestinian homes," Halper said. "That's its only function."
Halper said Corrie believed peace overseas is as important as peace at
home and wondered why the United States didn't intervene.
"This wasn't a conflict far away, but in a part of the world she lived
in and simply as a part of the world, she felt the need to act," Halper
said.
The group shared some of Corrie's writings and Halper said Corrie was
right to call the Israeli government's action "genocide," because
demolishing homes strips the Palestinian people of themselves.
"It also talks about destroying their identity and their cultural
heritage," Halper said. "In other words, the whole point of human rights is
based on human dignity."
Israel has knocked down at least 12,000 homes since 1967, according to
Halper's organization. Building permits are hard for Palestinians to obtain,
making the ongoing destruction even more painful, said Ridgely Fuller, 55,
of Sherborn.
"It's the destruction of someone's home and to have to sit there and
watch it, it's very painful," she said.
Kathy Roberts, 65, of Cambridge, said visiting Palestinian refugee
camps in Lebanon shows the toll of the decades of war -- and even acceptance
from the Palestinian people.
"All I had heard about was the violence before," Roberts said. "What I
came away with was how peaceful these people are to be living with these
conditions."
Roberts said Corrie's story adds to an already desperate situation.
"I was an activist at her age and I brought up my children to be
activists and it really brought it home," Roberts said. "I was really shaken
and knew that I had to do more than just sign petitions."
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=93293
:: Monday, March 14, 2005 ::
Somerville Divestment Project Campaign Kickoff- March 16th
CAMPAIGN KICKOFF EVENT: Film and Panel, Wed. March 16th 7 - 9,
Film: Qalqilya: Where are we going ?
Panel Discussion: Is Israel an Apartheid State ?
(great literature also about laws in Israel...
just come for the new literature if nothing else!)
Wednesday March 16th
7-9 pm
College Avenue Methodist Church
14 Chapel St
(near Davis Sq)
refreshments served
Campaign Announcement follows film !
Be there for the historic launching of SDP's next Campaign
The film is about recent developments in Qalqilya that tie the present condition there to events in 1948 regarding Qalqilya.
After the film there will be a panel discussion about palestinian Refugees and information about discriminatory laws in Israel (great info) and will involve our own Layla Cable and Noah Cohen. The event is also an internal educational event for SDP.
:: Sunday, March 13, 2005 ::
April 1st Benefit concert for Gaza University Students
ARABIC MUSIC BENEFIT CONCERT
The Faculty for Israeli-Palestinian Peace will present a concert of Arabic music to raise funds for a US campus tour of visiting Gaza University students
Concert performed by:
L A Y A A L I
Arabic Music Ensemble
with
Kareem Roustom /oud
Jamal Sinno /qanun
Michel Moushabeck /tabla, riqq, daff
Mohammed Mejaour /nay
Geena Ghandour /vocals
plus
P A L E S T I N I A N D A B K E D A N C I N G
byGazaUniversitystudents
Friday, April 1, 2005 at 7:00 pm
First Churches,129 Main Street,Northampton
Northampton is in the Pioneer Valley, near Amherst MA. From
Boston you would take 90 to 91, which runs through Northampton.
Generally it is about 1.5 hours from to the Valley.
Tickets: $15 donation at the door
www.ffipp.org
:: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 ::
March 16th Protest/Vigil for Rachel Corrie at Milton-CAT
"Don't Mourn, Organize!"
Protest/Vigil for Rachel Corrie and against Home Demolitions @ Caterpillar regional offices
Wednesday morning, March 16th (details below)
-we will be joined by Jeff Halper of the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions!
CALL TO ACTION
Two years ago on March 16th, Rachel Corrie, a young American human rights worker with the International Solidarity Movement, was killed by a Caterpillar-made Israeli military bulldozer while defending a Palestinian home from demolition. BostontoPalestine is now asking that the community join with us, BootCAT, and Jeff Halper, to vindicate Rachel and demand justice for Palestinians at the Caterpillar Company's regional distributor, Milton-CAT, in Milford, MA.
PEACEFUL PROTEST/VIGIL
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16th, 2005, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
8:30AM: Carpool to MILFORD, MA. Meet at 8:30AM at the STAR MARKET PARKING LOT in PORTER SQUARE, Cambridge (Milford is approx 45 mins from Boston).
**Please bring your car to make sure everyone has a ride!
10:00AM to NOON: PROTEST/VIGIL @ MILTON-CAT IN MILFORD, MA.
Press conference with JEFF HALPER of the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions (ICAHD). - DIRECTIONS TO MILFORD PROTEST BELOW.
WEAR: Black (recommended)
BRING: Signs like: "CAT profits from Uprooting Trees" "CAT Profits from Building Settlements" "CAT Profits from Demolishing Homes" "CAT Bulldozers Kill" "Rachel Died, CAT Profits"
DIRECTIONS from BOSTON to Milton-CAT at 100 Quarry Drive, MILFORD, MA 01757
Take I-90 WEST out of Boston - go 27.5 mi Take exit #11A towards CAPE COD onto I-495 SOUTH - go 7.9 mi Take exit #20 towards MILFORD At the bottom of the offramp, turn Right onto RT-85 Turn Left at first light onto FORTUNE BLVD Turn Right on QUARRY DR - go 0.2 mi Continue on QUARRY past the CAT complex and park in the shopping center parking lot just ahead.
:: Friday, March 04, 2005 ::
March 9th Gathering of Student Activists
Please join us this Wednesday, March 9th at Suffolk University for a gathering of student activists, hosted by the BootCAT Campaign and Suffolk Students for Peace. This will be an informal Teach In, where students can share experiences organizing on their campuses, and hear about the progress of the BootCAT campaign. It is a chance for students from various universities to get together and to help strategize for future actions, including campus boycotts of Caterpillar, petition drives, guest speakers, and direct actions (including the March 16th demonstration for Rachel Corrie). No matter what your level of experience, come and be a part of a campaign that is making real noise both locally and nationally.
Wednesday, March 9th- 6:30pm
Suffolk University, Sawyer 426
:: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 ::
Next BootCAT Meeting- Tuesday March 8th
The Next BootCAT campaign meeting will be on Tuesday, March 8th from 6:00 to 7:30pm.
As always we will be meeting at the Christ Church Cambridge Vestry. The meeting will end early, so that the group can attend the film showing at Harvard at 7:30.
Razing Rafah: Public Discussion on Demolitions in Gaza, March 3, 7:30 PM
RAZING RAFAH
A Public Discussion about Mass House Demolitions in Gaza
with Darryl Li
Thursday March 3 @ 7:30 pm
Darryl Li has worked as a researcher for Human Rights Watch,
most recently co-authoring the organization's document on house
demolitions in Gaza. He is currently a graduate student at Harvard.
Starr Auditorium, Belfer Building
Kennedy School of Government (Harvard)
Sponsored by The Palestine Awareness Committee - KSG
Forwarded by Richard Johnson, Justice for Palestine (Harvard Law School)
:: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 ::
Dr. Jeff Halper at The Cathedral at St. Pauls, March 10th
The Israeli/ Palestinian Conflict: Rising Expectations Versus Reality on the Ground
Dr. Jeff Halper, Professor of Anthropology, is the Coordinating Director of ICAHD- the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions. His popular book, Obstacles to Peace(2004) is to be followed by a forthcoming book, "An Israeli in Palestine: Reframing the Israel-Paelstine Conflict".
Thursday March 10, 2005
7:00pm
The Cathedral at St. Paul's
138 Tremont Street, Boston
across from Park Street Station
Film: "Soraida: Woman of Palestine" at Harvard, March 8, 7:30pm
Film: "Soraida: Woman of Palestine" by Tahani Rachel
Tuesday, Mar 8 (INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY)
7:30pm
Austin Hall East Room (Harvard)
The film captures the personal struggle of a woman to retain her humanity in the midst of oppression. In her neighbourhood, the women do not all wear veils, the men do not rattle off empty political slogans, and the young people do not have bombs strapped to their belts. Life goes on despite the curfews and checkpoints that confine the people in a barless cage. Through their simple, everyday actions, we discover the worst thing about living under a state of siege: the loss of control over one’s own life.
BootCAT members will be passing out fact sheets and petitions. Everyone should feel free to come and help out and see the film.
http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jfp
BootCAT News Archives
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