May 30, 2009
Chicago Labor for Peace Prosperity & Justict, a USLAW affiliate,
and Chicago IVAW, with invaluable assistance from VVAW and Military
Families Speak Out, just held a very successful series of events here
centering around support for the new Iraqi labor federation formed at the
Erbil conference in March. We think this could be replicated elsewhere
with similar excellent results.
We brought Amjad Ali of the Iraqi
Freedom Congress in from Toronto for a 2-day whirlwind visit. The purpose
was to deepen the understanding of people here about civil society in Iraq
and the importance of the labor movement, and to raise some money for our Iraqi brothers and sisters. In a little over 24 hours we had 5 events,
all of which turned out well.
Amjad Ali, General Federation of Workers Councils & Unions in Iraq (Photo by Bob Gronko)
We held two informal fund-raisers in homes
in two affluent communities on opposite ends of town, Evanston and Hyde
Park. The invitations laid out both the importance of it and the responsibility we have, and we drew nearly 20 people to the first and
about 25 to the second. Presentations were made by Amjad Ali and Aaron
Hughes of IVAW, who attended the Erbil conference. Between the 2 events we
raised nearly $2,800.
Aaron Hughes, IVAW (Photo by Bob Gronko)
On Saturday afternoon we held a forum at
Roosevelt University, MC'd by Elena Marcheschi, attended by over 50 people.
Amjad reported on the conference and the situation on the ground in Iraq.
Aaron gave a powerful account of going back to Iraq after serving there in
the military, and learning about Iraq's union movement.
Mike Zweig, United University Professions/AFT Local 2190 (Photo by Bob Gronko)
Mike Zweig of USLAW
spoke, explaining the key role of USLAW in the preparations for the
conference and the participation of international delegates. (Labor
Beat filmed the forum and it should make for great viewing.)
(Photo by Bob Gronko)
After the
forum, a silent march over to Haymarket Square culminated with flowers
being placed on the monument, where the Iraq-US labor solidarity plaque
has just been installed--the president of the IL Labor HIstory Society
made a good speech. Saturday night a party was held, largely attended by
young people, and $500 more was raised. Since funds were secured from Northwestern University for Amjad's expenses, Mike's plane fare was paid by
the Committee for New Priorities, and the food and beer for the party were
donated from VVAW and MFSO members, everything we raised was free and
clear.
All in all, we raised $4,000 to help pay for the Erbil
conference, and the people who attended were mightily moved, educated and impressed by new information and the vision of people actually fighting
for a future in Iraq other than US occupation or religious strife. The
collaboration between IVAW and USLAW was further strengthened. While we
would have loved to have more participation by labor, we did have some, and
all who were at any of the events apparently got a lot out of them.
Hopefully all three speakers (Amjad, Aaron and Mike) would be able to do
this elsewhere--they were each in their own way fantastic. So let's put
this show on the road?
Terry Davis
Chicago Labor for Peace
Prosperity & Justice
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