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2010-08-02 issue:

Four CPT members arrested in Chicago

by Christian Peacemaker Teams

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Chicago police arrested four members of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) on July 19 on charges of trespass for praying inside The Body Shop during a noon-hour vigil at the downtown store.



The Body Shop purchases palm oil from Daabon Organics, a Colombian company involved in the forced eviction of 123 families from their ancestral lands in the community of Las Pavas, Colombia. With their land confiscated, homes burned and crops destroyed, the families (about 500 men, women and children) set up camp in a nearby schoolyard and have subsisted on corn fritters and cheese since being displaced one year ago.



Four CPTers wearing T-shirts with photographs of the displaced farmers entered The Body Shop store and explained their presence to store clerks.



"We affirm The Body Shop’s stated values, which include defending human rights and protecting the planet, and we know that you do too," said a letter to store personnel.  "We are here to join the families of Las Pavas in calling on The Body Shop to live up to these values by pressuring its Colombian supplier, Daabon, to withdraw from Las Pavas, return the land to its rightful owners and compensate the community for all losses."

The four sat down by the door, near products that contain Colombian palm oil, where they prayed, sang and broke bread together until police arrested them 40 minutes later.  All were released that same night and will be arraigned on Aug. 31.

Outside the store, CPTers set up a tent on the sidewalk symbolizing the displacement of Las Pavas families. Enlarged photos of the displaced surrounded the tent and a banner with words urging The Body Shop to live up to its values.

 Others distributed nearly 1,000 educational leaflets to interested passersby, urging them to express their concerns to The Body Shop executives.



Although The Body Shop claims to be "monitoring the situation closely," they have so far taken no action to sever ties with Daabon. The people of Las Pavas have asked CPT's Colombia team and supporters to continue pressuring The Body Shop to stop buying from Daabon because Daabon’s practices violate their corporate values.



Participants in CPT's peacemaker training organized the witness. Those arrested were: Marcus Armstrong, Lor Breyley, Jo Ann Fricke and Carol Rose--CPT co-director.

Reader Comments

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  • Posted by laisda at Monday, August 02, 2010 at 07:35 PM

    I guess these people got what they wanted. Taken out of production, and criminal record. There was a time in my life when I took on causes. A Professor friend reminded me that, "There is only one Messiah, You are not Him, and the job isn't coming open." This might apply here.

  • Posted by johndn at Monday, August 02, 2010 at 08:19 PM

    Keep up the good work, CPT.

  • Posted by ChristFollower at Tuesday, August 03, 2010 at 08:46 AM

    Thanks CPT for keeping the plight of the poor in front of us. Two members of my immediate family lived in Colombia for a time and as part of their work documented the violence against the poor their. I really believe Messiah Jesus would want us to be aware of our behaviors affect others in other parts of the world. Messiah Jesus was once asked, ‘Who is my neighbor?’

  • Posted by dhwert at Tuesday, August 03, 2010 at 11:44 AM

    laisda, you "took on causes"? 500 people's homes and lives are merely a "cause" to you? Is that really how Jesus thought? Thank you, CPT, for reminding us of the sad reality that capitalism and profits are still considered more valuable than people's lives. - Dave Hockman-Wert

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