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In response to the U.S. and Illinois governments’ recent repressive legislation and executive actions related to terrorist investigations, we are forming a Mutual Aid Pact, based on a model adopted in Cascadia, Washington. This is a way for people to come to the aid of individuals who are being targeted based on racial or ethnic profiling, or for their expressed political beliefs. It is a way to safeguard civil rights and dignity and to build powerful community pressure to demand respect for all people and the use of due process. It is also a way to build new bridges between communities. The Pledge Individuals and organizations can join this pact by agreeing to the following pledge: "Being committed to peace with justice, I/we, the undersigned, commit to offering financial, political, or other appropriate types of nonviolent support, as requested by the recipients, to any individual, business, community group, religious group or institution, political group, or other entity that is targeted for detainment or arrest, freezing or seizure of assets or inventory, closing of business or office, threats or harassment, or other action taken by law enforcement officials without due process as part of anti-terrorist investigations or actions. This support is pledged without regard for the prospective targets' religion, ethnicity, race, or political beliefs." How It Will Work By signing this pact, signers agree to provide support to targets of unfair anti-terrorist law enforcement acts. The campaign will last until the end of 2002. It may continue after that depending on circumstances, with signers asked to renew their pledge. Signers (individual or group) will have an opportunity to indicate types of support they are able and willing to give: financial, phone contact tree, letter-writing, publicity, protests, legal help, translation services, and so on. The pact will be publicized through advertisements, e-mail, public presentations, media, and other means. Organizers will publicize the availability of specialized support services to vulnerable communities. If an incident occurs which requires mobilizing the pact, signers will be notified and asked to participate in whatever types of support the targets have requested. Not all signers need to participate each time the pact is activated, but signing the pledge will be considered a serious commitment. Pact organizers will also work between and during mobilizations to maintain contact between signers and vulnerable communities. Administration The Mutual Aid Pact will initially be coordinated through the School for Designing a Society and the Independent Media Center. Organizational members will meet periodically to decide policy issues, with consideration given to the changing social and political environment. A small working group will meet more regularly to maintain and promote the pact. All information gathered for the purposes of this pact will be kept confidential, and used only for the purposes of maintaining and implementing this pact. Signers will be identified publicly only with their permission. Champaign - Urbana Mutual Aid Pact 384-0299 or 344-8820
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