Occupation of Harkin’s office

  I was one of about 15 people who went to Senator Tom Harkin’s Des Moines office on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, to present a statement calling on him to repent of his vote “recognizing the right of Israel to defend itself against attacks from Gaza,” which was taken by Israel as a green light for acts disproportionate revenge; to call for the U.S. to recognize Hamas as the legitimate government of Palestine and enter into diplomatic relations with them, and to pledge to refuse any more pro-Israel political contributions. Harkin is the second-largest recipient of such funds in the Senate.

  The statement started by praising Harkin for having exposed, as a congressional aide in 1970, the “tiger cages” in Vietnam, where prisoners were held in inhumane conditions. Printed on the statement were a photo of one of the tiger cages, and one of Palestinians clinging to a chain link fence – saying that Gaza is now a tiger cage.

  We were welcomed and listened to at Harkin’s office, though after a time we were asked to move to a small conference room. Since it had only four chairs, group members also sat in other chairs or on the floor while Harkin’s staff continued their work. Some of us read aloud appropriate articles in publications.

  The Federal Building closes at 5 p.m. We were told that some staff would stay till 6 p.m., but we’d have to leave after that or risk arrest. Since senior staff member Diane Liepa didn’t know what to do at 6 p.m., Catholic Worker Frank Cordaro, who led the group, had to tell her she should call the Homeland Security people who work in the building. They came, the people who didn’t intend to be arrested left, and seven of us went with the Homeland Security staff.

  The Homeland Security staff all were cordial as they escorted us to a break room on the first floor, where there are vending machines, tables and chairs. They wrote citations for “impeding or disrupting the performance of office duties of government employees.” We have a choice of paying a $125.00 fine or appearing in federal court. Our support persons met us outside the Federal Building after we were released.

  Elton Davis and I were among those arrested. Karla Hansen was my support person. Michael Gillespie, who writes for two publications, was there the whole time covering the event; he even photographed the group outside the Federal Building afterwards.

  A group occupied Harkin’s Cedar Rapids office the same day.

                                    --Sherry Hutchison