The Infamous Ink

Resolution Supporting Sanctuary for GI War Resisters in the City of Chicago

Whereas, the ongoing conflict in Iraq does not adhere to those international rules of law that govern war; and

Whereas, the US Invasion of Iraq proceeds into its fourth year with no apparent plan to achieve peace; and

Whereas, over three thousand US soldiers and military personnel have died in Iraq, close to twenty thousand have been injured, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians have been killed; and

Whereas, the continued occupation of Iraq requires the increased use of National Guard soldiers, depriving the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois and the nation of much-needed first responders for hurricanes, forest fires, and other disasters; and

Whereas, three-quarters of US troops support a withdrawal of forces from Iraq; and

Whereas, a political, moral, or religious objection to the Iraq war and occupation is a fundamental human right; and

Whereas, sexual violence against women in uniform by other soldiers, particularly in a theater of war, is a persistent and wide-spread problem that no individual should be forced to endure; and

Whereas, individuals refusing service in the Iraq war, rather than remain in hiding, retain their right to work, live, and provide support for their families, should the military fail to detain them;

Let It Be Resolved that:

(1) Chicago Police will not execute federal warrants for soldiers who are Absent Without Leave from the US Military, for soldiers wanted for “missing movement,” and “desertion,” so long as the soldier is not wanted for any military crime of violence; and

(2) No City of Chicago monies shall be used to detain soldiers who are wanted by the military for refusing deployment or service in the war in Iraq; and

(3) If the underlying reason for the military warrant is unknown, the sheriff and his designees will make all reasonable inquiries to determine the justification for the warrant before taking the warranted individual into custody; and

(4) If the underlying reason for the warrant cannot be readily determined before detention, the warranted individual may be taken into detention custody. If at any time during detention the sheriff or his designees learn that the soldier is wanted by the military for refusing deployment or service in Iraq, then that soldier shall be immediately released without delay; and

(5) Any soldier arrested on a military warrant shall be given a preliminary hearing in front of a magistrate or judge within 24 hours.

The purpose of the hearing shall be to determine the underlying reason for the warrant. If such reasons are found to only include “absent without leave,” “missing movement,” “desertion,” and related offenses of refusing deployment or service in Iraq, then the individual shall be ordered released immediately.