Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace.....4/28/01 "A Taste of Sanctions" tour of Downtown Denver.
The Human Sludge Bottle (center) and about 40 other people make their way through downtown Denver. Signs read: "No Bombing Iraq. Stop! End The Sanctions Now!"
One of the special "Sanctions 661 Committee" Inspectors helps lead the march that made stops at the Rockies baseball game (Coors Field), the 16th Street Mall and a final stop and surprise inspection at Rite-Aid Drugstore.
Another special Inspector holds a specially dressed up U.N. flag that had a large yellow smiley face that said "Have a Nice War!"
Attempting to get downtown shoppers interested, an Inspector holds a sign "STREET THEATRE." A couple of dozen people watched the 10 minute drama full of satire, laughs and a powerful ending.
[The
Sludge Concessioner attempts to persuade an Iraqi Mother to feed Sludge Bottled
Water to her baby.]
SC: "Get yer sludge. Fresh sludge, get it here, right here. While you can. Fresh sludge tastes great! A meal in a bottle!"
IM: "Where did you get this from? What is it?"
SC: "Why it's 'er, ah...well... (under breath) Untreated water sewage from Iraq.
IM: What did you say?"
SC: Oh, ah, untreated water. Raw sewage. But hey, we've cut out the middle man; no water treatment plant to fool around with. Yeah, the bombs took out the water treatment plant. Ah...hey. (scuttles off w/Sludge Bottle behind) Get yer Sludge, folks. Get yer Sludge here. Sludge here..."
The Chief Inspector holds "The List" of humanitarian items the U.S. feels have dual-use potential.
Inspector: "Why they could use the pencil lead to lubricate a whole new war machine. Tanks. Canons. Aircraft. Factories. My god, ma'am, think of it ... graphite!"
Iraqi Mother: "You want me to worry about Saddam!? What about these sanctions? And the bombs! These are more of a threat than Saddam. You call this peace? You call this stability? All we get are sanctions and bombs!"
[Iraqi Mother's baby has died. Reporter looks on as protestor speaks:]
Protestor: "Get your smart bombs! Kid tested! Pentagon Approved! Sanctions and bombs are more of a threat than Saddam! Even Colin Powell agrees sanctions should be eased because they hurt people and not Saddam. Extra! Extra! Wake up! Saddam is still in power. All the news that's fit to print!"
The Human Sludge Bottle and Human Smart Bombs Cereal Box in front of Rite-Aid Drugstore.
The special Sanctions 661 Inspectors present a "non-compliance" notice to the Rite-Aid Asst. Manager. The notice called on Rite-Aid to immediately shut down until all "dual-use" items were removed from the store.
The 2-hour A Taste of Sanctions tour comes to an end. Everyone involved was really juiced by the action and vowed to continue the struggle.
Favorite Chants:
"Stop Your Shopping, The Bombs are Dropping!"
"Everyone put your Sludge in the air...Wave it like you just don't care! Say hey-ooo..."