In Chicago, efforts continue to block establishment of a military academy at Senn High School. Numerous efforts have also been organized at the University of Illinois Circle campus. Among the most recent efforts was the mobilization of dozens of people to counter the Army’s “Army of One” campaign at the Taste of Chicago. The groups participating in the action included the Committee Against the Militarization of Youth, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Code Pink, Peace Pledge, Chicagoland Anarchist Network, Students for Social Justice, DePaul Students Against the War, Education Not Empire, Chicago Media Action, Andersonville Neighbors for Peace and other youth and students.
Activists spent the entire day providing information to the youth, countering the recruiters and visibly opposing the war. They had a large banner reading -“Recruiters Lie, People Die,” wore bright t-shirts donated by Code Pink/Peace Pledge, had numerous other signs and as one participant put it, “tons of leaflets.”
The Army was using its usual efforts to draw youth in, with a tank simulator, basketball hoop (free Army T-shirt with 3 baskets in a row), decked out humvee, and registration tent where they were making personalized dog-tags and handing out free copies of the official Army video game, so violent the Army is prohibited from distributing it to children under 13. They did so anyway. The Army also maneuvered to secure names and addresses. In order to take a ride on the simulator, or take a shot at the basket people were required to sign a “waiver.” The Army recruiters were targeting sixteen year olds, the minimum age for participation in the Delayed Entry Program, and older youth.
Despite repeated harassment from the police and security guards trying to force activists to leave, they persisted through out the day and had a very positive response from youth and parents alike.