Thanks to everyone who participated throughout the 19 days of Camp Hope. Our witness would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of so many individuals and members of over thirty participating organizations!

President Barck Obama recently signed an executive order to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, shut down secret CIA prsions across the globe, and end the practice of torture by all U.S. agencies. These actions indicate that we have reason to continue hoping that this administration can move the United States toward full realization of the progressive change asked for by Camp Hope.

We know that further changes will not happen with out considerable pressure from strong grassroots movements like the coalition that formed Camp Hope. We feel it is our duty to continue to work collectively to hold the Obama-Biden administration accountable for implementing changes they promised on the campaign trail; changes that will create a peaceful, just, and sustainable society both domestically and internationally.

January 19th, Federal Plaza


, January 19th, Federal Plaza



(More Photos from Camp Hope)
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Camp Hope - Countdown to Change
In January, 2009, Barack Obama was  inaugurated as president of the United States.  We earnestly hope his presidency will signal the dawning of long-needed progressive change in the United States. To help build popular momentum behind the progressive goals of President Obama’s campaign, a group of local and national grassroots orginizations  maintained a 19-day presence, from January 1 – 19, 2009, in Hyde Park, Chicago:  "Camp Hope: Countdown To Change."

Every day from New Years’ to Dr. Martin Luther King Day, whatever winter had in store for us, we set up at the intersection of East Hyde Park Boulevard and South Drexel Avenue to congratulate Senator Obama as our new President-elect and recommit ourselves to progressive actions he promoted on his campaign trail.  We urged President-elect Obama to take eight actions immediately upon being sworn into office, reminding ourselves that these actions would be only early steps to more profound policy changes.

Camp Hope sought action on:


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Schedule & Events

Date & Time Title
Jan 1 2009 12:00pm - 4:00pm Camp Hope Kickoff in Hyde Park
Jan 2 2009 2:00pm - 4:00pm Health Care Forum with Dr. Quentin Young
Jan 3 2009 7:00pm - 8:00pm Emancipation Proclamation Pageant- Hyde Park Union Church
Jan 5 2009 3:00pm - 9:00pm Vigil, Walk and Screening - "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"
Jan 7 2009 6:30pm - 8:30pm Evening discussion on withdrawal of troops from Iraq
Jan 8 2009 7:00pm - 8:30pm "Abandoning War: A Peoples' Agenda" featuring Col. Ann Wright, Michael McPhearson,and Stephen Kinzer
Jan 9 2009 7:00pm - 9:00pm "Meltdown: Connecting the Pieces" with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Jan 9 2009 7:00pm - 9:00pm Premiere Showing of "War on the Family"
Jan 10 2009 3:00pm - 5:00pm Faithful Politics: An Interfaith Dialogue- hosted by Wicker Park Grace
Jan 10 2009 7:00pm - 8:30pm Myths and Realities about U.S. War in Afghanistan -A Presentation by Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid
Jan 11 2009 7:00pm - 9:00pm Witness Against Torture Forum: From Guantanamo to the Streets of Chicago
Jan 12 2009 7:00pm - 9:00pm Economic Justice Forum
Jan 14 2009 8:00am - 5:00pm Camp Hope for Peace in the Middle East - Hosted by the American Friends Service Committee
Jan 14 2009 7:00pm - 9:00pm The Gaza Crisis: What the Media Isn't Telling Us - A Presentation by Ali Abunimah
Jan 15 2009 8:00am - 5:30pm Join the Immigrant and Human Rights Community, Labor, Faith-Based and Community Organizations at Camp Hope
Jan 15 2009 6:30pm - 8:30pm Forum and Discussion: “Immigrant Rights are Worker Rights”
Jan 16 2009 7:00pm - 8:30pm Blackwater Worldwide In Illinois and Beyond: The Dangers of Outsourcing Our Security
Jan 16 2009 7:00pm - 9:00pm Screening and Discussion - "Taxi to the Dark Side" Followed by Discussion with Former Guard, Sonja De Santiago
Jan 17 2009 10:00am - 12:00pm Eco-Justice Collaborative- Morning Presentation and Walk to Vigil Site
Jan 17 2009 7:00pm - 9:00pm Political Satirist Dave Lippman and the Singing C.I.A. Agent formerly known as George Shrub
Jan 18 2009 8:00am - 6:00pm Closing of Camp Hope with Candlelight Vigil- Sending off of Caravan to DC
Jan 18 2009 7:00pm - 9:00pm Nature of Racism Lecture Discussion: Neo-Racism and the Myth of a Post-Racial US American Empire
Jan 19 2009 3:30pm - 6:00pm Vigil at the Federal Building to celebrate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday