Relatives of Rachel Corrie, killed by a bulldozer, lead the demonstration.
By JESSICA GRAHAM
11/08/2003
About 12 protesters, five of whom were relatives of Rachel Corrie, the peace activist killed March 16, marched from Memorial Union to Hoover Hall. Officials with Iowa State and Caterpillar Inc. met in Hoover Hall at 3:30 p.m. to dedicate the Caterpillar Mechatronics Lab, paid for in part by Caterpillar.
During the march, the protesters carried signs and shouted, "Caterpillar, stop bulldozing homes," and "ISU, give back the money."
Corrie was killed by a Caterpillar bulldozer while protesting Israel's bulldozing of Palestinian homes. Corrie had strong ties to Iowa. Her parents, Craig and Cynthia Corrie, who now live in North Carolina, graduated from Drake University.
Bonnie Brodersen, Corrie's aunt from Oregon, said the family is unhappy that Caterpillar sells bulldozers to Israel.
"Israeli forces use the bulldozers to demolish homes of innocent Palestinians," she said.
Cheryl Brodersen, Corrie's aunt from Denison, said she wants Iowa State to re-evaluate its relationship with Caterpillar.
"I hope ISU will look at their policy of linking with a corporation that sells weapons of destruction to a foreign government and then says, "We can't help what they do with them," " she said. "And then a bulldozer kills Rachel."
Richard Lavin, vice president of Caterpillar, said the company was at ISU only for the dedication.
"We're here to celebrate a partnership between Iowa State University and Caterpillar," Lavin said.
He said Caterpillar cannot legally stop selling bulldozers to countries with which the United States trades.
"Utilization of our products is out of our hands," he said.
James Melsa, engineering dean at ISU, said he views Caterpillar as one of ISU's strongest partners.
"Two hundred of our engineers work with the company, and we think their support will help make future engineers more successful," Melsa said.
He said ISU and Caterpillar cannot control world politics.
"If we take the attitude that anything that kills people is bad, we'll stop doing a lot of things," he said.
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