DAWN—A TIMELINE of GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM

2002

Oct. 5 2002- Amy Tauchman and Kathy Slovick, two suburban women, recognize each other at DuPage County protest against the impending Iraq war.
Oct 7 2002- They meet at Caribou Coffee the following Monday morning in Glen Ellyn- agree to take action to see if there is groundswell interest from others.
Columbus Day 2002- Amy and daughter Alex, Kathy and daughter Katie survey Glen Ellyn people. 70% of those they spoke to opposed a pre-emptive, unilateral strike on Iraq.
October 22nd-First meeting- 12 people show up.
October 31st-It is decided to call the group DAWN ( DuPage Against War Now)
November 11th- Using the internet as sole means of communication, DAWN organizes a "Peace Train" protest to join Vietnam Veterans Against War on Veteran's Day. About 12 people give DAWN a send off, carrying signs and banners against the war.
Nov. 2nd meeting - 20 people.
November 22nd- Joined DuPage Peace Through Justice at Glen Ellyn train station vigil. Partnership begins.
November 29th- To publicize group, DAWN distributes "Peace Bells" at Holiday Walk in Glen Ellyn
Dec. 8th- Honk for Peace with DPTJ across from Yorktown Mall in Lombard has many cars honking in support.

2003

January Meeting- about 30 people
January 20th- DAWN initiates Porchlights for Peace, to run through Jan 27th, weapons inspection deadline.
January 21st- DAWN and other advocates of peace visit Judy Biggert's office. She is not there. We speak to an aide on a speakerphone.
Amy and family interviewed on Tom Brokaw's Nightly News.
February 4th Meeting- 30 + people- Initiated " White Ribbons for Peace" campaign. Encouraged by the number of communities adopting anti-war resolutions, begin to draft an anti-war resolution to present to villages, starting with Glen Ellyn.
February 5th- Colin Powell presentation to UN
February 6th- Amy and Kathy appear as guests on Oprah Winfrey, pass out white ribbon pins to anti-war guests.
February 15th- World Peace Day- DAWN draws over 40 people to Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn for a spirited sidewalk protest.
March Meeting- 30+ people. DAWN begins collecting signatures for the anti-war resolution to be symbolically presented to the village of Glen Ellyn at their March 24th meeting.
March 16th- DAWN members participated in the Midwest's largest peace rally and march to date- 12,000 people gathered downtown, including Barack Obama, Studs Terkel, and a host of others. Later that evening, a crowd of about 60 gathered in downtown Glen Ellyn at the corner of Main Street and Duane for a candlelight peace vigil.
MARCH 20th- WAR BEGINS- DAWN gathers on Roosevelt Road to show opposition.
March 21- DAWN website goes up.
April Meeting- Demoralized by recent events, only 5 people attend.
Peace Vigils, meetings continue, along with Honk for Peace Events. Response at first is tentative. Meetings still draw between 14-20 people. Gradually more and more people begin to ask to be added to the DAWN mailing list.
July - Motivated by Cook County group Chicagoans Against War in Iraq, DAWN applies for status as a civic organization in order to register voters.
DAWN receives its credentials to register voters in DuPage County.
August 23rd- CCAWR Protest- Peace Train Rally at Glen Ellyn train station draws about 20 supporters. Rally and march down Michigan Ave draws a city crowd of thousands.
September 11th- DAWN coordinates a visit to Henry Hyde's office. Scheduler wasn't there, neither was Hyde. Those in office said there was no record of any appointment. Judy Wolverton, Hyde's chief of staff, agreed to see us anyway. DAWN presented a sheaf of letters written by members requesting an investigation into the intelligence that led to the war in Iraq.
September 30th- DAWN heads downtown to protest pro-war candidate fundraiser that costs $2000 a plate at the Sheraton, Chicago.
October 8th-DAWN sponsors the training of 30+ deputy voter registrars, and the sub-group of DAWN Voter Advocates is formed.
November 1- Voter registration campaign begins at a Fall Craft Show at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. By the end of November, DVA's had registered almost 400 voters.
December 9th- DAWN hosts 2 back-to-back showings of "Uncovered, the Truth About the Iraq War " , by the end of the month, DAWN had hosted screenings to hundreds of viewers.
Dec 31st- DAWN is listed by Daily Herald as one of 100 newsmakers of 2003.

2004

January- DAWN continues to register voters, add venues. By end of January, had registered about 1000 voters. DAWN monthly screen the film," Uncovered" before meetings, drawing new faces to DAWN.
February 8th- DAWN trains another group of voter registrars.
March 14th- DAWN and 3 other Peace Groups, DuPage Peace Through Justice, Pax Christi,and West Suburban Faith-Based Coalition, protest Iraq war General Tommy Franks at his appearance IBC in Lisle.
March 16th- Some DAWN members volunteer as pollwatchers in the March primary election- practicing for November.
March 20th- DAWN and 3 other Peace Groups stage rally at Downers Grove Train Station, before heading downtown. The local rally draws up to 200 people.
April- Attendance at meeting continues to grow. Many come for the movie, stay for the meeting, then ask to be added to DAWN list.
May 1st- " Mission Unaccomplished" rally to recognize anniversary of the famous " Aircraft Carrier Mission Accomplished " appearance the year before. Supporters of DAWN and the aforementioned other peace groups lined both sides of Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn with signs. The same day members registered voters at Peace fair at COD.
May 8th- DAWN sponsors more voter registrars at a May 8th training.
June Meeting- Interest in Michael Moore's F-9/11 results in many more people coming to see Uncovered. June meeting fills room to capacity.
July- DAWN continues to register voters with numbers close to 2500. DAWN mailing list reaches peak levels.
July- DAWN sponsors an entry in Glen Ellyn Boat Regatta entitled," Weapons of Mass Destruction". There is no boat. Peace Picnic at Park instead.
August 3, 9th- DAWN screens Outfoxed at Glen Ellyn Library and in 2 satellite locations, enabling hundreds to see the film. WBEZ interviews DAWN co-founders for upcoming show on Chicago Public Radio- 91.5.
August 11th- DAWN trains even more voter registrars.
August 29th- Rally in Downers Grove to coincide with one in New York draws 175 to Downers Grove Train Station. DAWN gives speech about voter registration.
September 13th- Visit with Henry Hyde to anniversary last year . DAWN delivers letter from members. Hyde still unavailable, but a group met with his chief of staff. Dawn members called for resignation of Donald Rumsfeld, challenged the Patriot Act, questioned the rising deficit, and voiced their concerns about the continued danger to our soldiers in Iraq, and the rising casualties of the citizen population.
Sept 26th- DAWN sponsors Progressive Film Festival along with COD Campus Greens- Hundreds attend the day long fest, which features filmmaker Dawn Westlake, originally from Wheaton.
October 5th 2004-By the voter registration deadline , DAWN Voter Advocates registers an estimated 6000 voters, with 1000 new registrations in the last days of the registration period, including 200 at Elmhurst College, hundreds at the Walmart in Villa Park, and hundreds of students standing in lines at College of DuPage. With more than 160 DuPage Deputy Voter Registrars, DAWN has become the largest group of Voter Registrars in DuPage. DAWN has hundreds of members, along with thousands in its network.
November 2nd, 2004- DAWN sponsors and organizes a pollwatching effort on Election Day, sending dozens of pollwatchers to precincts in every Township in DuPage County, using the non-partisan checklist from the League of Women Voters.
Post election, the group pauses to consider the future of DAWN.
December 8th 2004- DAWN is presented with a Citizen Initiative Award by the Elmhurst -based Citizens Advocacy Center for its successful voter registration and pollwatching campaign, and sponsorship of the Progressive Film Festival.

2005

Tuesday January 4th, 2005- DAWN has its first post-election meeting- over 30 people attend.
Thursday January 13th 2005- DAWN's Kathy and Amy meet with League of Women Voters Illinois Election Reform Committee to discuss findings from it's pollwatcher effort, and to initiate change in Illinois law regarding credentialing of pollwatchers. As it turned out, League of Women Voters were denied pollwatching credentials in 2 counties in the state- DuPage and Lake . DAWN was the only non-partisan group to successfully pollwatch in the county.
January 15th 2005- DAWN kicks off its "Peace Offerings" campaign- a faith-based effort to put pressure on silent clergy and spiritual leaders about ending the war- Instead of monetary donations in the Sunday collection basket, DAWN urges worshipers to deposit a " sign of peace"- denoting their opposition to the war in Iraq, and to continue this until the clergy makes a special statement in the bulletin or weekly sermon . DAWN hopes that the houses of worship everywhere will be motivated to put pressure on their national organizations to lobby to end the war.
January 31st- DAWN hears of local citizen's effort to challenge Patriot Act before Naperville city council. DAWN rallys members to support effort by attending meeting, writing letters.
Feb 1st- A handful of DAWN members show up on short notice to Naperville city council, supporting a resolution to curb the Patriot Act.
February 15th- DAWN renews voter registration credentials
March 3rd, 17th- DAWN hosts viewing of Unconstitutional in Naperville, a film that exposes the flaws in the US Patriot Act.
March 19th- DAWN hosts a Candlelight Peace Vigil to recognize the 2nd anniversary of war in iraq in downtown Glen Ellyn, drawing almost 200 despite the rain and cold.
March 20th- DAWN is recognized by the York Township Democrats with a plaque at their yearly meeting - lauded for their outstanding efforts in voter registration.
April 6th- Citizen returns to Naperville City Council accompanied by 50 DAWN -organized civil liberties supporters weaaring orange- to symbolize the dramatic revolution for democracy that took place in the Ukraine. Council makes no decision that night.
April 14th- Amy and Kathy head to Springfield to accompany the League of Women Voters Illinois to help lobby for HB2532, the proposed new wording of the pollwatching law, and to meet their representatives to curb the powers of the Patriot Act.
June 1st- DAWN members along with Moveon visit the office of Cong. Henry Hyde to urge the ouster of ethically challenged Tom DeLay.
July 6th- DAWN's Amy and Kathy meets with Illinois House Representative Linda Chapa La Via to discuss future strategy
July 15th- DAWN submits an outline to Chapa La Via for a voter education initiative to enhance voter education and awareness for Illinois.
August 1st- VIE proposal submitted to Blagojevich, Jesse White, and Michael Madigan for review.
August 17th- DAWN, along with Moveon orchestrate a successful Glen Ellyn candlelight vigil for Gold Star Mom Cindy Sheehan- 450 attend.
September 6th- DAWN meeting
September 10th- DAWN helps host event, Cindy Sheehan and Camp Casey Tour come to town, 250 people attend potluck and vigil in Wheaton. Amy and Kathy give Cindy a lift to her lodging in the Northern suburbs.
September 10th- DAWN participate in the Peace Fair Oak Park.

2006

January
DAWN kicks off its renewal of monthly meetings with voter registration training for another 15 Deputy Voter Registrars. Voter registration campaign resumes at College of DuPage.
By the end of January, DAWN Voter Advocates have registered their first 100 new voters of 2006.
Feb. 3rd
DAWN receives letter from DEC granting permission to pollwatch in the upcoming 2006 election.
February 4th
DAWN co-founder Kathy give pollwatching training- " Pollwatcher's Guide to the ( Election) Universe" at League of Women Voters Illinois Issues forum to statewide members of League of Women Voters in anticipation of their upcoming statewide Pollwatcher Campaign.
February 6th
DAWN members join local peace groups to lobby Representative Sandy Pihos to co-sponsor legislation to reform the Patriot Act.
February 14th
DAWN meeting , Fiore clips and party with treats and goodies- Kick- off of Pollwatcher campaign
March 18th
DAWN members participate in Peace Train rally and send off in Downers Grove, March in Chicago down Michigan Ave- largest march in nation
March 19th
DAWN hosts Candlelight vigil in downtown Glen Ellyn, 75 people show up to show support with candles, music, signs
March 21st
DAWN is the first non-partisan group in DuPage County to run a pollwatcher campaign for the primary election, every township is covered.
April 11th
DAWN spearheads a ballot referendum to Bring Troops Home- Members attend Township meetings all over DuPage County - the question" Shall the United States Government immediately begin an orderly and rapid withdrawal of all its military personnel from Iraq, beginning with the National Guard and Reserves?" is successfully placed on the Downers Grove Township ballot.
April 12th
DAWN begins working on a massive signature-collecting campaign to get the question on the ballot in the other 8 DuPage County Townships, enlisting other peace and justice organizations and garnering thousands of signatures at places like Farmer's markets, concerts, festivals and events around DuPage County.
August 21st, 2006
8200 signatures are presented to DuPage County Election Commission, but not enough to get the question on the ballot.
September 20
DAWN resumes Voter registration efforts, registers voters at College of DuPage, churches, events around DuPage County .
October 10th
By this date, DAWN volunteers have registered almost 900 new voters year to date, and about 7,000 since October, 2003.
October 2006
DAWN obtains Pollwatchers credentials, initiates pollwatching program.
Election Day- DAWN has volunteer pollwatchers in every DuPage County Township, monitors about 20% of the polling places. Follow up- report is shared with the DuPage Election Commission , League of Women Voters, posted on site.
Election Day- Nov 7th
A majority of Downers Grove Township Voters- 55.3%- vote YES- to bring troops home from Iraq. A similar ballot question passes in every single municipality which poses this question to voters.

2007

January 11th
DAWN sponsors vigil in Glen Ellyn to oppose the proposed surge in troops to Iraq. 300 people gather in DT Glen Ellyn with signs, signs, candles.
At the March DAWN meeting, it is decided that we will go back to the townships to attempt to get an Iraq war question on the ballot in all nine DuPage County Townships.
March 17th
DAWN participates with other peace groups to rally in Bloomingdale, march to Pete Roskam's Congressional office.

March 19th
DAWN sponsors peace vigil in Glen Ellyn to mark 4th year of war.
April 10th
DAWN spearheads a push to get an Iraq war ballot question on the upcoming primary ballot. DAWN mustered an unprecedented showing at the meetings in all 9 townships in DuPage. Partisan activists, reacting in a machine-style political response, and likely mobilized by a false email alert that there might also be a ballot question regarding the impeachment of President George W. Bush, outvoted the peace advocates. Partisan politics trumped free speech. Ordinary citizens in DuPage County lost a chance to weigh in on this most important issue facing our country.

For more information about this timeline, you may contact :
Amy Tauchman- DAWN co-founder 630-469-4931
Kathy Slovick- DAWN co-founder 630-469-8251