- ActivitesPalestine
- May 27, 2010
- 10 minutes read
Americans to demonstrate outside Israeli consulate in Chicago
Thursday, 27 May 2010 at 12 PM: Chicago human rights activists will gather to protest against Israeli intention to illegally block the Gaza Freedom Flotilla from their destination.
A demonstration endorsed by numerous local pro-Palestinian groups will be held outside the Israeli consulate located at 111 East Wacker Drive (just east of Michigan Ave and Wacker Drive).
Locals seek to raise awareness of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla scheduled to arrive in Gaza on May 28, 2010 and the Israeli threats against the non-violent initiative.
This will be an opportunity to denounce the inhumanity of Israel’s three year long siege and running. Israel has said it will stop the boats from reaching Gaza, they have done it before and they can do it again:
We can not wait until something happens before we mobilize. If we are to be helpful in this effort, we need to begin support activities immediately.
If the convoy has already been attacked or blockaded, our demonstration will be a powerful protest. If it has not yet arrived, our demonstration will be a demand that it be allowed to pass in peace.
Organizers are mindful that on June 8, 1967, Israeli forces attacked the USS Liberty in international waters killing 34 Americans and wounding another 174. In order to sustain US military, diplomatic, and economic support for Israel the attack was whitewashed and covered up. (For more information go to: http://www.ifamericansonlyknew.org/us_ints/ussliberty.html )
Endorsing organizations (in formation): Albany Park-North Park-Mayfair Neighbors for Peace and Justice, Chicagoans Against Apartheid in Palestine (CAAP),Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism (CCAWR) , CodePink-Chicago, End the Occupation – Northern Illinois, International Solidarity Movement-Chicago chapter, International Socialist Organization (ISO), Jewish Voice for Peace – Chicago, M20 Coalition, National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW), Palestine Solidarity Group – Chicago, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at DePaul University, The Palestine Working of the Center for Theology and Social Analysis (St. Louis), United States Palestinian Community Network, The Gaza Freedom March
For more information, please contact:
Kevin Clark, Free Gaza Movement coordinator, 312-259-4380 or 773-267-5198
Sasha, International Solidarity Movement-Chicago, 773-.419-1144
Background on Gaza Freedom Flotilla
On May 24, 2010, the Freedom Flotilla set sail for Gaza determined to, once again, challenge Israel’s blockade of 1.5 million Palestinians trapped in an open-air prison.
Under the coordination of the Free Gaza Movement, numerous human rights organizations, including the Turkish Relief Foundation (IHH), the Perdana Global Peace Organization from Malaysia, the European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza, and the Swedish and Greek Boat to Gaza initiatives have sent three cargo ships loaded with reconstruction, medical and educational supplies. At least five passenger boats with over 600 people on board are accompanying the cargo ships (see: http://www.freegaza.org/).
These passengers include members of Parliament from around the world, U.N., human rights and trade union activists, as well as journalists who will document the largest coordinated effort to directly confront Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza and take in basic supplies.
Despite Israeli threats to illegally prevent the boats from their intended destinations (see AFP, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hVSwju4eSsR7kch8wt1kkWznYhAw), the ships are en route.
For more information about the boats, please contact:
Free Gaza Movement Greta Berlin – +357 99187275
Free Gaza Movement Huwaida Arraf – +306983046697
ECESG Mazen Kahel – +33 1 46 81 12 92
IHH Ahmet Emin Dag +90 530 341 1934
Ship to Gaza / Greece Vangelis Pissias – +30 697 200 9339
Ship to Gaza / Sweden Dror Feiler – +46702855777