D.C. woman fasts, holds vigil to honor Gazan womenIn solidarity with novelist Alice Walker and 58 others currently in Gaza
WHAT: D.C. activist to fast in solidarity with Alice Walker, 58 other delegates currently in Gaza WHEN: 11 a.m. March 8 to March 14WHERE: On the Lafayette Park side of the White House
WASHINGTON -- In solidarity with Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist Alice Walker and 58 others currently in war-torn Gaza, a D.C.-based CODEPINK activist will begin a week-long fast and vigil today outside the White House, calling for the Obama administration to urge the Israeli government to immediately end its border blockade on Gaza and halt settlement expansion in Palestinian land.
Leslie Angeline, who will sit with friends near Lafayette Park outside the White House, said her efforts will mark International Women's Day today, honor Gazan women and represent the wishes of the 60-member international delegation currently in Gaza, which returns March 14.
Egyptian authorities allowed the delegation, including Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist Alice Walker, the parents of American Rachel Corrie, who was killed in Gaza in 2003, and 57 others into Gaza March 7. it will meet with UN and rights' groups officials, Gazan civilians, and witness the damage from the 22-day Israeli attacks there earlier this year.
"I voted for President Obama because he promised change and peace," Angeline said. "It's time for him to prove he'll keep his word."
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) invited the delegation to Gaza to celebrate International Women's Day with the women of Gaza.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Arizona CODEPINK GAza Fundraiser MArch 7th 2009
Last night Arizona CODEPINK gathered at OZbirds for the Gaza fundraiser in solidarity with the 2nd CODEPINK citizen diplomacy trip to deliver humanitarian aid and baskets to the women of Gaza.There were 34 people that showed for this local fundraiser & participated in an active discussion after my presentation which included an introduction and overall brief on the current status of our delegation.We collected $640 toward the national goal, there may be late checks as some folks had to decline the event invite due to conflicts.Joan Kroll with Grannies for Peace generously donated costume jewelry as did Rachael my college friend made 6 beaded necklaces.Zoe, Helen,Chris and Marie made certain everything went smooth with regard to food service.Perfect Venue!!!!!!!!
The most memorable aspect of the entire evening was Maysoon Naser's personal story of what it is to be OCCUPIED?! This story spoke volumes from the perspective of palestinians- of helplessness,terror,deHumanizing,frustration,unfairness,and the basic unjust nature of being occupied against your will endlessly.Maysoon described the unlimited wait time at border crossings,the challenges with ID- like Israeli Defense Forces taking ID without returning it.The many different types of ID establishing an apartheid like atmosphere.Maysoon had a powerful written report of the life from the side of being occupied.In hindsight the personal stories really touch a inner chord and should be utilized in letters to editor, visits to KYL'S offce and so on........Presentating the powerful presonal narratives will make a BIG difference -last night we all realized these stories must get outside the smalller community into a broader audience.
We learned many aspects of occupation that perhaps never enter our(US TAXPAYER) reality.Mitch Rubin our local Jewish Voice for Peace prepared a report giving basic facts which provided a segway into the deeper issues though elaboration was brief.
We had traditional snacks hummus, tabuli, olives,fried chick peas, pita bread.Our authentic musicians couldn't make it though.Next Time??
Special thanks to all attendees and donors
CODEPINK everywhere
Zoe Helen Chris Marie
Kent for having an after party so we could bring our leftover food.
Jennifer - longtime friend for showing up
Sweet Leslie Angeline Tshirts
Maysoon Chrisitine Cheryl new friends
still accepting $$$
The most memorable aspect of the entire evening was Maysoon Naser's personal story of what it is to be OCCUPIED?! This story spoke volumes from the perspective of palestinians- of helplessness,terror,deHumanizing,frustration,unfairness,and the basic unjust nature of being occupied against your will endlessly.Maysoon described the unlimited wait time at border crossings,the challenges with ID- like Israeli Defense Forces taking ID without returning it.The many different types of ID establishing an apartheid like atmosphere.Maysoon had a powerful written report of the life from the side of being occupied.In hindsight the personal stories really touch a inner chord and should be utilized in letters to editor, visits to KYL'S offce and so on........Presentating the powerful presonal narratives will make a BIG difference -last night we all realized these stories must get outside the smalller community into a broader audience.
We learned many aspects of occupation that perhaps never enter our(US TAXPAYER) reality.Mitch Rubin our local Jewish Voice for Peace prepared a report giving basic facts which provided a segway into the deeper issues though elaboration was brief.
We had traditional snacks hummus, tabuli, olives,fried chick peas, pita bread.Our authentic musicians couldn't make it though.Next Time??
Special thanks to all attendees and donors
CODEPINK everywhere
Zoe Helen Chris Marie
Kent for having an after party so we could bring our leftover food.
Jennifer - longtime friend for showing up
Sweet Leslie Angeline Tshirts
Maysoon Chrisitine Cheryl new friends
still accepting $$$
Friday, March 6, 2009
Gaza Citizen Diplomacy trip #2 March 6th 2009
American delegation to attempt Gaza entry todayBy Abdel-Rahman Hussein and Sarah El SirganyFirst Published: March 5, 2009
CAIRO: A 60-member Gaza aid delegation from the United States and Canada will attempt to enter the Strip today via the Rafah border crossing in commemoration of International Women’s Day.
The trip is organized by the Code Pink organization, a grassroots women’s initiative initially founded to oppose the US war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Code Pink cofounder Medea Benjamin and Ann Wright, a former US diplomat and military officer, had visited Gaza early February. They felt ashamed to “have seen the shells and ammunition reading ‘made in the USA’,” said Wright, who is also part of the delegation, noting that it was “our tax money” that was used to buy these weapons.
Benjamin noted that although the US had pledged $300 million to the rebuilding of Gaza, it has given Israel $3 billion which were used for weapons. “Ten times as much for building as for killing,” one delegate added.
There is currently another American delegation comprised of nine people who have been prevented entry into Gaza via the crossing. On Thursday they set up tents and started a vigil in front of the crossing.
Benjamin said in a press conference in Cairo Thursday, “We got tents and we told everybody we might not be able to get in and we might have to camp out at the border. We are ready to do that and if we don’t get in, it really makes the Egyptian government look very bad.”
“We’re not doing it to challenge the (Egyptian) government, we’re doing it because we want to get in,” she added, “and we think they have an obligation to allow us to go in.”
The delegation will also include novelist Alice Walker and the parents of Rachel Corrie; the activist who was killed in Palestine by Israeli Defense Forces six years ago.
The delegation is carrying with it 2,000 gift baskets for the people of Gaza and are traveling at the invitation of the UN Relief and Works Agency for its Gaza Gender Initiative.
They had considered bringing in food, but UN workers in the Palestinian Territories suggested a more uplifting gift basket to the women of Gaza who had been traumatized by the war but still were looking after others, Benjamin said.
The basket contains shampoo bottles, scarves, toothpaste and other similar gifts.
There is also a third delegation led by British MP George Galloway which entered Egypt Thursday from Libya and will also be traveling to Rafah in an attempt to enter Gaza.
CAIRO: A 60-member Gaza aid delegation from the United States and Canada will attempt to enter the Strip today via the Rafah border crossing in commemoration of International Women’s Day.
The trip is organized by the Code Pink organization, a grassroots women’s initiative initially founded to oppose the US war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Code Pink cofounder Medea Benjamin and Ann Wright, a former US diplomat and military officer, had visited Gaza early February. They felt ashamed to “have seen the shells and ammunition reading ‘made in the USA’,” said Wright, who is also part of the delegation, noting that it was “our tax money” that was used to buy these weapons.
Benjamin noted that although the US had pledged $300 million to the rebuilding of Gaza, it has given Israel $3 billion which were used for weapons. “Ten times as much for building as for killing,” one delegate added.
There is currently another American delegation comprised of nine people who have been prevented entry into Gaza via the crossing. On Thursday they set up tents and started a vigil in front of the crossing.
Benjamin said in a press conference in Cairo Thursday, “We got tents and we told everybody we might not be able to get in and we might have to camp out at the border. We are ready to do that and if we don’t get in, it really makes the Egyptian government look very bad.”
“We’re not doing it to challenge the (Egyptian) government, we’re doing it because we want to get in,” she added, “and we think they have an obligation to allow us to go in.”
The delegation will also include novelist Alice Walker and the parents of Rachel Corrie; the activist who was killed in Palestine by Israeli Defense Forces six years ago.
The delegation is carrying with it 2,000 gift baskets for the people of Gaza and are traveling at the invitation of the UN Relief and Works Agency for its Gaza Gender Initiative.
They had considered bringing in food, but UN workers in the Palestinian Territories suggested a more uplifting gift basket to the women of Gaza who had been traumatized by the war but still were looking after others, Benjamin said.
The basket contains shampoo bottles, scarves, toothpaste and other similar gifts.
There is also a third delegation led by British MP George Galloway which entered Egypt Thursday from Libya and will also be traveling to Rafah in an attempt to enter Gaza.
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