Chicago, IL – Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) Chicago Network is hosting a fundraiser Feb. 3 to celebrate the resilience of Rasmea Odeh. The event, at 8:00 p.m. at DePaul University, will include dinner, a comedy performance from Amer Zahr, spoken word and dance performances and a speech from a representative of the Rasmea Defense Committee. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to Odeh’s legal defense fund.

Rasmea Odeh is a 67-year-old Palestinian community leader in Chicago. In October 2013, Odeh was indicted for allegedly falsifying information on her immigration papers. The accusations made against her were based on information that was obtained via torture nearly 20 years prior. The attack on Odeh is an effort by the government to silence those who advocate for Palestinian self-determination and human rights.

This past November, Odeh was handed a guilty verdict after an unfair trial, in which the core of her defense was not allowed to be presented in court, including evidence of her rape, torture and PTSD. The judge chose to send her to jail on the same day she was found guilty, instead of waiting until her sentencing hearing.

After being imprisoned for one month and spending a significant amount of that time in solitary confinement, Odeh was released on a $50,000 cash bond on Dec. 11. Her tentative sentence hearing date is March 12.

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