Fort Lauderdale, FL- On June 11, activists in the South Florida area will gather to watch Palestinian activist Rasmea Odeh speak about the status of her case and what to expect as her legal team files for an appeal. Odeh will be joined in this national live stream event by her lawyer, Michael Deutsch, who has made his mark in the legal community representing victims of government repression and state violence. The South Florida community has shown incredible support for Odeh throughout her trial, and this event will provide those supporters the opportunity to hear an import update on her legal case.

According to anti-war activist Pamela Maldonado, a lead organizer with People’s Opposition to War, Imperialism, and Racism (POWIR), all members of the South Florida pro-Palestine and pro-justice community should attend. “We want the dedicated South Florida community to keep up the support for this incredible fighter for justice. They will have the opportunity to ask Michael Deutsch and Rasmea Odeh questions and find out what else we, her supporters, can do to support her appeal and to keep Rasmea free.”

Odeh is a 68-year-old Palestinian American leader who is facing 18 months in prison followed by deportation. Odeh was born in occupied Palestine and, like many Palestinians, organized to oppose Israeli injustices against her people. Because of her activism, Odeh was jailed and tortured in an Israeli prison for ten years before moving to the U.S. While here, she has helped lead the Arab American Action Network in the Chicago community for over two decades.

Two years ago, however, she was arrested part of a wave of political arrests and grand jury subpoenas against people’s movements in the U.S. They arrested her on charges of immigration fraud and then proceeded to put on a sham trail where Odeh was denied her best defense and found guilty.

As Odeh and her legal team work on her appeal, it is up to her supporters to continue to keep this case alive in public discourse, to continue to publicly support this courageous woman and to take action on her behalf.

“We have seen what people power has been able to accomplish in her trial – the shortened sentence and the popular support she now has—and so we know our work on the ground is important,” Maldonado said. “We know victory takes people coming together and taking a stand against injustice!”

Face Book on the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1597604233812127/

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