Last summer 2200 Palestinians were massacred, including 519 children, by Israel during its 51-day war on Gaza. Israel receives more than $3 billion in U.S. aid every year and the protest will focus on Senator Amy Klobuchar’s support of this policy.

Meredith Aby-Keirstead, an organizer for the protest explains, “Senator Klobuchar has repeatedly voted for U.S. military aid to Israel and she needs to be reminded of what are the consequences of those votes. Every vote she makes for more U.S. aid to Israel allows Israel more weapons to use on the Palestinian people.”

The protest will honor the lives of those who were brutally killed last summer, through speakers, poetry and a play.

Karmel Sabry, a Palestinian American activist with the Anti-War Committee, says, “It’s important to react when act of injustice occurs but it is equally, if not more important to fight just as hard when the struggle isn’t making headlines. At the end of the day, consistency and perseverance are what win the battle.”

The protest was initiated by the Anti-War Committee and is endorsed by American Muslims for Palestine, Jewish Voices for Peace – Twin Cities, Minnesota Peace Action Coalition, Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAc), Students for a Democratic Society at UMN, Students for Justice in Palestine – U of MN, Welfare Rights Committee, Veterans for Peace, U.S. Palestinian Communities Network – MN Chapter, and Women Against Military Madness (WAMM).

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #Palestine #GazaWar #SenatorAmyKlobuchar

Chapel Hill, NC – A delegation of students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) delivered a letter to Chancellor Thorp's office, Feb. 25, demanding that UNC divest from Israel. Holding a banner that said, “End U.S. aid to Israel!” the students explained their demands to the university administrator who received the letter in place of Chancellor Thorp. “We want our university to stop investing in the murder of Palestinian civilians,” said Maddy Miller, a member of SDS.

The letter delivery is the first step in what SDS and other student organizers project will be a long, hard-fought battle to make UNC divest from the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

“We believe the direction of history and the demands of justice are clear,” reads the conclusion of the letter delivered to the UNC administration. “Rather than sit on the sidelines, or worse, consciously try to hold back progress, we would like for our university to take a stand and help move the Palestinian people's struggle for justice forward. Divestment and boycott will be a powerful message to those who continue to oppress and occupy the Palestinian people and a strong impetus to negotiate a lasting peace based on the principles of equality and justice.”

The letter outlined several demands, including disclosure of all university investments through the UNC Investment Fund; severing contracts with and divesting from any corporations that are profiting from the occupation of Palestine; establishing a curriculum in Palestine Studies and partnering with Palestinian academics and academic institutions; providing scholarships to at least five Palestinian students each year; and removing Israeli products and products made by companies profiting from the occupation of Palestine from university stores.

The recent Israeli assault on Gaza, which left thousands dead and wounded, has created a shift in public opinion. More and more student groups, labor unions and religious organizations are initiating campaigns to boycott, divest and sanction Israel until it recognizes the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the right of return for all Palestinian refugees.

In January, in New York state, students occupied the University of Rochester in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Then days later a major victory for the divestment movement came in Massachusetts when Hampshire College became the first university in the United States to divest from companies that are profiting from the occupation of Palestine. Significantly, Hampshire College was also the first university to divest from the apartheid regime in South Africa in 1977. And on Feb. 19, solidarity with Gaza and aid for Palestinian students was a core demand of the student building takeover at New York University.

Commenting on the victory of the Hampshire College divestment, Ben Berry, a Hampshire student and current organizer with SDS at UNC Chapel Hill, said, “The Hampshire divestment was a great victory, and a humble beginning. We achieved economic divestment at a college with a relatively small endowment.” Hampshire College's investment fund is valued at about $46 million. Divestment at UNC will be much more difficult, Berry said, “When you look at the fact that UNC's investments are over $2 billion.” Speaking of why he was motivated to work for this cause, Berry said, “As a Jew, I feel a personal tie to the conflict, and feel it's important for me to do what I can to help raise awareness and bring an end to this terrible occupation.”

#ChapelHillNC #AntiwarMovement #StudentMovement #News #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #Palestine #Divestment #GazaWar #MiddleEast

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #News #Palestine #GazaWar #CoalitionForJusticeInPalestine #MiddleEast

Massacres in Gaza kill over 205 people, now is the time for unity and resistance

Over 205 killed in Gaza and hundreds have been wounded in a series of massacres and crimes committed by the Zionist occupier against the Palestinian people in Gaza on December 27, 2008. From 11:30 AM to noon, the occupier shot dozens of missiles from Apache helicopters and F-16 planes at dozens of Gaza government buildings, directly in the middle of heavily populated residential neighborhoods and simultaneously with teachers and students returning to school

.

Demonstrations have broken out throughout the West Bank and the Arab world in protest and outrage at the brutality and the nature of these massive crimes.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine issued a statement calling for the broadest resistance to meet and confront this aggression against the Palestinian people and to respond to these massacres, and for the unity of the resistance, and the unity of the Palestinian people, to greet the occupier with resistance, strength and steadfastness despite his brutal crimes. The statement stressed the urgent need for national unity immediately to confront the crimes against our people and to greet the occupier and its brutality with tremendous and unified resistance that is capable of shaking its foundations.

The PFLP statement further called upon all resistance forces to come together now and establish unified resistance front to coordinate and take up the challenge of these attacks against our people. It pointed to the responsibility of the United States for these attacks, as a strategic partner of the occupier, working hand in hand with its massacres and crimes against the Palestinian people, and as the source of the arms used by the occupier against our people. It also pointed to the complicity of the Arab regimes in these crimes, particularly the Egyptian regime, for its ongoing and active participation in the blockade and siege of the Palestinian people in Gaza and its meetings and discussions with the occupier about its plans for Gaza. These massacres are taking place because of Arab and international silence and active complicity.

The PFLP further called for the immediate end to any and all negotiations with this brutal occupier who plans massacres against our people and stated that if he will not end the negotiations immediately, Abu Mazen must resign now. The nature of the Zionist enemy and its dedication to the eradication of the Palestinian people is laid bare and clear by this series of attacks, calculated to cause maximum damage and human cost. For the past sixty years, there is an unbroken history of massacres and crimes against our people and this massacre today is yet one more expression of the nature of the illegitimate colonial state that has implanted itself on Palestinian land and continues to live on U.S. support through massacres and crimes against the Palestinian people.

The statement concluded by calling upon all of its fighters and military branches to take the strongest actions and to resist the occupation and its massacres by all methods and forms of action and resistance, and by calling for the broadest solidarity on Arab and international levels, for people to come into the streets, demonstrate, march, and take action to declare that these massacres and crimes are unacceptable, that the Arab people and the world are with Palestine and the Palestinian people, and that they will not allow these crimes to continue nor for the Arab regimes and international regimes to be silently complicity or actively involved in the occupation's crimes.

The Palestinian people will greet these massacres with steadfastness, strength, unity and resistance and all of the crimes, massacres, targeting of civilians, residential neighborhoods, and schoolchildren and teachers will do nothing to crush the resistance of our people, the statement said, it will only ensure Palestinian unity in the face of this brutality which makes clear the true face of the occupier to the world.

#Palestine #PalestineSolidarity #PopularFrontForTheLiberationOfPalestine #Statement #GazaWar #MiddleEast

Chicago, IL - 500 people gathered here Dec. 28 for an emergency rally and press conference to condemn the Israeli attacks in the Gaza. The crowd formed a circle around the speakers in front of the Water Tower at noon. The real anger was felt when most of the group moved to the corner to chant at the lone Zionist with an Israeli flag across the street. The militant chanting ranged from, “Free, free Palestine!” to “ End the occupation now!”

The young crowd, almost all wearing Palestinian scarves or carrying flags, called for an end to U.S. money to Israel. They said it most simply in their chant, “Down, down with Israel.” The protesters left with plans to pass on the word about an even larger rally called for this coming Friday afternoon, Jan. 2, at the Tribune Plaza, which is one block from the Israeli Consulate.

#ChicagoIL #News #PalestineSolidarity #GazaWar #MiddleEast

Minneapolis, MN - 200 Palestinian Americans, anti-zionist Jews and peace activists protested outside of Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office, Dec. 30, to demand an end to U.S. support for Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Over 400 people have died and over 1700 Palestinians have been injured in Gaza from Israeli bombing attacks.

Women Against Military Madness, the Coalition for Palestinian Rights, International Jewish anti-Zionist Network of the Twin Cities, the Anti-War Committee, the Green Party of Minnesota, Al-Aqsa Institute and Middle East Peace Now called for the protest as a part of a national day of action. After picketing outside the senator’s office building on busy Washington Avenue, the crowd moved inside for a press conference in front of the senator’s door.

At the press conference Meredith Aby, a member of the Anti-War Committee who traveled to Gaza on a solidarity delegation in 2001, spoke out against the U.S.’s support for Israel. “We call on Senator Klobuchar and all members of the Minnesota congressional delegation to demand an immediate end to both Israel’s attack on Gaza and U.S. support for those attacks. We demand an end to U.S. military aid to Israel and call for the U.S. to stop justifying Israel’s use of military force on Gaza. We hope that the people of Minnesota will hear the Palestinian people’s call for solidarity and protest, and call and write to demand a real change in U.S. policy towards Israel.”

Other speakers included Palestinian, Jewish and other community members who described the human consequences of Israel’s two-year blockade that escalated significantly on Saturday with the aerial bombardment of Gaza.

After the press conference over 40 protesters attended a meeting with Senator Klobuchar’s aide. Upon learning that the senator herself was in town, protesters demanded to met with her in person – refusing to leave her conference room. After a two hour sit-in, the senator agreed to meet.

At the meeting Senator Klobuchar repeatedly refused to condemn Israel, but she did express support for a resolution for humanitarian aid. Jordan Kushner, an activist with the Coalition for Palestinian Rights and the National Lawyers Guild, summed up the strengths of the action, “I don’t think people expected anything from Amy Klobuchar. She is as much in the Israel lobby’s pocket as anyone. But is was a very positive organizing experience in terms of the coalition that came together. We were able to successfully demand an appearance by an elected official who had insisted she did not have time to do so, and were able to work together to agree on demands for real change.”

#MinneapolisMN #News #PalestineSolidarity #GazaWar #MiddleEast

Minneapolis, MN - Around 400 protesters gathered at the Islamic Cultural Community Center here, Jan. 2 to protest against the Israeli attack on Gaza. Most of the protesters were Muslim and Arab. The crowd was passionate and demanded an end to U.S. aid to Israel and an end to the bombing of Gaza. The protesters marched throughout the neighborhood that is home to many Arab people. The marchers were greeted by honks and many people joined the march as it went by.

The demonstration was organized by the newly formed Minnesota Coalition for Gaza. The coalition includes religious, human rights and political organizations including: Al Aqsa, Al-Wafaa Center, Anti-War Committee, Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, Building Blocks, Coalition for Palestinian Rights, Council on American- Islamic Relations, Minnesota, Islamic Cultural Community Center, Islamic Jurisprudence Council of Minnesota, Islamic University of Minnesota, Muslim American Society – Minnesota, Masjid Al-Ikhlas, Unity Chamber of Commerce and others.

This demonstration was a part of an international day of protest. Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated Jan. 2 in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States.

#MinneapolisMN #News #PalestineSolidarity #GazaWar #MiddleEast

Durham, NC - Over 120 protesters representing dozens of organizations and many nationalities rallied here, Jan. 3, to support the people of Gaza and denounce the U.S.-supported Israeli attacks on Palestinians. Protesters chanted, “We want justice for all Gaza!” and “Free Palestine.” Several local anti-war leaders spoke at the rally and emphasized the importance of linking the struggle against the occupation in Iraq with the struggle for liberation and peace in Palestine.

#DurhamNC #StudentMovement #News #PalestineSolidarity #GazaWar #MiddleEast

Cincinnati, OH - 300 people protested the Israeli military invasion of Gaza on Saturday, Jan. 3. The protest sent a message that U.S. support for Israel must end. Gathering at Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati, the mostly Palestinian and Arab-American protesters were joined by dozens of social justice and solidarity activists from local communities, including Christian and Muslim peace activists. The Palestinian organizers circulated amongst white and African-American activists, thanking them for their support.

Nearly 60 children lined both sides of the streets with photos and signs saying “Stop the bloodbath,” “Stop the killing,” “Break the silence, we want action!” – demands aimed at both the U.S. government of George Bush and other world leaders. Nearby the top of the plaza stairs, scores of young men gathered around a young Palestinian man making a speech in Arabic. This was followed by loud call and response chanting, “Free, free Palestine!” “Not a nickel, not a dime, U.S. aid is a crime!” and “Gaza, Gaza, don’t you cry, Palestine will never die!” This kept the crowd going for over two hours.

Toward the end of the rally, young men and women led a slow march around the new Fountain Square plaza and back to where the children were still lining the streets with their protest signs. The news of the Israeli military starting their invasion on Saturday during the first protest created disbelief and then anger. The chants grew louder as the news spread. Many drivers honked their horns in solidarity with the Palestinian children.

#CincinnatiOH #News #PalestineSolidarity #GazaWar #MiddleEast

PFLP strongly condemns the submission of the UN Security Council to U.S. domination

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the actions of the United States to once again veto any effort to cease the brutal Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza in the United Nations on January 3, 2009.

The United States, acting fully in its expected capacity, as a brutal, criminal, colonialist empire governed by war criminals, from U.S. President George W. Bush to UN Ambassador Zalmay Khalilizad, as the head of the imperialist camp and the enemy aiming its weaponry at the Palestinian people.

The United States provides – and funds – the amounts of weaponry being used against the Palestinian people in Gaza, including supporting the Zionist colonial-settler state with F-16 airplanes, Apache helicopters, and their most advanced weaponry, in addition to the vast amounts of political and economic support that it provides for its strategic partner, Israel.

Throughout history, the United States veto in the Security Council of the United Nations has been used time and time again to prevent international action to stop Zionist occupation atrocities against our people, implement Palestinian rights, or protect our people under attack. As the entire world has time and again condemned Israel, from the masses in the streets of cities around the world, to the floor of the United Nations, the United States has repeatedly used its veto power as a club on behalf of Zionism and imperialism.

On January 3, 2009, once again, the U.S. used its veto power to block a Security Council resolution that would demand the aggression against our people cease. In the face of the killing of hundreds of Palestinians with U.S. made-and-paid-for weaponry at the hands of a murderous and brutal occupier that has bombed schools, universities, mosques, municipal buildings and homes by the hundreds, the U.S. stood to block international action to stop the crimes.

We have no illusions about the United States and its role. The United States is the leading imperialist power, the leading strategic partner of Israel, and a criminal regime engaged in a brutal occupation of its own in Iraq, even as it attempts to prop up the very regimes that suppress our people throughout the Arab homeland.

The people of the world, and indeed, of the United States, have made it clear, in demonstrations, mobilizations and actions, that they are with the besieged and resisting people of Gaza, and with the Palestinian people. The resistance in Iraq and Afghanistan, as does the resistance in Lebanon, prove to the United States and Israel daily that they cannot and will not be successful in their attempts to conquer and occupy. The masses of the Arab homeland are shaking the streets and demanding that the U.S. proxies like the Egyptian regime cease their subservience to their imperial master and support the people of Gaza.

And the Palestinian resistance in Gaza is now, and will continue, to make clear to the United States and Israel that our people and our cause will not be suppressed and will not be killed and will be victorious despite their brutality and criminality, and in the face of the official inaction of the so-called international community.

Towards victory!

Massacres continue against our people in Gaza – resistance continues to fight!

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine reported on January 3, 2009 that the criminal and murderous Israeli massacres against our people in Gaza are continuing by land, sea, and air. 13 Palestinians were martyred and dozens more injured as the Israeli occupation forces assaulted a mosque in Beit Lahiya that was filled with worshipers.

This was the ninth mosque targeted by the Israeli occupiers in their week of assaults against our Palestinian people in Gaza. Palestinian medical personnel reported that 20 martyred Palestinians had come to Al-Shifa hospital, and many more wounded, the majority of which were women and children.

Despite the ongoing criminal attacks against our Palestinian people, the steadfastness, strength and resilience of our people continues to inspire and mobilize the resistance as it continues to fight the occupation forces and obtain casualties. The occupation forces have not been successful in killing our fighters and the forces of the Palestinian resistance continue to launch missiles and steadfastly fight their ground attacks, tanks and invading soldiers.

The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the armed wing of the PFLP, reported that it fired missiles and 60mm mortars at invading Israeli forces, wounding soldiers and causing enemy casualties, near the Karni crossing. In addition, AAMB launched rockets at the Western Naqab, Asqelan and Netivot, as confirmed by enemy media. AAMB stated that they will emerge from the rubble in Gaza and continue to fight, and confirmed that all resistance groups are united and committed and completely ready to confront the ground occupation with their weapons and their bodies.

The PFLP stated further that despite the atrocities committed against our people, the resistance will continue to struggle and to fight back and to achieve victory, and that the enemy's brutality will not achieve its ends.

PFLP calls upon Arab and international forces to escalate their actions and solidarity

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine called on January 3, 2008 upon the Arab people and all progressive forces in the world to escalate all forms of resistance against the Zionist and imperialist enemy.

The PFLP noted the mass response of the Arab people who have taken to the streets across the Arab homeland in support of their sisters and brothers resisting and beseiged in Gaza and called upon this resistance to continue and escalate. The Front further called for popular and armed resistance to the occupiers and invaders of our land to intensify and increase, so that as the enemy attempts to intensify its crimes in Gaza, it will feel the response of the resistance and the fire of the anger and determination of the people everywhere.

In addition, the PFLP called upon the progressive forces of the world to continue and intensify their actions and mobilization against the Israeli crimes and the U.S. and European complicity and support in this war against our people. The PFLP salutes the mass mobilization in the cities of the world – London, New York, Paris, Oslo, Brazil, Lima, Rome, San Francisco, Chicago, Mexico City, Bogota, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and everywhere – and calls for the continuation of the pressure upon their governments.

The PFLP further stated that this is a historic moment and battle, and a fight for the existence of the resistance and the future of the Palestinian cause. Now is the time to meet this challenge, as the resistance is doing in Gaza and the West Bank, with all utmost action and mobilization throughout the Arab homeland and around the world.

Towards victory!

#Palestine #Statement #GazaWar #PFLP #MiddleEast

Initiated by student anti-war and solidarity activists at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the protest gave voice to people who want an end to U.S. support of Israeli’s assault on Palestinians.

Rally organizers estimate at least 300 people were present, the result of good networking between the student anti-war and solidarity movement, the peace movement and the Muslim communities of Milwaukee.

“While it is a tragic occasion that brought us together, it has been an honor to work with brave Palestinians,” commented Rachel Metteson of Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society.

The rally began with more bad news from Gaza from the morning news: Reports of more than 500 Palestinians dead, an Israeli bombing of a UN school and of Israel censoring journalists in the area.

At one point, the protesters gathered to hear speeches from various community leaders, including Julie Enslow, the 2008 Lifetime Peacemaker Award winner and Othman Atta, the President of the Milwaukee Islamic Center.

Two days before, Atta, in reading a statement of latest events to an audience of over 500 at an Islamic community center, condemned Israel's invasion. Atta called Gaza “the largest open air prison in the world” and later stated, “Israel's problem with Hamas is not its military ability, its rockets or its ideology. Hamas's crime lies in its continued unwillingness to kowtow to Israeli demands.” This statement came to the roaring approval of the audience.

A counter-demonstration was announced to the employees of 12-story, block-long Federal building. This brought legal observers, white arm banded ‘peace makers’ and more police to the scene, however not a single counter-demonstrator arrived. Those who deserved attention the most – the people fighting for justice in Palestine – received all the media attention.

Cosponsoring organizations of the rally included Jews for Justice, Progressive Students of Milwaukee, American Muslims for Palestine, Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society, Peace Action Wisconsin, Greater Milwaukee Green Party, Muslim Student Association at UWM and MAS Freedom Foundation.

Student Organizers from American Muslims for Palestine, Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society and Jews for Justice have already discussed more possibilities of protest in the near future.

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiwarMovement #StudentMovement #News #PalestineSolidarity #GazaWar #MiddleEast

PFLP rejects UN Security Council resolution that allows continued siege and massacres against our people

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said on January 9, 2009 that UN Security Council resolution 1860, passed on January 8, fails to protect Palestinian fundamental rights, does not condemn the massacres against our people and allows Israel to continue its aggression and siege against our people.

Comrade Dr. Maher al-Taher, member of the Political Bureau of the PFLP and leader of its branch in exile, noted that the Security Council resolution is an effect of the power and steadfastness of the Palestinian people in Gaza forcing international institutions to move. However, he noted that the U.S. is working at full strength alongside its strategic partner, Israel, to attempt to achieve politically what Israel failed to achieve through murder and destruction.

Comrade Taher stated that the resolution fails to condemn the Israeli aggression and crimes against our people, taking a so-called “neutral” stance between the victim and the executioner, and allows the continuation of the aggression.

He stressed firmly that the PFLP refuses to accept any decision or international initiative that does not condemn the aggression against our people, does not demand an end to the aggression and an end of occupation, and that does not demand an end to the siege upon our people and the immediate and permanent opening of the crossings, including the Rafah crossing, and that any such initiative will not be accepted by our people under any circumstances.

The PFLP further noted that the ineffectiveness of this resolution is clear by the Israeli immediate rejection, and, in fact, pledge to continue and expand its massacres against our people on January 9, 2009. Furthermore, it said that the Palestinian people and the masses of the world had forced the U.S. to abandon its earlier position of blocking any action in the Security Council and that now the U.S. is attempting to use this position to attempt to force Palestinians to accept humiliating, unjust and illegitimate conditions, and attempt to undermine and destroy the Palestinian resistance, and that such attempts would fail just as miserably as the Israeli massacres have failed to do so.

Comrade Khalida Jarrar, member of the Political Bureau of the PFLP, said that the resolution equates the victim and the murderer in its discussion of a so-called “mutual cease-fire” and completely fails to end the aggression against our people. She called instead for a binding decision to end the aggression and break the siege, including the immediate opening of the border crossings, as well as the prosecution of the Israeli officials for war crimes. Comrade Jarrar said that the Palestinian people have no option but resistance and steadfastness, and are supported by the people of the world even as international officialdom collaborates in the massacre of Palestinians.

The PFLP further denounced any plans for so-called “international forces” in Gaza, and noted that such demands are an attempt to undermine the fundamental national rights of the Palestinian people and impose an international force as protectors for the occupation, to suppress and disarm the Palestinian people and their resistance, and noted that such a presence would be rejected by the entire Palestinian people.

#Palestine #PopularFrontForTheLiberationOfPalestine #Statement #GazaWar #MiddleEast

“We are disappointed that David Price defended his vote for H.R. 34 – a resolution which gave full diplomatic, moral and political support to Israel while it was actively killing hundreds of Palestinian civilians,” said Kosta Harlan, a member of SDS who attended the meeting with Representative Price. “That resolution effectively gave Israel a green light from the U.S. Congress to go ahead with their massacres of Palestinians. Price should be ashamed.”

While Representative Price expressed sympathy with many of SDS’s concerns on the resolution and the U.S. support for Israeli war crimes, he said nothing to suggest that he will vote against the Israeli lobby in the future. “He gave us no indication that he would educate himself about the real issues,” commented SDS activist Linda Gomaa, “so we’re going to have to continue holding him accountable for his decisions.”

Following the meeting with Representative Price, two dozen students and community activists held a rally and press conference outside Price’s office before delivering a petition with over 250 signatures condemning Congressman Price for his vote on H.R. 34 and demanding that he end U.S. political and economic support for Israeli war crimes. Members of Students for a Democratic Society, Fight Imperialism Stand Together and Veterans for Peace spoke at the rally.

#ChapelHillNC #AntiwarMovement #StudentMovement #News #DavidPrice #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #Palestine #GazaWar #MiddleEast