Minneapolis, MN – The Ma’an press agency is reporting, December 23, that once again Israeli authorities are refusing to give Palestinian Christians in Gaza travel permits that would allow them to celebrate Christmas with loved ones in other parts of Palestine, or to visit Bethlehem.

The Ma’an article states “The Israeli occupation annually obstructs the travel of Palestinian Christians from Gaza to Bethlehem and Jerusalem to attend Christmas celebrations and be reunited with their families in the occupied West Bank.”

In a related development, Israeli troops shot and killed four demonstrators in Gaza, Friday, December 21, in the latest of the Great Return March protests. Some of the protesters were dressed as Santa.

#MinneapolisMN #Palestine #PeoplesStruggles #Palestinians #Bethlehem #Christmas #MiddleEast

St. Paul, MN – On September 1, the opening day of the Republican National Convention, 30,000 people rallied at the Minnesota State Capitol and marched against the war. It was the largest anti-war march in the U.S. this year.

The four main themes of the march were U.S. out of Iraq now; money for human needs, not for war; say no to the Republican agenda; and demand peace, justice and equality.

The march was led off by large contingents of veterans, immigrants, labor, poor people, Somalis, Palestinians, and students.

#StPaulMN #AntiwarMovement #StudentMovement #Labor #Iraq #RepublicanNationalConvention2008 #ChicanoLatino #moneyForHumanNeedsNotForWar #USOutOfIraqNow #veterans #Palestinians