-----Original Message-----
From: Jeffrey Blankfort [mailto:jblankfort@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 9:06 AM
IMPORTANT: NPR's Morning Edition had a terrific report on the Free Gaza Mvt
Ed, this morning NPR's Morning Edition had a terrific report on the Free
Gaza Mvt and Audacity featuring Alice Walker, Ann Wright and Medea with
Silvia Poggioli in
countering statements. This is sure to get them riled up so NPR needs
to get support for doing this. Here's the link to the story:
Jeff
***
Flotilla To Challenge Israel 's Blockade Of Gaza
June 28, 2011
Listen to the Story
[5 min 19 sec]
· Download
Petros Giannakouris/AP
June 28, 2011
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists from the
The hub of this year's operation is
Some 50 American activists of Operation USTOGAZA are holding workshops in an
Petros Giannakouris/AP
One of the most prominent American participants in the flotilla is Pulitzer Prize winner Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple.
She gave her reason for taking part in a video on the group's website: "I actually love children and I love water, and I love trees, good food, and I love parents who are happy and children who are happy and all this wonderful life that has been completely disrupted and degraded by the Israeli treatment of the Palestinian people in Gaza."
The American vessel has been renamed The Audacity of Hope, after the title of President Obama's autobiography. But organizers won't reveal where it's docked, or when they'll set sail. They claim Greek authorities have imposed administrative delays under pressure from
But it's not just
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said aid should be delivered to
The Obama administration has also strongly urged
Enlarge Petros Giannakouris/AP
Ann Wright, a former U.S. State Department official who plans to sail on a vessel named "The Audacity of Hope" after the title of a book by President Obama, speaks during Monday's news conference about the international flotilla to
Petros Giannakouris/AP
Ann Wright, a former U.S. State Department official who plans to sail on a vessel named "The Audacity of Hope" after the title of a book by President Obama, speaks during Monday's news conference about the international flotilla to
Ann Wright, a retired State Department official and former army colonel, took part in last year's attempt to break the
"Israelis have been very clear: They intend to stop us from going to
The Americans — whose ages range from the mid-20s to mid-80s — say their ship will carry only written messages and letters to the Palestinian people. Other ships — from Europe and
Activists see
Last year's attempt to break the blockade was intercepted by Israeli naval commandos and resulted in the deaths of nine activists.
The Americans in
"We put in a number of hours learning how to respond to that kind of an assault," Levy says, "and I guess most of us on the boat are sailing with the recognition that that is a real possibility and how do we best protect ourselves under those circumstances."
In another hall of the hotel, a group of women wearing T-shirts with the words "I am an unarmed citizen" and "Stay human" is discussing possible scenarios.
Medea Benjamin is the founder of Code Pink, a women's anti-war group.
"Some of us are Jews; we are certainly not against the Israeli people," Benjamin says. "Our idea is we are part of a historical movement that has deep roots in Gandhi, deep roots in Martin Luther King, deep roots in civil resistance movements throughout history."
The American activists alternate their training with song sessions — to the tune of "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore," they've adapted the lyrics to their
On Monday, the Israeli government said it would act with determination to stop the flotilla from reaching its destination, but, it added, with minimal confrontation, as far as possible, between Israeli forces and passengers.
No comments:
Post a Comment