C'mon people get with the program, you know you want to:) It doesn't have to be a big massive thing, just DO something where you live. This is a small thing we can all do to help keep the focus on the victims in Palestine. Dont let this anniversary pass quietly, like bobby Sands said, We each have our own particular part to play. No part is too great or too small; no one is too old or too young to do something.
18 November, 2009
We're calling on activists around the globe to organize an action between December 27th through December 31st to send Obama, the US State Department and Congress a message to pressure the Israeli government to Lift the Siege on Gaza Now!The timing here is crucial. On December 27, 2008, Israel launched an attack on the Gaza Strip called Operation Cast Lead in which over 1400 Palestinians were killed, including as many as 300 children. In remembrance of these innocent civilians and to mark the fact that it has been one year since the Israeli assault began, some 1,000 people from around the world will join with 50,000 Palestinians in a massive nonviolent Gaza Freedom March on New Year's Eve, December 31, in Gaza. The International Coalition to End the Illegal Siege of Gaza is calling on us to coordinate local solidarity actions to raise awareness and media attention for the big March and the need to end the illegal blockade. Will you join us?
Actions are already being planned in Boston, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington DC and other locations. You still have time to plan something in your community. It doesn't take a lot of people. Below are a few ideas, but whatever you do, make sure you write a press release and call the local media to encourage them to attend. The best way to spread the word is to get your event covered by the local press!
The important things:
* Do something public between the 27th through 31st.* Register your event/action here.
* Tell the press about your action.* Take a photo and upload it here beginning December 27th.MarchYou can coordinate a solidarity march with the Gaza Freedom March and carry a banner with one of our suggested slogans like "LIFT THE SIEGE ON GAZA", "FREE GAZA" or "Remember Gaza". You may even want to have all marchers lie down and make the shapes of the letters that spell out "FREE GAZA" at the end of the march for a great aerial image.
In San Francisco, the Bay Area Action Network for Palestine will be marching across the Golden Gate Bridge on Dec. 31. Consider marching across a bridge in your city, to symbolize building bridges rather than walls, or march to the Israeli Embassy/Consulate, the Federal Building, or another symbolic place. Don't forget a banner and a camera!Candlelight VigilPick a very public place and organize a candlelight vigil for those who died during the invasion. Make a visual statement at a significant place, and post your photo onlineDon't worry about gathering tons of people for an action-even a small group can make a compelling visual statement in your community. You can lay out objects, like candles, scarves, flowers, to spell out your message of "LIFT THE SIEGE ON GAZA" or "FREE GAZA".
Consider staging your photo in a meaningful place, like outside your Federal Building, an Israeli Embassy/Consulate, at a public park, outside a school or hospital (in memorial to the public facilities bombed a year ago), by a wall, or at your place of worship. You can also think about creating a lasting art installation that is a memorial to those who died and a call for peace. During your visual creation, you may want to read the names of Palestinian children killed one year ago, or invite local poets to read poetry or share in song.
Don't forget a banner and a camera! Post your photo so it will appear online and will be available for the media.Protest at a government officeDon't forget your Congressperson. They need to hear from you. Only 33 brave representatives refused to vote for the Congressional resolution urging Obama to throw the Goldstone Report on Gaza into the circular file. Chances are your Congressman wasn't one of them. (You can research this here by inputting your Congressperson's name, scrolling to the votes of 11/3/09, and looking for House Resolution 867).
You can picket their office with signs saying "Congressman X Votes No Human Rights for Gaza. Support the Gaza Freedom March!" or "Congressman X -- End the Siege of Gaza. Support the Gaza Freedom March!" or "Honk for Human Rights for Gaza." Morning rush hour is a particularly good time for a picket -- lots of passing cars. When your picket is over, take one of your signs up to your Congressperson's office and ask the staff to give it to him/her as a message from constituents. Organize a film showingFor $9.95, you can get a copy of Anna Balzer's incredible DVD Life in Occupied Palestine, which provides an excellent introduction-in a down-to-earth, non-alienating way-to the occupation in Palestine. See here for more details.
Another excellent film is Occupation 101, an award-winning documentary about the causes of the conflict, life under occupation, and the role of the US. You can get it for as little as $16 here. Or you can lighten it up with Slingshot Hip Hop, $25 here, a documentary about hip hop artists performing under occupation. Host a house partyEating is one of the easiest ways to bring people together (especially during a busy holiday season!).
Host a dinner with food from the Middle East. Ask your friends to bring something along, so you don't need to cook all week. Set aside a few minutes before or after the meal to explain the latest on Gaza and the Gaza Freedom March, and then link it all together with a great group photo at the dinner table. Do a public muralConvene a group of artists to do a chalk sidewalk mural in a public place. Of course, feel free to get creative and come up with your own ideas.If you would like to organize an action between December 27 and 31, let us know at gazafreedommarch.action@gmail.com.
Coming soon to the website will be action resources, action ideas, action FAQ, and organizing steps.In solidarity and with hope,Medea Benjamin and the Gaza Freedom March Steering Committee
News Update!
Organize a Gaza Freedom March solidarity action December 27-31Click here to sign up!
© 2009 GazaFreedomMarch.Org
4 years ago
