Bekah Wolf: Beyond the Rhetoric
The Realities of the Israeli Occupation and Prospects for a Just Resolution in Palestine
Sunday, November 22
2:30 PM
United Methodist Church
1 Grove Street, New Paltz 12561
An American-Israeli, Bekah Wolf is a graduate of New York University with an MS in education from Long Island University. She co-founded the Palestine Solidarity Project, an organization based in the West Bank village of Beit Ommar and dedicated to supporting popular, non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation.
Sunday, November 222:30 PM
United Methodist Church
1 Grove Street, New Paltz 12561
An American-Israeli, Bekah Wolf is a graduate of New York University with an MS in education from Long Island University. She co-founded the Palestine Solidarity Project, an organization based in the West Bank village of Beit Ommar and dedicated to supporting popular, non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation.
Summer and Fall Events 2009
Free Palestine Vigil
2:00 pm
Saturday, July 18
Ulster Plaza
1177 Ulster Avenue
Kingston 12401
We will line up in the parking lot of Barnes and Noble Bookstore
Sponsored by the Middle East Crisis Response
http://www.mideastcrisis.org
Contact: mecr@mideastcrisis.org
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Report from Gaza: My trips with Code Pink
By Felice Gelman
6:00-7:30 pm
Sunday, August 23
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
of the Catskills
320 Sawkill Rd, Kingston NY 12401
Felice Gelman is member of the WESPAC Middle East Committee and part of a group of four delegations under the umbrella of CODEPINK invited to Gaza by the UN Relief and Works Agency. She will report on conditions that have been rarely talked about in the US media. She will be joined by Philip Weiss who made the trip with her.
Sponsored by the Middle East Crisis Response
http://www.mideastcrisis.org
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Meeting on Palestine, Israel, and the US Empire
Tuesday, Oct. 27
7 p.m
Lecture Center 104
SUNY New Paltz
Richard Becker will analyze the struggle for Palestine — from the division of the Middle East by Western powers and the Zionist settler movement to the founding of Israel and the continuing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. He will also focus on the key role of the United States as a supporter of Israel. Becker, an author and commentator on Middle East affairs, will also sign copies of his new book, "Palestine, Israel, and the US Empire."
Organized by:
Peace and Social Progress Now
sponsored on campus by the Muslim Students Association
endorsed by Middle East Crisis Response.
http://www.mideastcrisis.org
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Norman Finkelstein: Israel and Palestine, Roots of Conflict, Prospects for Peace
Wed., November 4th
7:30 PM
Multipurpose Room, Bertlesman Student Center Bard College, Annandale, NY 12504
Dr. Norman Finkelstein is an American political scientist and author, whose primary fields of research are the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the politics of the Holocaust. His parents were Holocaust survivors, and he has also written about their experiences during World War II.
Sponsored by:
-Middle East Crisis Response
http://www.mideastcrisis.org
-Bard Students for a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine
-----------
Anna Baltzer: Witness in Palestine
Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 pm
Multipurpose Room, Bertlesman Student Center Bard College, Annandale, NY 12504
Anna Baltzer, Fulbright Scholar and volunteer with the International Women's Peace Service, will talk about her work in Palestine. Her book, "Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories" has been praised by Noam Chomsky. Joining her will be Paula Silbey, a local activist who has completed several trips to the occupied West Bank. There will be a question and answer session after the presentation.
Sponsored by:
-Middle East Crisis Response
http://www.mideastcrisis.org
-Bard Students for a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine
-------------
Arabic Feast to Help Break the Siege of Gaza
Sunday, November 8
1 - 4:00 pm
La Florentina Restaurant
604 Ulster Ave.
Kingston, NY 12401
A special Arabic meal will be served to raise funds for the Gaza Freedom March. This unique culinary event, prepared by excellent Palestinian chefs, will focus attention on the twelve local residents of the Hudson Valley who will be bringing supplies for children and families to Gaza in December. Tickets will be $25 if purchased beforehand or $30 at the door. Make checks payable to MECR and mail to Gaza March c/o MECR, PO Box 1362, Woodstock, NY 12498.
http://www.hudsontogaza.blogspot.com
or call: 845 -246-8415, Ext. 3
Israel, Palestine, the US and the Role of Zionism
Israel, Palestine, the US
and the Role of Zionism
Both speakers are progressive Jewish critics of Israeli Zionism, as well as members of the Middle East Crisis Response.
Sponsor: Central and Latin American Support Project CLASP
Sunday, May 3 at 6:00 pmNew Paltz Village Hall
25 Plattekill Ave.
Vigil to Stop the Killing in Gaza, Woodstock, Feb. 14, 2009
"We realize that the U.S. is funding this assault on Palestinian people; it is not in
our name and we stand together to condemn the actions of both the U.S. and Israel in Gaza."
Vigil For Gaza, Kingston, NY, Jan. 31, 2009
"We stand together to deplore the Israeli war crimes in Gaza."
PEACE VIGIL DEPLORES ISRAELI WAR CRIMES IN GAZA
PEACE VIGIL DEPLORES ISRAELI WAR CRIMES IN GAZA
KINGSTON, NY
Over 30 Mid-Hudson residents braved single-digit temperatures from 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2009, to stand at a busy corner of Route 9W calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The peace vigil was organized by Middle East Crisis Response to protest what members called the "slaughterhouse" in Gaza. According to B'Tselem, the Israeli human rights organisation, Israeli attacks have killed at least 1000 Palestinians in the last 20 days, including at least 300 children, with rockets fired into Israel causing 4 Israeli deaths in the same period.
Signs at the vigil called for an end to the siege of Gaza and an end to U. S. military aid to Israel. "The terror and collective punishment being inflicted on Gaza is supported by the U. S. government and your tax dollars," the group told passers by.
March Of The Dead (thanks, Tarak)
Yesterday, was the first day of the 111th Congress. For the first time since the November elections, members of Congress returned to the Hill, and newly elected officials were sworn in with pomp and circumstance, with their families in tow. What a proud moment for them, especially the recently minted democrats who rode the wave of national discontent with the republican party. The halls of the Dirksen, Russell and Hart Buildings were freshly scrubbed, and bustling with food, people, and new furniture.
However, gathering a few blocks away were anti-war activists determined to rain on their parade by reminding these partygoers that there are wars happening, with lots of death and destruction, compliments of Congressional funding and complicity. The “March of the Dead”, created by the group “Activist Response Team” or ART, sent out a call for all those with a conscience to show up on January 6th in D.C. to wear a mask and carry the name of someone killed in illegal wars and occupations.
They gathered, approximately seventy people, in the inclement weather, blocks away, doning white masks and wearing all black signifying the souls of those who will be haunting the criminals who are sending bombs to kill Iraqis, Afghanis, Palestinians and members of the military who are the lethal arm of this government’s quest for empire. About 11:45 AM the solemn march started in a downpour, with media watching and documenting the procession of the dead. Winding their way around the streets of D.C., the 70 represented over a million humans wantonly killed by mega-ton bombs and drone missiles; by soldiers’ bullets, car bombs and IED explosions. The souls of the dead reminding those who are living of the horrors of aggression.
The march stopped at the Supreme Court Building, where the guards expected the protesters to conduct civil disobedience. But moments later, the group moved away kept their ambling pace, hands open with black gloves and staring gazes. Their mission was to bring the dead to Congress.
Unexpectedly, at about 2:00 PM, the marchers entered the Senate Hart Building, and slowly moved into the middle of the open atrium where eight stories up are offices with large windows facing inside. The stark vision of death disrupted the staff inside the building, including some of those Senators who were reveling in their glory. The names of those killed in the wars began to be read and the press followed them.
In the center of this open area, about forty protesters kept reading and calling out to those in the building to end the war, end the illegal occupation, and stop the funding to Israel. The passionate pleas were noticed, and most came out of their offices to gaze down upon the spectacle, while munching their chips or drinking soda, something those dead would never do again.
Simultaneously with the reading of the names five huge banners were dramatically unfurled over the sides of the railings facing into the atrium. The largest, about four stories high, black with white lettering, read “THE AUDACITY OF WAR CRIMES.” It was dropped from the fifth floor and tied to the railing. For local news coverage see:
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=80156&catid=158
Across the way “IRAQ” “AFGANISTAN” and “PALESTINE” banners were also dropped and tied to the railings. The Capitol Police, who were present when the march came into the building, quickly responded to remove the words that were so hurtful to those who were guilty of committing these war crimes. Within seconds, the banners were pulled up, but it gave press and other independent media a chance to photograph it all. An everlasting message to the murderers who keep spending taxpayer dollars to kill innocent people.
At that point seven people were arrested for unfurling the words of truth, but those on the ground floor of the Hart Building remained reading the names of the dead. The police were gathering in force, and just as a secure perimeter was formed around the masked readers, another banner announcing “WE WILL NOT BE SILENT” was dropped. Quickly, three people were carted off by the police, and the banner was cut down. But those onlookers on the ground floor applauded and yelled with excitement.
The reading continued for another 30 minutes. A warning was issued for them to stop their “unlawful activities”, or be arrested. The police announced that the protesters were “disrupting the building,” when in reality, it was war, death and destruction that was the disruption.
So on the first day of the 111th Congress, within the hour they were being sworn in, the dead were marching to remind them what they had done, what they are doing, and that it should end immediately. When it was over, seventeen courageous protesters were arrested. Those that participated in the banner action were charged with “unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct” and must return for a court appearance because it is a grave offense to speak the truth. Those who read the names were charged with “unlawful conduct” and were able to pay and leave. But the dead will not be forgotten.
By 3:15 PM the building was empty of those who called attention to the atrocities sanctioned by those who occupied the offices. But the souls of the dead will remain there, filling up the halls, hovering over their desks, following them home, forever to be haunting those who are and who will remain responsible and complicit for causing this holocaust.
However, gathering a few blocks away were anti-war activists determined to rain on their parade by reminding these partygoers that there are wars happening, with lots of death and destruction, compliments of Congressional funding and complicity. The “March of the Dead”, created by the group “Activist Response Team” or ART, sent out a call for all those with a conscience to show up on January 6th in D.C. to wear a mask and carry the name of someone killed in illegal wars and occupations.
They gathered, approximately seventy people, in the inclement weather, blocks away, doning white masks and wearing all black signifying the souls of those who will be haunting the criminals who are sending bombs to kill Iraqis, Afghanis, Palestinians and members of the military who are the lethal arm of this government’s quest for empire. About 11:45 AM the solemn march started in a downpour, with media watching and documenting the procession of the dead. Winding their way around the streets of D.C., the 70 represented over a million humans wantonly killed by mega-ton bombs and drone missiles; by soldiers’ bullets, car bombs and IED explosions. The souls of the dead reminding those who are living of the horrors of aggression.
The march stopped at the Supreme Court Building, where the guards expected the protesters to conduct civil disobedience. But moments later, the group moved away kept their ambling pace, hands open with black gloves and staring gazes. Their mission was to bring the dead to Congress.
Unexpectedly, at about 2:00 PM, the marchers entered the Senate Hart Building, and slowly moved into the middle of the open atrium where eight stories up are offices with large windows facing inside. The stark vision of death disrupted the staff inside the building, including some of those Senators who were reveling in their glory. The names of those killed in the wars began to be read and the press followed them.
In the center of this open area, about forty protesters kept reading and calling out to those in the building to end the war, end the illegal occupation, and stop the funding to Israel. The passionate pleas were noticed, and most came out of their offices to gaze down upon the spectacle, while munching their chips or drinking soda, something those dead would never do again.
Simultaneously with the reading of the names five huge banners were dramatically unfurled over the sides of the railings facing into the atrium. The largest, about four stories high, black with white lettering, read “THE AUDACITY OF WAR CRIMES.” It was dropped from the fifth floor and tied to the railing. For local news coverage see:
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=80156&catid=158
Across the way “IRAQ” “AFGANISTAN” and “PALESTINE” banners were also dropped and tied to the railings. The Capitol Police, who were present when the march came into the building, quickly responded to remove the words that were so hurtful to those who were guilty of committing these war crimes. Within seconds, the banners were pulled up, but it gave press and other independent media a chance to photograph it all. An everlasting message to the murderers who keep spending taxpayer dollars to kill innocent people.
At that point seven people were arrested for unfurling the words of truth, but those on the ground floor of the Hart Building remained reading the names of the dead. The police were gathering in force, and just as a secure perimeter was formed around the masked readers, another banner announcing “WE WILL NOT BE SILENT” was dropped. Quickly, three people were carted off by the police, and the banner was cut down. But those onlookers on the ground floor applauded and yelled with excitement.
The reading continued for another 30 minutes. A warning was issued for them to stop their “unlawful activities”, or be arrested. The police announced that the protesters were “disrupting the building,” when in reality, it was war, death and destruction that was the disruption.
So on the first day of the 111th Congress, within the hour they were being sworn in, the dead were marching to remind them what they had done, what they are doing, and that it should end immediately. When it was over, seventeen courageous protesters were arrested. Those that participated in the banner action were charged with “unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct” and must return for a court appearance because it is a grave offense to speak the truth. Those who read the names were charged with “unlawful conduct” and were able to pay and leave. But the dead will not be forgotten.
By 3:15 PM the building was empty of those who called attention to the atrocities sanctioned by those who occupied the offices. But the souls of the dead will remain there, filling up the halls, hovering over their desks, following them home, forever to be haunting those who are and who will remain responsible and complicit for causing this holocaust.
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