Vets for Peace go to the West Bank

-Saturday, April 14, 7 p.m.
Mountain View Studio, 20 Mountain View Ave., Woodstock, NY

Documentary Film and Talk: "U.S. Veterans Witness Brutal Reality in Nabi Salah"

In 2017 six U.S. veterans along with a photographer and a filmmaker traveled to the West Bank. The latest episode in Chris Smiley’s documentary series Veterans For Palestine shows what they experienced in the village of Nabi Saleh, where they were attacked by armed settlers and teargassed by soldiers from the Israeli Occupation Force. The 40-minute film will be followed by discussion with delegation participants Ellen Davidson, photographer, and Tarak Kauff, Veterans For Peace national board of directors. Suggested donation: $7

Sponsored by Veterans For Peace and Middle East Crisis Response
www.mideastcrisis.org
Contact: takauff@gmail.com


MECR joins JVP in Kingston


Saturday, April 14, 2018


KINGSTON – A mock shooting staged by local activists on Broadway in Midtown Kingston Friday afternoon, underscored ongoing human rights violations in Gaza Strip against Palestinians, protesters said. The staged event took place across the street from Congressman John Faso's office, which has been the scene of several rallies since he took office in January 2017.

The protestors said this episode spotlighted Israel's mistreatment of refugees living inside occupied Gaza. They cited the 1997 U.S. "Leahy Law," which limits foreign military aid to abusive regimes.

The United States provides $3.8 billion per year in military aid to Israel.

Bob Gelbach of Jewish Voice for Peace recited a litany of documented violations over a loudspeaker. "International law allows for legal ways of fighting wars, and illegal ways,” Gelbach said. “It's kind of a dicey distinction a lot of people would say it's all bad. But it's a step in the right direction to say that certain things should not be tolerated. "Even when we have made that decision by an Act of Congress, our government still tends to ignore it.”

Judith Simon, another organizer, agreed.

"What is happening between Israel and Palestine is not a war, and it is not a conflict. It is a massacre," she said. "There's no food allowed in, no medical supplies allowed, no clean water, no schools.”

Recent liberation marches along the barrier between Israel and the 365-square-kilometer Gaza Strip territory, have sparked deadly clashes leaving 33 Palestinians dead this week, at last count.

Simon said her organization also condemns Democrats for turning a blind eye to atrocities against Palestinians. Senator Charles Schumer of New York is among the other officials targeted for criticism, she said.

Street theater for Gaza in Kingston (at Fasco Friday)





Thanks to all that helped to pull off this demo today!


Special thanks to Jo Salas who helped us implement the idea, to Bob for narrating and to all the actors and sign holders - a great team effort. And extra thanks to Tobe Carey for capturing the demo on film.
 
We also delivered 40 signatures on a a petition urging Gaso to sign HR 4391:
Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act

(Cheryl)

Uplifting film and gospel choir at the end




Thanks to The New Progressive Baptist Church Choir for singing at the end of this moving documentary. We had over 20 people, but that is still a disappointing showing for such a good event. Is our extensive support group, about 1,200 people, sick of movies about Palestinian suffering? Or sick of movies altogether?

I was a bad night for traveling, with snow showers for a good part of the day. Certainly that didn't help. But our last two events, a panel discussion of freedom of speech and BDS, and a book signing for Mico Peled did significantly better, with over 40 in attendance for each. It seems like the movie nights need rethinking. 

One idea (thanks, Bob) is to show movies in more venues, reaching out to other groups. We have already propose this film and choir combination to Vassar College SJP, and they are going to show the movie next fall. Another venue in the works is the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston, and possibly the New Progressive Baptist Church itself.