gelatik
06.04.02, 03:47
African Americans, Christians, Jews Rally at Israeli Embassy
WASHINGTON, April 5– American public opinion regarding the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict edges slowly towards holding Israel accountable for the violence in
the Occupied Territories. A recent poll showed a rise from 23% last year to 38%
this year of Americans believing that Israel should bear some responsibility,
African Americans, Christians and Jews almost outnumbered Arabs, Muslims
Thursday at a rally in front of the Israeli Embassy.
Black Voices for Peace, the Plymouth United Church of Christ, and Jews for
Peace in Palestine and Israel marched calling for the rally to support the
Palestinian people the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr.,
the most influential African American civil rights leader in U.S. history.
The rally, for roughly 1,500 people, the majority not Muslim or Arab, marched
from the busy intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Van Ness to the Israeli
Embassy amidst heavy police escort and federal helicopters, after rallying for
an hour attempting to bring the plight of the Palestinian people to passers-by
during the rush hour.
Arriving at the Israeli Embassy, the protestors were lead in prayer by Muslim
and Christian leaders as Reverend Graylan Hagler, Senior Minister of the
Plymouth United Church of Christ said a prayer aloud while Muslims gathered to
pray their evening prayers.
A moment of silence for the Palestinians was held along with another moment of
silence in remembrance of Dr. King.
In an exclusive interview with IslamOnline before the speaking forum of the
rally began, Deborah Hyams, an American Jewish activist with Jews for Peace in
Palestine and Israel (JPPI) said she had recently returned from a trip to the
Occupied Territories where she was helping to bring humanitarian aid to the
besieged Palestinian people.
The Washington D.C.- based activist also state of that as a Jew she was
appalled that the atrocities committed by Israel against the Palestinians were
being done so in the name of Judaism.
“As a Jew I care about all of humanity and everything is precious. I have a
responsibility as a Jew to stand up for injustice, especially if that injustice
is being done in my name and the name of my faith,” Hyams stated.
She also went to say that she had spoken on Wednesday to other Israeli peace
activists attempting to bring food and medical supplies to the Palestinians
besieged in West Bank towns and was told that Israeli forces, upon seeing the
supplies, destroyed them and even “stomped on the medicines.” Palestinians in
Ramallah and other West Bank towns invaded over the past week are reported to
be starving to death as Israeli soldiers have forbidden them from leaving their
homes in order to get food. In addition, the hospitals in the area are reported
to be overwhelmed with resources being depleted and morgues overflowing with
Palestinian civilian casualties.
Damu Smith, chairman of Black Voices for Peace, a progressive African American
organization formed following the September 11 attacks, slammed Israel for its
murders of Palestinians and called Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
a “terrorist”. He also the blame for the aggressions on the U.S. and its
funding of the Israeli army.
“They talk about bombs strapped to Palestinian activists as ‘terrorism’, well
what about the bombs strapped to U.S. supplied F16s…what about the missiles
strapped to U.S. supplied Apache helicopters…and what about the weapons
strapped to U.S. supplied tanks. That is terrorism,” Smith asserted.
Reverend Hagler also spoke on behalf of the Christian community and called on
the U.S. to stop funding the war on the Palestinians with U.S. tax money.
“The only thing we have done wrong until today is stay silent. But the only
thing we have done right today is stand up for the dignity of the Palestinian
people,” Hagler stated.
“But know that truth being pushed to the ground will again rise up and
Palestinians attempted to be crushed will also again rise up,” Hagler
emphasized.
He also went on to echo others’ voices calling Israel “criminal”, as protestors
began calling Prime Minister Ariel Sharon a “crime minister.”
“The latest trick word is ‘terrorism’. But what really means is a green light
for any criminal government to act against people fighting to protect their own
dignity. Somehow governments brutalizing people is called self-defense. But
that is truly what terrorism is,” Hagler concluded.
Muslim and Arab organizations including the American Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee (ADC), American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ), the Muslim Public
Affairs Council (MPAC) and Masjid Mohammed of Washington D.C. also co-sponsored
the rally.
A concurrent rally of pro-Israel supporters also protested outside of the
Palestinian National Authority offices in Washington D.C. Several hundred pro-
Palestinian activists attended the rally at the PNA offices and have scheduled
upcoming rallies at the Israeli Embassy and the PNA offices through the next
weeks, as well as at the White House during Sharon’s upcoming U.S. visit.
