Demand the Release of Rep. Cynthia McKinney, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, all aid workers and supplies NOW!

Last night, Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. The passengers and crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.

The seizure of humanitarian supplies and abduction of human rights workers is an act of piracy, a crime under international law.  When the boat was attacked, it was not in Israeli waters and was on a human rights mission to Gaza.  Israel’s deliberate and premeditated attack on an unarmed boat in international waters is a clear violation of international law.

The U.S. government and corporate media has largely ignored or buried this story due to racism against Cynthia McKinney and the people of Palestine.  It is up to us to get the word out.

According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are “trapped in despair.” Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel’s December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel’s disruption of medical supplies.

This act of terrorism by the Israeli Occupation Forces against an unarmed vessel is a clear attempt to scare people away from showing solidarity with the people of Gaza.  We must take action now! Here’s how you can help:

1)  Sign the Online Petition – http://www.iacenter.org/palestine/gazashippetition

2)  Get the word out – forward this message to your email lists, post in on Facebook & Myspace, etc.

3) Take to the streets!  Organize local emergency protests in solidarity with the people of Gaza and demanding the release of all those who were kidnapped by the Israeli Occupation Forces.

In New York City, join us tomorrow, Wednesday July 1, from 4 – 6 pm at the Israeli Mission (43rd St. & 2nd Ave.)

3)  Support Aid Caravans to Gaza!  In addition to the current project of Free Gaza, another aid caravan, Viva Palestina, will be leaving the U.S. on July 4th headed by British MP George Galloway and Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic and including hundreds of people from the United States.

4)  Call the media.  The U.S. corporate media has largely ignored or buried this story due to racism against Cynthia McKinney and the people of Palestine.  Please call the media – demand that they cover this criminal act by the Israeli Occupation Forces.  Start with these numbers:

The New York Times 212-556-5272; Los Angeles Times 800-252-9141; Boston Herald 617-426-3000; Chicago Tribune 800-874-2863; and please call your local newspaper, radio station, or television news program.

Petition:

Sign it online at http://www.iacenter.org/palestine/gazashippetition

To: President President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden, Congressional leaders, U.N. General Assembly President d’Escoto-Brockmann, U.N. Secretary General Ban, members of the U.N. Security Council, U.N. member states, and the President, Prime Minister, Cabinet and Opposition leader of Israel

cc: Major media representatives, International Red Cross

RELEASE THE SPIRIT OF HUMANITY AND ALL ITS PASSENGERS IMMEDIATELY AND ALLOW ITS HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO GAZA TO PROCEED! END THE SIEGE OF GAZA NOW!

I am outraged at the actions of the Israeli military in attacking and boarding the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congreswoman Cynthia McKinney, dragging passengers and crew forcibly toward Israel. I am further outraged that Israel has confiscated tons of medicine from the ship as well as toys and olive trees.

I demand that the boat, passengers and crew be released immediately and allowed to proceed with its mission of bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.

As former U.S. Congressperson and 2008 Presidential Candidate Cynthia McKinney said, “This is an outrageous violation of international law. Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip. President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that’s exactly what we tried to do. We’re asking the international community to demand our release so we can resume our journey.”

According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released on June 29, the Palestinians living in Gaza are “trapped in despair.” Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel’s December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel’s disruption of medical supplies.

“The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza, hope that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to transport their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools, hospitals and thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught of “Cast Lead”. Our mission is a gesture to the people of Gaza that we stand by them and that they are not alone” said fellow passenger Mairead Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland.

Just before being kidnapped by Israel, Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza Movement chairperson and delegation co-coordinator on this voyage, stated that: “No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any sort of threat to Israel. We carry medical and reconstruction supplies, and children’s toys. Our passengers include a Nobel peace prize laureate and a former U.S. congressperson. Our boat was searched and received a security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before we departed, and at no time did we ever approach Israeli waters.”

Arraf continued, “Israel’s deliberate and premeditated attack on our unarmed boat is a clear violation of international law and we demand our immediate and unconditional release.”

I demand that the Obama Administration take immediate action to protest the violation of international law and obtain the release of the ship and those abducted, listed below, assure the access to Gaza of humanitarian aid and missions like that of the Spirit of Humanity and the upcoming humanitarian aid mission Viva Palestina headed by British MP George Galloway and Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic and including hundreds of people from the United States. The Viva Palestina mission is scheduled to leave New York City on July 4, bound for Gaza.

I further demand the Obama Adminsitration take action to end immediately the brutal siege, blockade and occupation of Gaza.

Release the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY and all of the following human rights workers and crew NOW:

Khalad Abdelkader, Bahrain
Khalad is an engineer representing the Islamic Charitable Association of Bahrain.

Othman Abufalah, Jordan
Othman is a world-renowned journalist with al-Jazeera TV.

Khaled Al-Shenoo, Bahrain
Khaled is a lecturer with the University of Bahrain.

Mansour Al-Abi, Yemen
Mansour is a cameraman with Al-Jazeera TV.

Fatima Al-Attawi, Bahrain
Fatima is a relief worker and community activist from Bahrain.

Juhaina Alqaed, Bahrain
Juhaina is a journalist & human rights activist.

Huwaida Arraf, US
Huwaida is the Chair of the Free Gaza Movement and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.

Ishmahil Blagrove, UK
Ishmahil is a Jamaican-born journalist, documentary film maker and founder of the Rice & Peas film production company. His documentaries focus on international struggles for social justice.

Kaltham Ghloom, Bahrain
Kaltham is a community activist.

Derek Graham, Ireland
Derek Graham is an electrician, Free Gaza organizer, and first mate aboard the Spirit of Humanity.

Alex Harrison, UK
Alex is a solidarity worker from Britain. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.

Denis Healey, UK
Denis is Captain of the Spirit of Humanity. This will be his fifth voyage to Gaza.

Fathi Jaouadi, UK
Fathi is a British journalist, Free Gaza organizer, and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.

Mairead Maguire, Ireland
Mairead is a Nobel laureate and renowned peace activist.

Lubna Masarwa, Palestine/Israel
Lubna is a Palestinian human rights activist and Free Gaza organizer.

Theresa McDermott, Scotland
Theresa is a solidarity worker from Scotland. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.

Cynthia McKinney, US
Cynthia McKinney is an outspoken advocate for human rights and social justice issues, as well as a=2 0former U.S. congressperson and presidential candidate.

Adnan Mormesh, UK
Adnan is a solidarity worker from Britain. He is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.

Adam Qvist, Denmark
Adam is a solidarity worker from Denmark. He is traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.

Adam Shapiro, US
Adam is an American documentary film maker and human rights activist.

Kathy Sheetz, US
Kathy is a nurse and film maker, traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.

Sincerely,

Sign the petition online at http://www.iacenter.org/palestine/gazashippetition

Peace Activists Arrested while Confronting the War Machine
Group dedicated to nonviolent action urge Secretary Gates to stop pursuing war against Afghanistan and Iraq

ARLINGTON, VA – Seven peace activists were arrested this morning as they attempted to meet with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at the Pentagon.

The peace activists are associated with the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR), and their visit followed a letter to Gates demanding all military forces be withdrawn from Iraq, Afghanistan, and that bombings of Pakistan immediately cease. The group of committed activists from New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, and the District of Columbia were arrested by Pentagon Police after they strenuously requested to meet with Gates.

“We wish to petition our government for a redress of grievances,” said Michelle Grise, coordinator of NCNR. “Our grievance is that our government continues to engage in clear violations of international law by aggressively and immorally waging wars on countries which pose no immediate threat to our nation.”

Grise was arrested along with six other activists, including 78 year-old Eve Tetaz. A retired D.C. public schoolteacher, Tetaz is a veteran peace activist and faces potential jail time for her protests.

“We are here to demand that these illegal and immoral wars cease, and that our government instead seek peace and justice,” Tetaz said. “We must remind Secretary Gates that all life is sacred.”

Those arrested included: Manijeh Saba, Eve Tetaz, Michelle Grise, Ellen Barfield, Pete Perry, Steve Mihalis, and Max Obuszewski.

The action took place on St. Patrick’s Day, and the activists remembered Peter DeMott, one of the four activists who were arrested for entering a military recruiting station on March 17, 2003, two days before shock and awe. DeMott and the three others poured their blood and recited liturgy in order to show their opposition to the Iraq War. The violent occupation of Iraq begins it’s seventh year this week.

Other anti-war actions this week in Washington include nonviolent direct action by the college-aged group, Our Spring Break, on Thursday, and a large march to the Pentagon on Saturday.

Below you will find the letter sent to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE

Saturday March 7, 2009

Office of the Secretary of Defense
Pentagon
Washington, DC 20001

Dear Secretary Gates,

I am writing as a representative of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance.  We are a group of citizens dedicated to working for an end to the illegal war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the illegal bombing, since July of 2008, of Pakistan.  These actions are causing incredible human suffering, growing distrust of the United States around the world, and are diverting our resources which could be better used to ease human suffering.  We follow the principles of Gandhi, King, Day and others, working nonviolently for a peaceful world.

We would like to meet with you to discuss this situation.  As members of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, we adhere to the Nuremberg protocols. These principles, established during the trials of Nazi war criminals, call on people of conscience to challenge their government when it is engaged in criminal activity.  Not only do we have the responsibility to meet with you, but you have a responsibility and duty to follow the laws and uphold the constitution as you swore when you took your oath of office.

On March 19 the seventh year of the Iraq war begins.  The attack and invasion of Iraq was a violation of international law and an immoral chapter in U.S. history, staining our country’s reputation, and it must end immediately.  The war in Afghanistan and the bombing of Pakistan must also end immediately.  Despite mounting U.S. military and civilian casualties, the people of the U.S. are now being asked to financially support an enlarged and prolonged occupation of Afghanistan, with no end in sight, and which we believe is immoral.  It is urgent that we meet soon as innocent people are dying everyday.

We would appreciate a response by March 14, so that NCNR members can arrange their travel plans to be at the meeting at a time appropriate to your schedule.   If perchance, you fail to respond we will come to the Pentagon some time in the next few weeks to request a meeting.

In peace,

Joy First
National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
www.iraqpledge.org
6014 Gateway Green
Madison, WI 53716
608 222-7581

Michelle Grise’
Reston, VA
ncnrconvener@aol.com

Peter J. Perry
Washington, DC

Malachy Kilbride
Arlington, VA

Ellen E Barfield
Baltimore,  MD

Eve Tetaz
Washington, DC

Steve Mihalis
Elyria, Ohio

Manijeh Saba
Somerset, New Jersey

Max Obuszewski
Baltimore, MD

December 29, 2008 – As part of a group of 60 people from the Atlantic Life Community, three mothers, Heidi Schloegel, Ellen Grady, and Clare Grady, were arrested outside the Israeli embassy. The group was petitioning embassy officials for an end to Israeli air strikes on Gaza. The three approached the embassy gate singing “Peace, Salaam, Shalom” and holding signs which read, “Peace. Stop the killing,” and “Stop the war on the children.” They knelt and prayed before being arrested. The three mothers were held over night, and appeared for arraignment in Superior Court of the District of Columbia

December 29, 2008 – As part of a group of 60 people from the Atlantic Life Community, three mothers, Heidi Schloegel, Ellen Grady, and Clare Grady, were arrested outside the Israeli embassy. The group was petitioning embassy officials for an end to Israeli air strikes on Gaza. The three approached the embassy gate singing “Peace, Salaam, Shalom” and holding signs which read, “Peace. Stop the killing,” and “Stop the war on the children.” They knelt and prayed before being arrested. The three mothers were held over night, and appeared for arraignment in Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Dec. 30th, 2009
Thirty people of Ithaca NY, including children gathered on the main artery Rt. 13, to protest the Israeli attacks on Gaza, holding banners as thousands of cars passed during rush hour in frigid weather for hours this afternoon. Many passed honking in support of the protesters and their message for Israeil to stop the slaughter of over 370 people, including children. Over 1500 have been injured.

Here is some more independent web coverage of our demo:
http://thephilistine.org/2008/12/30/locals-showing-their-support-for-gaza-and-humanity/
http://www.tcswarm.org/main/content/silence-not-option-say-protesters

Ithaca, NY Protest against the Israeli War on Gaza Statement

Who called this demonstration?

• We are called by the children of Gaza whose homes, schools and little bodies are being bombed and destroyed. We join our brothers and sisters in Palestine and around the world who cannot sleep while these war crimes are being committed.
• We are called locally by the Central New York Campaign to End the Occupation of Palestine:
• We are apart of a national protest involving more than sixty locations; in New York State demonstrations in Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo, New York City; coordinated by the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation.
• We are also supporting civil disobedience at the Israeli Embassy, in DC, where two Ithacans were arrested: Clare and Ellen Grady and Heidi Schloegel of the Bronx.

What are we protesting?

• We call for the immediate end to the Israeli government’s air strikes on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which began on Saturday, December 27, and end to Israel’s mobilization for a land invasion of this densely populated territory, which has already been devastated by strict sanctions. Israel has called up 6500 troops to prepare for this invasion.
• We oppose the use of our tax dollars to help massacre to Palestinian people in Gaza. The U.S. provides the Israeli military with the F16 fighter jets, Apache helicopters and naval gunboat used in the attacks on Palestinians, who have no air force. We call on the United States to end its aid to the Israeli military, which is acting both against international law and moral principles by enabling and justifying Israel’s war crimes. The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits the collective punishment of civilian populations.
• We call for an end to the inhumane and illegal blockade on the Gaza Strip. Israel has deliberately impoverished the 1.5 million residents of the Gaza Strip (80 % are refugees and half are children) and caused a humanitarian disaster of dire proportions by prohibiting the delivery of food, medicine, fuel, and electricity.
• We call for a just peace based on human rights, international law, and equality. Such a policy is the only way to ensure the legitimate security needs of all peoples and can only be achieved by engaging in dialog with all interested parties. A just and lasting peace includes the complete end of Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip; a resolution to the Palestinian refugee issue consistent with international law and UN resolutions, including the right of return and/or compensation; and full equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel.
• We call on the media to stop reporting the siege and air strikes on Gaza primarily from the perspectives of the Israeli attackers and its US supporters.

What about Israel’s security? Aren’t Israelis the victims of constant rocket fire? Didn’t Hamas break the ceasefire?

• All human beings, include Palestinians and Israelis, deserve secure lives.
• In democratic elections in early 2006, the Hamas political party won. Israel, with the support of the U.S. began placing Gaza under a blockade, which has continued to tighten, leading to extremely low supplies of food, medicine, water, electrical power, and all other basic necessities of life. This blockade can only contribute to desperation, which cannot provide a path to peace for anyone.
• In June of 2008 the Hamas government in Gaza established a cease-fire with Israel. The agreement was to end the firing of homemade rockets into Israeli territory and living the siege on Gaza. The blockade never ended and Israel continued to come into Gaza territory to assassinate Palestinians. In November 2008, 14 Palestinians were killed by Israeli assaults. It was these assassinations and the continuing blockade that made the ceasefire agreement moot. During this period some rocket fire continued from militants who were not linked with Hamas, but there were no Israeli deaths caused by Palestinian rocket fire from the beginning of the ceasefire until the day of the Israeli invasion. The airstrikes, which stoke the Palestinians anger and desire for revenge, in no way contribute the security of Israelis. Ceasefires are more effective.

What can people do to end the Israeli war on Gaza?

• Organize protests and rallies.
• Contact the White House, the State Department, your Representatives and Senators, and the Obama Transition Team to protest Israel’s war on Gaza and demand an immediate ceasefire.
• Call in to talk shows and write letters to the editor to express your opinion.

Ideas for signs

(Some precautions: People may not even know where Gaza is. Signs must show that Palestinians live there. People may not know the violence being carried out—offer examples.

• Massacre in Gaza: U.S. and Israel Guilty
• Stop the Massacre of Palestinians in Gaza
• Death Count: 370 Palestinians in Gaza: 4 Israelis in South Israel
• Injuries: 1,500 Palestinians: 138 in in South Israel
• Stop bombing Palestinian children
• Israel and U.S. Kill Democracy in Gaza
• Let Gaza live
• Stop U.S. military aid to Israel Now. Stop U.S. Taxes to Massacre and Starve Palestinians.
• Why did Israel bomb a Palestinian University?
• Arrest Israeli leaders for war crimes in Gaza
• End blockade of Gaza
• Open Gaza Borders
• Palestinian Blood on our Hands

Activists Win Appeal in Kuhl Protest Conviction. Convictions Reversed and Charges Dismissed.

The ACTIVISTS: Danny Burns, Mark Scibilia-Carver, Ellen Grady, Todd Saddler, and Chris Tate are NOW free to go about their business of convincing Congress, the Courts, and President-elect Barack Obama, that Supporting the Troops means bringing them Home and ending this War.

As a registered Democrat in the 29th, I’m looking forward to delivering these petitions to Eric Massa , in support of his efforts to end the tragedy now known as the Bush Doctrine. I’m counting on a different response this time around. – Chris Tate.

THE RECENT DEMOCRATIC ELECTORAL VICTORY IS NOT AN END IN ITSELF, BUT A MEANS TO ACCOMPLISHING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE; THAT IS, TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ AND REVERSE THE DISASTROUS IMPERIAL FOREIGN POLICY OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. -Todd Saddler

The Decision:

Judge Marianne Furfure agreed with Att. Ray Schlather’s arguments that the ACTIVISTS were WRONGLY charged WITH Ciminal Tresspass in the Third Degree. The Decision was dated November Sixth.

The Occupation:

On Monday August 6, 2007 Danny Burns, Mark Carver, Ellen Grady, Todd Saddler and Chris Tate “occupied” the Bath, NY office of Congressman Randy Kuhl, a Republican and ardent supporter of President Bush and the “war on terror.” The FIVE , along with about thirty others, delivered AROND three thousand petitions to Congressman Kuhl’s office. THE PETITIONS askED him to make a public declaration that he would not vote for any additional funding for the war in Iraq. The activists had hoped to SPEAK with the Congressman in person and waited in his office, with numerous constituents, for over five hours. At the end of the business day Kuhl’s office manager requested that the five leave the premises, but they declined citing the Constitution, International law, and a moral obligation to stay and address this issue with the Congressman. The Bath police were summoned and lost little time before arresting the activists and charging them with a misdemeanor count of criminal trespass.

The Appeal: Stueben County Court 1:00 PM Tuesday August 19th

Hon.Marianne Furfure Presiding

Attorney Sclather argued convincingly, systematically citing the appropriate case law (People vs. Moore, 5 NY3d 725,726. [2005]). Assistant D. A. Travis Barry admitted that he was not familier with Moore until after the trial and conviction. NEVERTHELESS, BARRY argueD AGAINST THE APPEAL, citing case law that the Judge found irrelevant in her desicion. The activits cited Moore repeatedly during the trial, and filed numerous motions to dismiss based on this basic case law, which defines criminal trespass in the State of New York.

THE DEFENDANTS COULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH THE LESSER OFFENSE OF VIOLATION TRESPASS. IN THAT CASE, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ENTITLED TO A JURY TRIAL AND the matter could have been resolved at the first hearing. Whether by arrogance, or ignorance, or a combination of both, the D.A.’s opportunity to file the lesser charge expired after the first thirty days. Two additional points of appeal WERE not ruled on as the first point of law was deemed sufficient. Point 2 ASSERTED THAT The trial court erred when it refused to dismiss jurors challenged by the defense. POINT 3 SAID THAT The trial court abused its discretion in refusing to adjourn the trial after twelve hours of proceedings.

The Trial Sept 7 and 8, 2007 Hon. Chauncey Watches presiding.

It was with great difficulty, in the face of COUNTLESS objections on the part of Assistant District Attorney Travis Barry, that THE FIVE DEFENDANTS attempted to present THEIR case, that is, THEIR reasons for refusing to leave Congressman Kuhl’s office on August sixth. IN A POST TRIAL STATEMENT, THE DEFENDANTS CLAIMED “we were simply looking for a response from our congressperson, to our concerns regarding the illegal and unjust war in Iraq. Our motivations in conscience, faith, and the law, which compelled us to take the actions we did, were deemed to be irrelevant to the court. The Constitution of the United States, the UN Charter, The Nuremberg Principles, The Gospel of Christ, and the Golden rule were all also ruled irrelevant by Judge Chauncey Watches, though the Constitution itself guarantees us THE RIGHT TO PETITION OUR GOVERNMENT FOR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES, OFFICE HOURS NOTWITHSTANDING”.

The members of the six-person jury were moved by THE defense, to the degree THE DEFENDANTS WERE ABLE TO PRESENT it, but in the end they felt constrained to return a “guilty” verdict. One of the jurors commented after the trial that they all would have liked to acquit, and that THE JURORS wished the Constitution and laws invoked BY THE defense had been allowed as evidence, so that they could have deliberated with them as facts. The same juror said that they all want the war to end, and personally encouraged THE DEFENDANTS to keep demonstrating

Sentencing: Nov 26, 2007, Hon. Chauncy Watches Presiding

Four of defendents were sentenced to three hundred dollar fines and community service. The remaining defendant, Mark Scibilia-Carver was sentenced to thirty days in jail and was released pending appeal on his own recognizance, after serving two days.

I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT OUR APPEAL WAS NOT ABOUT ESCAPING PUNISHMENT OR AVOIDING RESPONSIBILITY. THE COST OF THE TRIAL TRANSCRIPT ALONE, WHICH WE HAD TO PAY IN ORDER TO FILE THE APPEAL, WAS TWICE THE AMOUNT OF ALL OUR FINES PUT TOGETHER. AS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE, I BEGAN TO LOG MY HOURS IMMIDIATELY AFTER SENTANCING AND IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS HAD COMPLETED FIFTY HOURS. THIS WAS UNPAID EDUCATIONAL AND HUMANITARIAN WORK THAT I WAS GOING TO DO ANYWAY, APART FROM BEING “SENTENCED” TO IT AS “PUNISHMENT” FOR A “CRIME”. WIN OR LOSE, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US AS CITIZENS TO PUSH BACK AGAINST ANY MISUSE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH COULD QUELL DISSENT.

– TODD SADDLER

Who: Finger Lakes For Peace

What: Activists Exonerated.

When: Thursday, November 6, 2008

Where: The State of New York

Contact: Chris Tate 607 351-3768 or Ellen Grady 607 279-8303

www.FingerLakesForPeace.org

September 4, Thursday: Irakli Kakabadze, Fiction Writer, Ithaca City of Asylum Writer in Residence
4:30 pm, Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall

A writer and peace activist, Irakli Kakabadze has been a leading figure in the nonviolent movement for social change in Georgia for more than two decades. A member of the Civic Disobedience Committee during the Rose Revolution in 2003, he has since been harassed and detained repeatedly by authorities.
Irakli Kakabadze is one of the leading contemporary Georgian writers. He is an author of five books and scores of short stories and poems. In 1990 Kakabadze was awarded an award by “Tsiskari” magazine for his novel Allegro. He was one of the first writers in Georgia to focus on painful issues of drugs and violence. Since 1990 he has published more than 50 short stories in Georgian, Russian and English publications. His play “Candidate Jokola,” which was published in 2005, became one of the most discussed stories of love between a Georgian man and Abkhaz woman. In his country, he is well known as a writer and political activist, who has engaged in social life since the late 1980s. This event is made possible by the generosity of two anonymous donors who are alumni of Cornell University.

• An Interview with Irakli Kahabadze international cities of refuge
• Irakli Kakabadze Pen American Center
• Irakli Kakabadze From Georgia resistancegeorgia Nov. 30, 2007

Danny Burns, Mark Scibilia-Carver, Ellen Grady, Todd Saddler, and Chris Tate are scheduled to appear in Stueben County Court at 1:00 PM this Tuesday August 19th with their attorney Ray Schlather, concerning the appeal of last years conviction for Misdemeanor Trespass.

Background:

On Monday August 6, 2007 Danny Burns, Mark Carver, Ellen Grady, Todd Saddler and Chris Tate “occupied” the Bath, NY office of Congressman Randy Kuhl, a Republican and ardent and unrelenting supporter of President Bush and the “war on terror.” The aforementioned quintet delivered approximately three thousand petitions to Congressman Kuhl’s office, petitions asking him to make a public declaration that he would not vote for any additional funding for the war in Iraq. The activists had hoped to dialogue with the Congressman in person and waited in his office for over five hours. At the end of the business day Kuhl’s office manager requested that the five leave the premises but they declined citing the Constitution, International law, and a moral obligation to stay and address this issue with the Congressman. The Bath police were summoned and lost little time before arresting the activists and charging them with a misdemeanor count of criminal trespass.

The Nuremburg Tribunal defined crimes against the peace as “planning, preparation, initiation, or waging of a war of aggression, or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements, or assurances” and also declared that citizens of a country which commits these crimes can be culpable. The doctrine of preventative war was rejected at Nuremburg. – Ellen Grady

This overly aggressive prosecution and conviction is a local characterization of systemic problems that radiate from the very top of our corrupted judicial system, and therefore it warrants appeal. Randy Kuhl continues to walk lock-step with the Bush Cheney Neo-cons who have ruined this great country. The winds of change are howling up Buell Street all the way from D.C.. – Chris Tate

Who: Finger Lakes For Peace
What: Appeal in Steuben County Court
When: Tuesday August 19, 2008 1:00 PM

Where: Stuben County Courthouse 3 E. Pultney Square, Bath

Contact: Chris Tate 607 351-3768 or Peter De Mott 607 279-8303

www.FingerLakesForPeace.org

press-8-17-08.doc

by Jeff Cohen

In 1971 at age 19, I had a life-changing experience when I met dozens of Vietnam veterans who’d descended on my hometown of Detroit to testify at the “Winter Soldier” hearings organized by Vietnam Veterans Against the War. In anguished presentations, the Vets painstakingly described the horrors against Vietnamese they’d seen or taken part in. And the attitudes of racism and bloodlust that motored the war. Many vets blamed the lies in mainstream media for convincing them to go to Vietnam in the first place.

Virtually every soul in that Detroit hotel banquet hall wept openly at the heartfelt, bone-chilling revelations pouring out of the Vietnam vets struggling with bloody memories and post-traumatic stress. But no one outside that hall could see or hear the proceedings. No TV or radio networks covered the event.

This weekend at the National Labor College near Washington D.C., a new generation of vets convened by Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) presented powerful hearings – “Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan” – that were more extensive and perhaps even more emotional.

Thirty seven years later, I again found myself sobbing at testimony from solemn young Americans returned from needless war, grappling with shattered lives over brutalities against civilians and prisoners they’d witnessed or participated in.

But I was nowhere near D.C.

This time, I watched the dramatic testimony – often buttressed by photographic and video evidence — live online at www.IVAW.org. This time, I caught hours of coverage on Free Speech TV, the national satellite network that broadcast the panels of testimony and featured interviews with vets and their families in between panels. This time, I received regular video news feeds in my email inbox from The Real News Network. (The hearings were also televised on 20 public access channels from Fayetteville to Palo Alto, and in public gatherings from Florida to Alaska.)

On my car radio, I listened to the proceedings live on the Pacifica network, which broadcast the hearings to affiliates nationwide – along with call-ins and email from listeners, including Iraq vets and soldiers not as critical of the war.

The four days of vets’ testimony revealed the struggle these young Americans are waging to regain their humanity and morality after having been transformed into callous war-fighters who largely dehumanized Iraqis as a people – not just “the enemy” or combatants. An objective observer hearing the testimony would have good reason to wonder if U.S. troops – given the often gratuitous and racist brutality, and the mistreatment of women, children and the elderly — can ever be a solution in Iraq.

On panel after panel, the veterans offered heartfelt “apologies to the Iraqi people” for what our country has done to their country. I saw a vet rip up the commendation he’d received from Gen. David Petraeus, denouncing the general as a cheerleader who put his own ambitions above his duty to the troops and to the truth. Many vets called for rapid withdrawal from Iraq and criticized Democratic leaders for prolonging and funding the endless occupation.

Ex-Marine Jon Turner, who served two tours in Iraq, ripped his medals from his shirt and threw them on the ground, concluding: “I’m sorry for the hate and destruction I and others have inflicted upon innocent people… Until people hear what is going on, this is going to continue. I am no longer the monster that I once was.”

Such powerful first-hand accounts – if heard by the American public – would threaten continued funding of the Iraq occupation. But national mainstream outlets in our country, unlike big foreign outlets, largely ignored this weekend’s proceedings.

Not surprisingly, these Iraq veterans had little but scorn for U.S. corporate media whose journalistic failures helped sell the war five years ago, and whose sanitized coverage helps sell the troop “surge” today.

But thanks to the Internet and the growing capacity of independent TV, radio and web outlets, a significant minority of Americans had access to these proceedings. And the archived hearings are now available to anyone anytime with computer access.

In Detroit in 1971, I remember what happened when one of the rare mainstream camera crews showed up at Winter Soldier. . . and then abruptly packed up to leave in the middle of particularly gripping testimony. A roomful of Vietnam vets booed and jeered. It was the moment I became a media critic.

Winter Soldier II shows that it’s not enough to criticize corporate media. Even more important is to take advantage of new technologies to keep building independent media.

Jeff Cohen is the founding director of Ithaca College’s new center for independent media. He founded the media watch group FAIR in 1986.

Dahr Jamail is an independent journalist who spent a total of eight months in occupied Iraq as one of only a few un-embedded US journalists in the country. His book based on the experience, Beyond the Green Zone, tells the story of occupation from the eyes and with the voices of the Iraqis themselves. This is a voice that is silenced in mainstream US debate about the war in Iraq but an essential one for the antiwar public to hear.
He spoke at Cornell University on March 25, 2008. The event was sponsored by Haymarket Books, the International Socialist Organization, Watermargin Coop, the Cornell Campus Antiwar Network, National Lawyers Guild, Amnesty International, and more.

CHAPTERS:

• Introduction
• Propaganda disguised as journalism
• Deconstructing the Surge–Refugees
• Deconstructing the Surge–Violence
• Dire situation for Iraqis
• Why invasion & occupation took place
• Corporatization of the military
• U.S. bases–no end in sight
• Winter Soldier testimonies
• Fallujah April 2004 siege
• Atrocity producing situations
• Conclusion