Film Screening and Discussion, Sunday, March 9, 2008
First Unitarian Church, Pittsburgh.
Join Palestinian activist Mansour Mansour and Israeli filmmaker Shai Carmeli Pollack for a discussion about Anti-Apartheid and Non-Violence in Palestine, and a screening of the film Bil'in Habibti. Download event flier here.
Dear Americans,
We must not forget that our tax dollars fund the occupation and destruction of Palestinian land. Directly or indirectly, we are responsible for feeding this oppression. After viewing the 8-minute video, please visit the following websites for more information: www.stopthewall.org & www.ifamericansknew.org.
Work towards ending the occupation. Work towards tearing the wall down. Work towards peace with justice. Contact your congressional representatives and let them know that you oppose support to Israel's occupation.
However, Judge Lee did agree with Dr. Al-Arian's lawyers that if he makes a finding that further incarceration will not elicit his testimony he must be freed from civil contempt.
Although the hearing did not address anything remotely touching on sensitive information, or involve national security, it has been filed under seal. The New York Sun has filed an action seeking to open the proceedings to the public. Dr. Al-Arian's wife Nahla Al- Arian said, "Since he will never testify, how can the government justify closing the hearings unless it is trying to cover up its treatment of a political prisoner?"
While counsel could not discuss what occurred in the sealed hearing, they stated their appreciation for the court and its rejection of extreme interpretations put forward by the government. Lead attorney for the defense, Jonathan Turley commented, "Dr. Al-Arian has now been imprisoned for five years despite the fact that he was never convicted of any count in the Florida trial. He has been confined for six months and two grand juries. It was always obvious that he would not yield to these coercive measures and that the real purpose of the government is to punish a man who they could not convict in a court of law."
Dr. Al-Arian's eldest son Abdullah said: "My father risked his life in demonstrating his unwillingness to testify. He is a man of principle and he'll never back down. This is all a political persecution. The Department of Justice has not upheld its end of the bargain."
We urge all supporters and people of conscience to write to officials demanding an end to Dr. Al-Arian's incarceration (please see below for a list of names and addresses).
Letters of support undoubtedly make a difference. Because the Department of Justice received many letters demanding a probe into the racially-motivated acts of abuse that Dr. Al-Arian suffered in April under the hands of prison guards in Petersburg, Virginia, the Inspector General of the DOJ has launched an investigation into that incident. The Inspector General annually receives over 10,000 reports of abuse and only investigates a handful, which means they took these allegations seriously, and the thousands of letters, emails, phone calls and faxes they received were heard loud and clear.
We urgently ask all conscientious and justice-seeking individuals to call, email or write officials to ask for an immediate end to Dr. Al- Arian's suffering.
1- Honorable Judge Gerald Lee
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
401 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314
2- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Fax Number: (202) 307-6777
BY E-MAIL:
E-mails to the Department of Justice, including the Attorney General,
may be sent to AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
3- The Honorable John Conyers, Jr
2426 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5126
(202) 225-0072 Fax
John.Conyers@mail.house.gov
4- Senator Patrick Leahy
433 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224- 4242
senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov
Demonstration 1 PM. Saturday January 26, 2008.
Bigelow and Forbes Avenue in Oakland, Pittsburgh.
Princeton academic Richard Falk considered Israel 's siege a "prelude to genocide," even before this latest crime of altogether cutting off energy supplies. Now, Israel 's crimes in Gaza can accurately be categorized as acts of genocide, albeit slow. According to Article II of the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the term is defined as:
"[A]ny of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; ..."
Clearly, Israel's hermetic siege of Gaza, designed to kill, cause serious bodily and mental harm, and deliberately inflict conditions of life calculated to bring about partial and gradual physical destruction, qualifies as an act of genocide, if not all-out genocide yet.
Israel is manufacturing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip that is seriously deteriorating every aspect of civilian life. To date, 45 patients have died as a direct result of Israeli Occupying Force (IOF) closure and siege of the Gaza Strip. According to the Director of al-Shifa Hospital Dr. Hassan Khalaf, patients' lives continue to be at stake, including the lives of 30 premature babies in al-Shifa Hospital , who will die immediately if there is a power cut at the hospital. Gaza 's second major hospital, the European Hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, has now suspended all major surgical operations.
Meanwhile, all crossings from Gaza to the outside world remain sealed to Palestinians.
Palestinian Center for Human Rights condemns the catastrophic humanitarian crisis that is being manufactured by the IOF as collective punishment to the entire population of the Gaza Strip, and calls upon the international community to put immediate pressure on the government of Israel to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. The Centre appeals to the international community to act upon their legal and moral responsibilities to ensure the basic human rights of the citizens of the Gaza Strip are protected.
The Centre reiterates that Palestinian civilians are protected from collective punishment under international human rights law, and international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee along with international humanitarian groups calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention and ensure Israel 's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory . PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.
Report, PCHR, 21 January 2008
BUSH and CONGRESS JUST GAVE ISRAEL ANOTHER $30 BILLION.
Please contact your elected officials and let them know you want the closing of Gaza stopped NOW and complain that you do not support Israel ’s act of Genocide.
A panel of community members will share their experiences and accounts of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank) and Israel from their recent summer trip. Sponsored by: Unitarian Universalist for Justice in the Middle East and Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee.
Sunday, Dec. 9th, 2007, 2pm, First Unitarian Church,
605 Morewood Ave. Pittsburgh (Shadyside). | download flier
Background: Ten community members -- activists, writers, teachers, professors,
artists and students traveled to Israel & Palestine this summer as
part of a fact-find delegation. From the moment we landed at the Tel
Aviv airport, indeed, at European airports en route, we felt the
long and threatening hand of occupation. Those of us with Arabic
surnames or lineage were detained, body searched, questioned and
harassed about our reasons for traveling to the Holy Land. In one
case, two delegates were detained for six hours and interrogated at
length. Emails were searched and the use of the term Palestine was
prohibited, or so they were told, and "We will watch your every move."
Yet all of us arrived safely with greater determination to carry out
our mission -- to interview both Palestinians and Israelis about
conditions on the ground and prospects for peace.
While there, we toured refugee camps, met with cultural worker
activists, visited schools and universities, toured the holy sites
and settlements and visited with Israeli-American settlers. We
walked the streets of Al Khalil (Hebron) where we met with the
Christian Peacemaker's team of non-violent activists. We heard the
gun battles and saw the flares overhead as the soldiers entered
Balata refugee camp, a nightly event that often ends with injured
and dead young Palestinian men.
We choked on the gas in Bi'lin as soldiers hurled teargas bombs at
peaceful demonstrators attempting to secure Palestinian land.
And we experienced the apartheid nature of the State of Israel as
our young Palestinian driver was denied the right to take us to the
Dead Sea...because he had the wrong ID card.
Please join us on Dec 9th as we tell these and other stories of
occupation and resistance. If there was one universal message from
both Palestinians and Israelis it is this: Without our support and
solidarity; they will never be free.
Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee shows films followed by moderated discussions. [2007 series archives] | [2005 series archives]
Sam Bahour, a Palestinian-American author and businessman is facing permanent deportation from Ramallah and separation from his wife and children. He is not alone in his predicament and has launched a grassroots campaign for the protection of foreign passport holders residing in and/or visiting the occupied Palestinian territory. Current Israeli restrictions on the occupied territories are affecting the lives of many Palestinian businesspeople and academics living in exile -- moderates who would hope to help rebuild the society & economy.
The Issue | Fact Sheet | Financial Times article | Radio interview
Saturday, May 12th, 2007. Reception – 6PM. Dinner Buffet at 6:30 PM.
Featuring Delicious & abundant Middle Eastern Cuisine!
Nominations and Elections for ADC –Pittsburgh chapter officers
Featured Keynote Speaker: ADC President Hon. Mary Rose Oakar
St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, 3400 Dawson Street, Pittsburgh PA 15213.
Ticket Donation: $15.00 / $10.00 student and low income / children 12 and under free.
For Ticket Reservations call 412-334-0917.
Meet young artists from the Balata refugee camp and witness their stories through their visual production and dialogue.
Outside the West Bank City of Nablus lies the Balata Refugee Camp. Home to almost 25,000 residents living on less than one square kilometer, Balata is the most densely populated refugee camp within the West Bank. Picture Balata puts the camera into the hands of the children born and raised inside the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Youth between the ages of 11 to 18 photograph their situation as they live in Balata Refugee Camp.
In recent years, Balata has seen hundreds of deaths and arrests, dozens of home demolitions and the camp is subject to near-nightly invasions by the Israeli Army. It is here the Picture Balata workshop was started to teach youth from the camp about photography.
Sunday, April 8, 2007, 6pm, Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, 4100 Bigelow Blvd. Light refreshments served.
Co-Sponsors: Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee, Code Pink, Youngstown Arab Community Center.
Report back from Jonas Moffat, co-founder of the Tel Rumeida Circus for Detained Palestinians. Thursday, Feb. 22nd, 2007, 7pm at the Thomas Merton Center. 5125 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh.
Saturday, December 9th, 2006, 7pm. First Unitarian Church at the corner of Morewood and Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside.
Samidoun is a multimedia presentation of the recent war in Lebanon and its aftermath, produced by award-winning independent reporters Ana Nogueira and Andrew Stern. Interweaving still photography, audio and video, Samidoun is a uniquely intimate look at the human cost of this conflict that took the lives of over 1200 people, wounded thousands more, and displaced over one million.
Democracy Now! correspondent Ana Nogueira and Redux Pictures photojournalist Andrew Stern traveled to Lebanon while the war raged, and stayed for five weeks post ceasefire to document the aftermath of the war. Their work takes us to scenes of horrific bombings in the southern suburbs of Beirut to the ruins of Southern Lebanon's Bint Jbail, Aita Chaab and Qana, from tobacco fields littered with Israeli cluster bombs to the oil-slicked Lebanese coastline. Featuring interviews with survivors and families of those not so fortunate, Samidoun provides a rare glimpse into the hearts of ordinary people whose lives have been changed forever, and ultimately reveals the steadfast determination of the Lebanese people to survive and rebuild their country in the face of unimaginable violence and national anguish.
* Samidoun translates from Arabic to "steadfastness," or "those who stay."
Andrew Stern (Still photographs with audio collage, 23min).
Andrew Stern is a photojournalist committed to documenting critical social and political issues. His compelling imagery has been recognized for the intimate relationship he develops with his subjects, as well as the time he spends to immerse himself in a story. He has photographed in over 20 countries and his award winning work has appeared in The Guardian Weekend Magazine, Readers Digest, Harper's, The New York Times, Internazionale, Die Welt, La Jornada and many other publications both domestically and internationally. He is co-author of the book We Are Everywhere: The Irresistible Rise of Global Anti-Capitalism (Verso, 2003). He has recently returned from covering the war in Lebanon and is based in New York City. For more information, visit http://www.digitalrailroad.net/astern
Ana Nogueira (Video Documentary, 38 min.).
Ana Nogueira is a television journalist and media activist. She worked as a producer for Democracy Now! for four years and is now a correspondent for the award-winning daily news program. Ana is a founder of the New York City Independent Media Center and its newspaper, The Indypendent. She has been deeply involved in the growth of the Indymedia Network worldwide, believing that citizen journalism plays a critical role in helping us understand the tumultuous world in which we live. For more information, visit http://www.democracynow.org
The Wheels of Justice was in Pittsburgh on Thursday, October 5. Having seen and lived with war, terror and occupation in Iraq and Palestine, participants in the Wheels of Justice offer first-hand experience irrespective of partisan politics and sound bite sloganeering. The Wheels of Justice Tour canvasses the United States with education, outreach, training, active non-violent resistance, and network/community-building. Thurs., Oct, 5, 2006, 7 PM, Margaret Morrison Rm. A14, Carnegie Mellon.
ACTION ALERT: Thursday August 10, 2006, 2:00 - 3:00pm
A delegation from the 14th Congressional district will meet with Rep. Mike Doyle to discuss the Human Rights Watch report on Israel’s invasion of Lebanon and request he sign on to H.Con.Res.450, calling upon the President to appeal to all sides in the current crisis in the Middle East for an immediate cessation of violence and to commit United States diplomats to multi-party negotiations with no preconditions.
What you can do: Join us outside at 225 Ross St. (corner of 3rd and Ross, downtown Pittsburgh) Thursday from 2-3pm to distribute fliers. Contact your House Representative today and ask for support of H.Con.Res.450!
| Read the Human Rights Watch report
|
Read What are they waiting for, the Apocalypse?
US Has a Moral Obligation to Become Diplomatically Involved -- Immediately, by bill sponsor Dennis Kucinich
Saturday August 12, 2006, 12 Noon at the White House.
Defend the People of Palestine and Lebanon!
Stop the U.S.-Israeli War!
The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh has reserved two buses from Pittsburgh for this event, leaving in the early morning and returning Saturday night. Click link below for transportation information. Initiated by the A.N.S.W.E.R. [Act Now to Stop War and End Racism] Coalition, the National Council of Arab Americans (NCA), and the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation.
| info on local buses to D.C. | A.N.S.W.E.R. demonstration site |
Thursday August 3, 2006. Massive Rally
to Raise Humanitarian Aid for Lebanon.
5:45pm, Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, 4100 Bigelow Boulevard (Okaland). With distinguished speaker Imam Mahdi Bray. All proceeds will benefit LIFE 501(c)(3). Organized by the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh in collaboration with CAIR.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006. Protest Gathering and March.
6:30pm: Gathering. 7:00pm: March. Meet at the "Fence" at Carnegie Mellon (located on the big green in the middle of campus). Bring signs, bucket drums other noise makers or anything else to express your outrage. Organized by Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee, Pittsburgh Organizing Group and Anti-Racist Action.
Sunday, July 23, 2006. Rally and Vigil.
About 150 turned out for a rally and candelight vigil in Frick Park led by the Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee. Speakers included Sam Bahour, a contributer to Electronic Intifada; Lina Yassin, a member of Ta'ayush (a Palestinian/Israeli peace organization); Talib from the Islamic Center; Edith Bell, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom; Jules Lobel, Center for Constitutional Rights; and several others. Endorsed by the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, CodePink (Pittsburgh), Friends of Sabeel, The Arab Community Center of Greater Youngstown, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (Pittsburgh), ISO (Pittsburgh), United Electrical Radio Machine Workers of America, Youngstown Coalition, Thomas Merton Center Anti-War Committee, Middle East Peace Forum (Pittsburgh), Raging Grannies and Pittsburgh Organizing Group.
See coverage on Pittsburgh Indymedia: Photo | Audio
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(July 19, 2006) On June 9th, 2006 the Israel Defense Forces (Israeli
Offense Force) shelled the Gaza Strip, hitting a beach and injuring
dozens and killing 10, including seven members of a family of eight who
were out on a picnic. In response, the military wing of Hamas officially ended its self-imposed one-sided ceasefire. On June 26th, the Popular Resistance Committees led an attack with the aid of Hamas across the border with Israel. The attack on an Israeli military position resulted in the death of two Israeli soldiers and two Palestinian militants, and most importantly, the capture of one Israeli soldier.
On June 28th, Israel began what was called Operation Summer Rains. The stated goal of the operation was the return of the captured soldier. The I.O.F. attack began by destroying infrastructures in the Gaza Strip, including a power station and several bridges. The Israeli government ordered the arrest of members of the Palestinian government and parliament, dismantling the Palestinian government which was elected in January 2006. Effectively, the people of Gaza have been re-occupied by Israeli forces. These attacks on the civilian infrastructure and indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas of the Gaza Strip amount to collective punishment, a violation of international law and the most basic standards of human decency.
On July 12th, militants from Hezbollah crossed the border from Lebanon into northern Israel capturing two Israeli soldiers and killing eight others. In response, the I.O.F. began air strikes on the civilian population centers in Southern Lebanon and in the city of Beirut. Nearly 50 civilians died in the first day of bombing. On July 15th Israel initiated a blockade of Lebanon and invaded its southern border with troops and tanks. They have destroyed airports, trapping the civilian population of Lebanon in. In only a few short days, the list of atrocities has grown long. In one instance, 12 members of one family were killed in an Israeli air strike that hit their home. In the village of Dweir, Israeli planes bombed the home of a local Muslim cleric, killing him, his wife, and eight of their children. As of this writing, the death toll has climbed to about 250 in a single week and the U.S. gave Israel a green light to continue bombing for another week before attempting negotiations.
As the current crisis escalates, it must be recognized that what is happening is not new. The atrocities committed in Palestine, in Lebanon, in Iraq, and elsewhere, none of this is new. The wars that have been fought, from even before the 1967 Six Day War to the current wars in Iraq and Lebanon, are merely flashpoints in what has been a sustained and ongoing war from the West on this region of the world. We can speak of deaths and atrocities in Gaza during the recent invasion, but we can't forget the deaths and atrocities committed every day in Gaza from the last 39 years. We can talk about the terrible bombings in Lebanon over the last week, but we can't forget that this small country has been a battleground for over 30 years. We can point to the high estimates of Iraqi casualties reaching the hundreds of thousands, but we can't forget the million who died from sanctions in the 1990s. Nothing that we can see today is new, only the latest incarnation of the war for dominance that raged for much of the last century.
As individuals and organizations who believe in freedom from oppression, war, and occupation we strongly condemn the acts of aggression on the part of the state of Israel, with complete U.S. government support and backing. We call for an immediate end of ALL forms of occupation of the lands and everyday life of the Palestinian people. We call for an immediate withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Lebanon, and we call for self-determination and freedom for all Palestinians.
This statement was initiated by members of the following groups:
Anti-Racist Action
Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee
Pittsburgh Organizing Group
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Reports and photos from Palestine this summer, 2006, by former Pittsburgher Jonas. “Please distribute my words and pictures widely. Do not remain complacent by remaining silent. Silence is tragic. Think of the magic of noise pollution. Raise your voices and scream! Louder! Sweet. Sweet, sweet music to mine ears.”
| blog | photos |
To contact the Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee, send email to info [AT{nospam!}]pittsburgh-psc.org.
