March to stop the killing Saturday at 2 pm Loring Park, minnepolis

[annm4peace]

As you are all aware, a major human tragedy is taking place in Gaza. The embargo that has been continuing for a long time in Gaza was previously causing deaths one-by-one. Now, following these latest attacks, one-by-one deaths have been replaced by deaths in large numbers. . . . . . Words fail to describe the suffering of women and children. The children of Gaza, just like children the world over, like our children, wanted milk, bread and toys, to go to school and to the park and to learn and play. How tragic it is that they died on their bicycles and in the parks they played in. They sought refuge in schools, but were killed there, too. They sought refuge in mosques, but were killed again. They were taken to hospitals, but could not escape the death machines even there. The warmest and most secure place for them was their mothers’ arms, their cradles. But death sought them out even in their mothers’ arms and in their cradles. They were not on any of the sides in this conflict. They could not comprehend why their elders were fighting, why they were shooting at one another, why they were launching missiles. Maybe as we are speaking here at this very moment, another woman, another innocent child, another baby is dying. Let there be no doubt: The death of children is the death of innocence, and the death of innocence is the downfall of humanity.
– Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkey’s Prime Minister, 1/10/09




Gaza: Rally and March

Saturday, January 17, 2:00 p.m. (Rally), 2:30 p.m. (March) Loring Park, Lyndale and Hennepin Avenues, Minneapolis. Join in a community demonstration to show support for the people of Gaza, to say no to U.S. military aid to Israel, and to demand an immediate ceasefire. Please help spread the word and encourage your friends, colleagues, and family members to come. Meet at 1:15 p.m. at the Dunn Brothers on Willow Street for training if you are interested in being a peace marshal. Organized by: the Minnesota Coalition for Gaza. WAMM is a member of the Minnesota Coalition for Gaza


"Jerusalem: East Side Story:" FREE Third Monday Movies and Discussion



Monday, January 19, 6:30 p.m. St. Joan of Arc Church, 4537 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis. In 1948 the western part of Jerusalem fell under Israeli control; in 1967 the eastern part fell under Israeli occupation. Since then, Israel has pursued a policy of Judaizing the city, aiming to achieve "Jewish demographic superiority." Part of this policy is to drive Palestinian Muslims and Christians out of the city, denying their presence, history, and ties to the land. This documentary takes you on a journey exposing Israel's policy to gain supremacy and hegemony over the city and its inhabitants. The film includes interviews with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, human rights activists and political analysts. Sponsored by: the WAMM Third Monday Movies Committee. FFI: Call WAMM, 612-827-5364.



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6. Gaza and Israel: An Interfaith Gathering for Prayers and Conversation



Monday, January 19, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 Snelling Avenue South, St. Paul. Join with others to share prayers for peace and reflective/facilitated conversation in response to the current crisis in Gaza and Israel, and the urgent need for an alternative to violence throughout the world. Sponsored by: the St. Paul Interfaith Network (SPIN). Endorsed by: WAMM. FFI: Call Rev. Thomas Duke, 651-263-7031 or email <[e-mail]>.

[kickysnana]

1. Too bad you cannot march in the MOA and the St Paul Winter Carnival. n/t

[Bjorn Against]

2. I am going to try to make this one.

[annm4peace]

3. It was beautiful. all creeds and colors.

It was the most diversified group of people at any of the marches I have been to. So many beautiful middle eastern people. many with their beautiful children. I know that many Christian Palestine's live here in Minneapolis.
I, a catholic, walked for a short time with several Jewish Americans friends, and then mixed through the crowd helping with traffic. So many young people. All for peace. Even many Somali woman and children came out to march and held signs.

It is so heart breaking that young people, have been killed in gaza. Probably over 800 by now. 800 in 3 weeks and it isn't over yet.

It was so freaking cold and we did a long march.. and many did the whole march.

I only saw one person with cameras who looked like they maybe could be press but that is it.
I dont' think it will make the news or the paper.. oh yeah,, Star Tribune is bankrupt. Maybe if they had reported "news" people would still be buying the paper.

[Bjorn Against]

4. It was a very good march.

Considering the cold weather I think it was a really great turnout. You may have seen me, I was one of the three people carrying the giant stop signs. Coleen Rowley was the second person, and there was a third person that I didn't know carrying one as well.

I thought it was a really good march, and I will look forward to the next one.

[KappyStP]

5. Why no outcry

Against the Hammas rocket attackers?

Both sides are to blame in this.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. Because what the Israelis did was the equivalent of machine gunning

a whole family because their kid was throwing stones.

Also, Israel is the U.S.'s ally and client state, so the U.S. has some say in how they behave. They are the biggest recipient by far of U.S. foreign aid.

We have leverage with Israel, none with Hamas.

That type of question was tired forty years ago when people asked protesters against the Vietnam War, "Why are't you protesting in Hanoi?"

You're right to say that both sides are to blame in the whole ongoing I/P fight. But in this particular instance, Israel went all mad dog on the residents of Gaza and killed about 1,000 of their people in retaliation for 8 Israelis.

[KappyStP]

7. And Yet

And yet by only protesting Israel, you give Hammas the belief that what they have done, and continue to do, is ok. Because even though they have terrorized Israelis with rocket attacks, it is the Israelis who are one ones reprimanded by American protesters.

It is still a double standard, and gives them cause to continue, because what they have done does not cause international outcry.

If you truly wish to protest for peace, do so. Call for both sides to stop. Because this is not that.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. Sorry, in THIS PARTICULAR CASE, Israel is wrong

The rocket attacks were piddling compared to what Israel has wreaked on Gaza--and this is after a stringent blockade that was an obvious attempt to starve the Gaza residents into submission.

There's a long, sorry history here. Israel has "gotten tough" with the Palestinians and "avenged itself" continually for 60 years. In fact, I firmly believe that there are elements in the Israeli government who don't want peace because their power depends on having an outside threat. They have had the upper hand ever since Menachem Begin instituted his stupid, idiotic, pointlessly provoking policy of putting Jewish settlers on the West Bank and in Gaza. Why did he do that? Things were relatively quiet at the time. I think he WANTED to provoke the Palestinians.

As Dr. Phil would say, "How's that workin' for ya?"

[KappyStP]

9. I still see this as hypocritcal, sorry

People died from this "piddling" as you call it.

Violence, in any form is wrong. And in one's protesting for peace, we should not be deciding what is allowable because it is a "piddling" or not.

Did Israel go too far? As a jew, i say yes.

But Hammas should not be given a free pass because the other side overreacted. Elements of that group have engaged in terrorist acts over the last 60 years you refer too. The lives they took should have no less meaning to us then the lives taken by the Israelis.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. May I remind you that Israel encouraged the development of Hamas

as a counterweight to other Palestinian organizations.

I'm a little hazy: Did the blockade of the entire population start before or after the rocket attacks?

I don't know, if your town were being blockaded as Gaza was, wouldn't you feel tempted to launch a few rockets?