Human Rights Activist Hedy Epstein hurt in assault

[shance]

Hedy Epstein, guest speaker hurt in assault

By JANESE HEAVIN
Sunday, June 21, 2009

An “inspirational” speaker for 15 years at the Missouri Scholars Academy was attacked this week after visiting the Columbia camp.

Hedy Epstein, an 84-year-old Holocaust survivor, was walking to her home from a Metrolink station in St. Louis on Wednesday when someone pushed her hard from behind.

She fell to the ground and lay in a state of shock, bleeding profusely from her chin.

The attack occurred so quickly, Epstein said, that she thought she saw a man running but can’t remember what he looked like.

She forced herself to get home and called a friend when the bleeding would not stop.

At the hospital, doctors determined an artery had been nicked.

The attack might not have been random.

Epstein is part of a movement opposed to Israel’s treatment of Gaza and has received threatening messages.

After she gave a television interview earlier this year, someone left a phone message telling Epstein she should be ashamed of herself.

In the message, the caller threatened to visit St. Louis and “give you a piece of my mind and spit on your ugly face. … We will find a way to deal with protesters of your type.”

Epstein has since given the transcribed message to police.

On Thursday, Epstein said she received an e-mail from someone asking whether she is trying to help free the Israeli soldier abducted by Palestinians more than two years ago.

“Is there a connection” between the attack and e-mail? she asked. “It’s not obvious, but there might be.”

Her injuries have forced Epstein to cancel a planned trip to Gaza this month, but she’s planning another trip there in August.

She said she won’t let the threats or her attack stop her.

(snip)

The attack might have caused her body to bruise, but it did little to injure her spirit.

She said she’s as determined as ever to continue opposition efforts against the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians in Gaza.

“I know what it means to be discriminated against and to suffer,” she said. “I care profoundly about issues of justice and fairness and peace.

And I care about people — not just Jewish people. I care about everybody.”

More at:

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/jun/21/guest-speaker-hurt-in-assault/

[timeforpeace]

1. Irony alert: many of those Gaza Palestinians don't believe there was a Holocaust, Hedy.

[vadawg]

2. bbbwwwwaaahhhhhh totally owned

[shance]

3. What does the Holocaust have to do with Hedy being assaulted?

n/t