Take Action as Palestinian Freedom Riders Make History
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Civil disobedience carries dire consequences for
the Palestinian people, as it did for the U.S. Freedom Riders. The
threat of imprisonment or physical attacks by settlers and the Israeli
military is very real. The Freedom Riders are calling for solidarity
from people of conscience around the world.
Activists and member groups are
mobilizing throughout the United States to show solidarity with the
Freedom Riders tomorrow. There are actions and "teach-ins" planned in Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, Oakland, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Twin Cities, Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and beyond.
Click here for more information on local actions and for a media and action toolkit developed by US Campaign coalition member Jewish Voice for Peace.
At 12:00 pm EST (9:00 am PST), one of the US Campaign's newest member groups, Ta'anit Tzedek - Jewish Fast for Gaza, will host a conference call with Ellen Broms, one of the historic U.S. Freedom Riders. Click here for details to participate in the call.
In Oakland, activists will protest outside the offices of Veolia,
a French multinational company that runs many of the buses in Israel's
segregated transportation system. Veolia has been a target of multiple divestment campaigns worldwide, including the "We Divest Campaign." Veolia holds contracts in hundreds of cities around the United States. Click here to find out if Veolia is operating near you.
In a statement today, the Freedom Riders write:
"As
we struggle for our people's basic rights, we call on the peoples of
the world to support our struggle for freedom like they supported the
struggle against Apartheid in South Africa. We ask that they devote
themselves to the noblest methods of solidarity with the oppressed by
implementing boycott, divestment and sanctions on our oppressor, Israel. We demand freedom, justice and self determination."