Thursday, 25 May
12 pm
230 S. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL, US
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/379626075766341
Organized by US Palestinian Community Network
Support Palestinian Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike! Demand that U.S. Senators Durbin & Duckworth take a stand!
#DignityStrike #DignityStrikeChi
Over 1,800 Palestinian political prisoners have entered their 37th day of an open ended hunger strike, and their lives are in danger! Join USPCN-Chicago and friends for a lunchtime picket on Thursday, May 25th, at 12 Noon, at Federal Plaza (230 S. Dearborn St.) in downtown Chicago, to demand that our U.S. Senators take action to pressure Israel to meet the demands of the strikers.
There are 6,300 Palestinian political prisoners currently in Israeli jails, including more than 500 held under administrative detention, which is an Israeli policy of imprisoning Palestinians for months without formal charge. In response to routine violations of their basic human and civil rights as prisoners, the Palestinians launched their hunger strike over 5 weeks ago, demanding the restoration of regular family visits, an end to torturous solitary confinement, an end to administrative detention, the strengthening of medical care, and access to education–all rights enshrined under international law.
The corporate media and our legislative representatives have been silent on the issue, with only one of the 535 members of the U.S. Congress, Danny Davis, having made any kind of official statement. (https://drive.google.com/
So join USPCN-Chicago on Thursday, May 25th, for a lunchtime picket and rally demanding that U.S. Senators from Illinois, Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, take a clear stand in support of human rights for the Palestinian hunger strikers.
When: Thursday, May 25th, at 12 Noon
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5 things you can do RIGHT NOW to support Palestinian hunger strikers! USPCN calls for National Week of Action!
As the over 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners enter their 36th day on hunger strike, the risks to their health are increasingly grave, so urgent actions in solidarity are of critical importance.
Here are 5 things you can do RIGHT NOW to support the hunger strikers’hunger strike for dignity demands, which include the restoration of regular family visits, an end to solitary confinement, an end to administrative detention (imprisonment for months without formal charge), the strengthening of medical care, and access to education:
1)Demand a meeting with your U.S. Senator or U.S. Congressperson THIS WEEK, and ask them to pressure Israel to meet the prisoners’ demands. USPCN chapters and coalition partners in Detroit, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and the Bay Area, thus far, have already made commitments to visit at least one of their Senators or Congresspeople. If your legislator does not recognize the urgency of your request for a meeting, please join this National Week of Action anyway with a picket or protest of her office or other targets, like Israeli consulates, and let us know of your plans by emailing uspcn@uspcn.org.
2)Call or write your elected representatives and ask them to make a public statement in support of the hunger strikers, like this powerful one from U.S. Congressman Danny Davis of Illinois.
3) Black out social media! Change all your social media profile pictures to the USPCN Facebook profile picture and tag #DignityStrike.
4)Organize a day-long fast with your families, friends, and / or organizations in support of the Palestinian prisoners, like USPCN’s on May 11th
5)Call the International Red Cross at 202.587.4600 to demand that it fulfills its obligation to examine the prisoners’ cells; and Amnesty International USA Headquarters at 212.807.8400 to demand it pressure Israel to meet the strikers’ demands.
For more information and regular updates on the hunger strike, follow @uspcn, @Addameer, and @SamidounPP on Facebook and Twitter, as well as these hashtags: #DignityStrike, #PalHunger, and #StopAD.
