25 May, Global Events: One-Day Hunger Strike in Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners

23 May 2017

Global events are being organized on Thursday, 25 May in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. The following list of international events is developed with CAPJPO-EuroPalestine which issued an official call for the strike in Nimes, France on 22 May.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1855744471341837/

Paris, France -9 am , Place de la Republique, Paris: Call for an international hunger strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1855744471341837/ Organized by CAPJPO-EuroPalestine

Marseille, France – 9 am, Vieux Port, Marseille: Participation in Global Hunger Strike to Support Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by CAPJPO-EuroPalestine and local organizations.

Lyon, France – 9 am, Place de la Republique, Lyon: Participation in Global Hunger Strike to Support Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by CAPJPO-EuroPalestine and local organizations.

Albertville, France – 9 am, Place de l’Europe, Albertville: Participation in Global Hunger Strike to Support Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by CAPJPO-EuroPalestine and local organizations.

Nimes, France – 9 am to 7 pm, Avenue Feucheres, Nimes: Participation in Global Hunger Strike to Support Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by CAPJPO-EuroPalestine and local organizations.

Saint-Etienne, France – 9 am to 8 pm, Place du Peuple, Saint-Etienne: Participation in Global Hunger Strike to Support Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by CAPJPO-EuroPalestine and local organizations.

Montpellier, France – information forthcoming

Donostia/San Sebastian, Basque Country – 9 am, Kiosk on the Boulevard, Donosti: Participation in Global Hunger Strike to Support Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by CAPJPO-EuroPalestine and local organizations.

Berlin, Germany – 9 am, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin (MOVED from Brandenburger Tor due to Obama visit): Participation in Global Hunger Strike to Support Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1449227791786976/ Organized by BDS Berlin and local organizations.

Bremen, Germany – All Day, Local Government Office at Bremen Cathedral, Bremen: Participation in Global Hunger Strike to Support Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by CAPJPO-EuroPalestine and local organizations.

London, UK – 10 am, Trafalgar Square, London: Participation in Global Hunger Strike to Support Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by CAPJPO-EuroPalestine and local organizations.

San Francisco, CA, USA – 4:30 to 6:30 pm, Israeli Consulate, 456 Montgomery, San Francisco: Press Conference and Protest for Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/289463528131951/ Organized by the Arab and Palestinian community of San Francisco.

Washington, DC, USA – 9 am, White House, Washington, DC: Participation in Global Hunger Strike to Support Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by CODE PINK, CAPJPO-EuroPalestine and local organizations.

Madrid, Spain – All Day, Puerta Del Sol, Madrid: Participation in Global Hunger Strike to Support Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by CAPJPO-EuroPalestine and local organizations.

Tripoli, Lebanon – 10 AM, International Committee of the Red Cross, Tripoli: Vigil of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. For more information: http://www.europalestine.com/spip.php?article13042 Organized by the Social Services Association of Tripoli

Bratislava, Slovakia – 3 pm to 4 pm, Namestie SNP, Bratislava: Solidarity Hunger Strike for Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/147557129118628 Organized by Iniciatíva za spravodlivý mier na Blízkom východe

Victoria, Canada – 8 am, Mile 0 at the launch of the Walk for the Salish Sea protest against Kinder Morgan, Victoria: Support for Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. For more information: http://caiavictoria.ca. Organized by Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid Victoria.

Toronto, Canada – 5:30 pm, City Hall, Nathan Philips Square: Vigil for Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/CanadiansSolidarityPalestinianPrisoners/ Organized by the Canadian BDS Coalition and local groups

Toronto, Canada – 11 am to 7 pm, A Space Gallery, 401 Richmond Street West, Toronto: Cross-Stitching Solidarity and Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/429660727392295/ Organized by Cross-Stitching Solidarity.

Calgary, Canada – Vigil for Palestinian prisoners. For more information and specifics: bdsactioncalgary@gmail.com

Canada – All Day, part of the Global Solidarity Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1942042846039117/ Canadian organizers include: Canadian BDS Coalition, Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid Victoria, Barnard-Boecker Center Foundation (BBCF), Victoria, Justice for Palestinians- Calgary; Canada Palestine Association, Vancouver; Palestinian Solidarity Network, Edmonton; People for Peace, London; Working Group for Palestinian Solidarity, Sudbury; Palestinian and Jewish Unity, Montreal; Quebec-BDS; Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice, Montreal; Solidarity for Palestinians, St. John’s; Christian Peacemaker Team-Ontario; UOIT/Durham College SJP Oshawa; Mennonite Central Committee; United Network for Justice and Peace is Palestine and Israel; along with individuals across Canada from St. John’s Newfoundland to Vancouver Island.

New Zealand – All Day, part of the Global Solidarity Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1897997423815731/ Organized by NZ Palestine Solidarity Network.

ON FRIDAY 26 MAY: Gothenburg, Sweden: 10 am and all day, Kungsportsplatsen, Gothenburg: Hunger Strike in Solidarity with Palestine. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1334372396632178/ Organized by Palestine activists in Gothenburg.

More events on 25 May:

Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy – 6:30 pm, RAI Studio Viale Bonaria, Cagliari: Sit-in in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/646445595557636/ Organized by the Associazione Amicizia Sardegna Palestina.

Portadown, Ireland – 7:30 pm, Garvaghy Road, Portadown: Vigil in Solidarity with Hunger Striking Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by the Portadown branch of the Ireland-Palestinian Solidarity Campaign.

Houston, TX, USA – 5:30 pm, Israeli Consulate, 24 Greenway Plaza #1500, Houston: Houston Stands with Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1901154370159836/ Organized by Students for Justice in Palestine at UH

Chicago, IL, USA – 12 pm, 230 S. Dearborn St, Chicago: Demand Senators Durbin and Duckworth Stand with Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/379626075766341 Organzed b US Palestinian Community Network

Stanford, CA, USA – 7:30 pm, Jordan Hall, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford University: Aarab Barghouthi on Palestinian Dignity Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/599733690228330/ Organized by Stanford Students for Justice in Palestine.

Halifax, Canada – 6:30 pm, Lindsay Childrens Room, Halifax Central Library: Barring Who We Are – Prison from Turtle Island to Palestine. For more information: http://radicalimagination.org/barring-who-we-are-prison-from-turtle-island-to-palestine/ Organized by Radical Imagination.

24 May, New York City: Portraits 4 Palestine – Stand with the Strikers

23 May 2017

Wednesday, 24 May
6:30 pm
Red Stairs Times Square
New York, NY, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/815316605297509/

Existence is Resistance and The Palestinian Youth Movement NY (PYM-NY) present “Portraits for Palestine” where we are asking all of our friends, family, comrades and supporters to come out Wednesday May 24th to Times Square to show solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters in the hopes that it will boost their moral to continue their struggle for freedom. Palestinian political prisoners have been on hunger strike for over 30 days and the world is silent.

Please NOTE the following:
– We are asking all that own a Thawb/Palestinian emroidered dress or shirt to please wear it. All others if you can wear black and/or Red we would appreciate it for visuals.
– We will be out there asking as many people as we can to do the salt water challenge and/or take a photo with a poster supporting the Dignity Strikers and Freedom for the prisoners
– We will have fliers for people that will have the basic info on the strikers/prisoners and the Nakba

Please RSVP if you are coming and please share widely.

Co-Sponsors: USPCN, ILPS/US, Bayan, IAC, NYCSJP, Samidoun & Committee to Stop FBI Repression

24 May, Milan: Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners

23 May 2017

Wednesday, 24 May
6:00 pm
RAI Headquarters
Corso Sempione
Milan, Italy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/307866712972687/

May 24 will mark 38 days of the Palestinian prisoners’ hunger Strike for Dignity and Freedom

Organized by the Coordination Lombardo Palestina

24 May, Cagliari: 69 Years of Nakba – from 1948 to the situation today

23 May 2017

Wednesday, 24 May
4:30 pm
Magistero – Aula 10
Via Is Mirrionis 1
“Sa Duchessa”, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1661948660781263/

The Associazione Amicizia Sardegna Palestina is organizing a moment of reflection and understanding on the 69th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba. The catastrophe against the Palestinian people upon the creation of the state of Israel carries heavy consequences for Palestinian refugees in diaspora and all of those in occupied Palestine.

The event will include two Skype connections, first with Hanaa Mahameed, Al-Mayadeen correspondent, who will discuss the current situation of Palestinians in occupied Palestine, and second with Dima Nassif, Al-Mayadeen director in Syria, who will discuss the situation of Syrian Palestinians in the Syrian crisis. There will also be a presentation by journalist and writer Fulvio Scaglione. The event will be moderated by Claudia Ortu of the University of Cagliari

23 May, United States: Nationwide Hunger Strike for #DignityStrike37

23 May 2017

Tuesday, 23 May
All Day
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1677807652525542/

#DIGNITYSTRIKE37 CALL TO ACTION

WHAT: Join Palestinian students in the U.S. for a nationwide, day-long hunger strike to amplify the voices of over 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners on day 37 of their hunger strike

WHEN: Tuesday, May 23, 2017 (all day)

WHERE: Nationwide, both online and on the following campuses: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, DePaul University, Columbia University, University of California-Irvine, University of California Davis, and University of California-Riverside, University of California San Diego, Hunter College, Stony Brook University.

Sponsors:
Palestinian Youth Movement – PYM
The Dream Defenders
For The People Artist Collective – FTP
Addameer
National Students For Justice In Palestine – NSJP
The United States Palestinian Community Network – USPCN

By the minute, the situation is becoming more critical and the risk of health deterioration is increasing. Coverage and opinion is critical to the success of any hunger strike. Thus far, international media has avoided the #DignityStrike in accordance with the Israeli state propaganda machine while the damage to Palestinian prisoners’ bodies only grows.

Right now, there are 6,300 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons, including 500 administrative detainees. More than 1,500 of them have engaged in 5 weeks of an open-ended hunger strike. The hunger strikers’ demands include

1. An increase in family visits
2. Access to proper medical care and education
3. An end to administrative detention and
4. An end to solitary confinement

On May 23, the 37th day and 6th week of the Dignity Strike, we are calling for Palestinians, Arabs, and all allies across the country to participate in a 24 hour hunger strike and an online social media campaign. Under the umbrella #DignityStrike37, we join our voices to support the #DignityStrike, push US media to cover the strike, and put greater pressure on Israel.

Suggested actions:

1. Join the day long hunger strike.

2. Use the hashtag #DignityStrike37 , #DignityStrike, #PalHunger, #StopAD on Twitter/Facebook

3. Take a picture with a sign that has the hashtag #DignityStrike37 and post it on your social media accounts.

4. 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.

Sample Tweets:

Amid muted response from international community, Palestinian political prisoners entered their 37th day & 6th wk of hunger strike #DignityStrike37

Over 1500 Palestinian prisoners continue the largest prison hunger strike in Israeli jails. Today marks day 37, week 6 #DignityStrike37

Today marks 37 days & 6 weeks of Palestinian political prisoners’ hunger strike for freedom & dignity! #DignityStrike37

Palestinian prisoners will strike until their demands are met. @ICRC tell Israel to agree to #DignityStrike demands! #DignityStrike37

Tweet out the demands of prisoners, which can be found here. Eg:

@ICRC Resume the second monthly visit which you cut. Hunger strike will continue until visits are reinstated #DignityStrike37

End the policy of medical negligence. The #DignityStrike will continue until demands are met. #DignityStrike37

Prisons should provide high school examinations to Palestinian prisoners #DignityStrike37

Signs:

Today marks day 37 and week 6 of the #DignityStrike #DignityStrike37

Today, I hunger strike in solidarity with over 1500 Palestinian political prisoners on day 37 of the #DignityStrike #DignityStrike37

Over 1500 Palestinian prisoners have not eaten for 37 days. Today, I join them. #DignityStrike37

37th Day of Hunger Strike: Strikers’ health deteriorates rapidly as Palestinians protest Trump visit

23 May 2017

*Graphic by The Palestine Project (Facebook)*

On 23 May, Palestinian prisoners entered their 37th day of hunger strike. 1500 prisoners – out of a total of approximately 6500 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails – launched the strike on 17 April 2017, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. Throughout that time, strikers have consumed salt and water only to protect their lives and health.

Palestinian hunger strikers have faced harsh repression from Israeli occupation prison authorities. They have been denied legal and family visits, thrown in isolation and solitary confinement, abusively transferred repeatedly from prison to prison and had their personal belongings confiscated, including in many cases the salt on which they rely.

On the 37th day of hunger strike, prisoners begin to face very serious threats to their lives and health. There are many reports of fainting, serious fatigue, lowered blood pressure and heart rate and severe weight loss. Nevertheless, Palestinian prisoner Karim Younes, the longest consecutively-held prisoner jailed for 34 years, issued a statement emphasizing that despite their declining health, the strikers would continue and even escalate their strike.

One prisoner, Adnan Sari Hussein, 31, from Tulkarem, has been on hunger strike for 37 days; he is held in Shatta prison clinic and was reportedly treated with a defibrillator after his heartbeat momentarily stopped, reported Asra Voice. Hussein is reportedly still facing a very serious condition. Meanwhile, in Eshel Prison, a number of hunger strikers are experiencing a sharp decline in weight and blood pressure, with many vomiting or urinating blood and experiencing skin diseases. 10 prisoners have been transferred to the Soroka hospital in the past two days said Palestinian lawyer Yousef Nasasreh, following his meeting with hunger striker Amjad Abu Latifa. Hunger-striking prisoner Nasser Abu Hmeid said that Ashkelon prison has been “turned into a field hospital,” shortly before an announcement that many Palestinian prisoners would shortly be transferred to civilian hospitals.

The Prisoners’ Affairs Commission demanded on Tuesday that the International Committee of the Red Cross reveal the current situation and condition of hunger-striking imprisoned leader Marwan Barghouthi, who is held in solitary confinement in Jalameh prison and is currently being denied legal visits. The ICRC met Barghouthi briefly once before his one legal visit, but did not disclose information about his condition publicly. Numerous Palestinian activists and families of the prisoners have been sharply critical of the ICRC‘s performance during the hunger strike, particularly noting that one of the prisoners’ demands is for the restoration of the second monthly family visit cut by the ICRC due to “budget cuts” in 2016.

200 more strikers joined the strike on Sunday from prisoners held in Ramon, Eshel and Nafha prisons. The strikers’ demands focus on basic human rights: an end to the denial of family visits, proper medical care and treatment, the right to access distance higher education and an end to solitary confinement and administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. Leaders of the hunger strike include Barghouthi, imprisoned PFLP General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat, longest-held Palestinian prisoners Nael Barghouthi and Karim Younes, and fellow imprisoned leaders Anas Jaradat, Abbas Sayyed, Hassan Salameh, Ahed Abu Ghoulmeh and others.

Hunger striking prisoner Ayed Dudeen joined the strike on 4 May with other prominent leaders and is held in administrative detention without charge or trial, which is indefinitely renewable. Prior to launching his strike, he had been ordered to another 4 months in administrative detention; his family reported that an additional 2 months were now added to his sentence as punishment for participating in the collective hunger strikes.

Palestinian lawyer Jawad Boulos reported on Monday, 22 May that the prison administration has created a list of 30 prisoners, and if a lawyer visits one of these 30 strikers, he will not be allowed to visit the others. Boulos met with striking prisoner Nasser Oweis, held in isolation in Ayalon Ramle with strike leaders including Haitham Hamdan, Ziad Zahran, William Khatib, Samer Ghaith, Ibrahim Hamed, Marwan Fararjeh, Louay al-Mansi, Kamil Abu Hanish, Khalil Shilo and Abdel-Rahman Abu Houli. He reported that the strikers are all experiencing severe health deterioration and that Oweis had lost 17 kg (35 pounds) so far on his hunger strike; however, Oweis told Boulous that “we are more determined than ever to continue our struggle until victory.” At the same time, Boulos was denied access to hunger-striking prisoner Samer Issawi, held in the Ramle prison clinic.

On Monday, 22 May, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine issued a joint statement warning of any attempts to circumvent or undermine the prisoners’ strike in an attempt to break the prisoners’ movement, the backbone of confrontation of the occupation and all projects that aim to undermine Palestinian rights and freedom. They particularly warned of schemes associated with the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to the region, urging sharp confrontation of Trump and the U.S. role in Palestine.

At the same time, the Committee to Support the Dignity Strike emphasized that there have been no serious negotiations to the present time and that reports that a deal is close are “deceiving and misleading” and meant to undermine popular and official solidarity with the strike.

On Monday, 22 May, Palestinians throughout occupied Palestine engaged in a strike in support of the prisoners’ strike, closing schools, universities, shops, markets, and government institutions. At least 20 Palestinians were shot and injured by Israeli occupation forces as they attacked and violently suppressed rallies for the prisoners.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, 23 May, thousands of Palestinians in Gaza took to the streets in a protest declaring Trump not welcome in Palestine, dedicated to the prisoners on their 37th day of hunger strike. Marchers denounced Trump and the U.S. role in the region and demanded freedom for Palestinian prisoners.

International actions also continued in support of the prisoners, as students and others in the United States participated in a one-day hunger strike and action under the banner of #DignityStrike36, and the US Palestinian Community Network called for a week of action across the U.S. Solidarity hunger strikes will continue today, and an international solidarity hunger strike is growing for Thursday, 25 May, as well as a one-day hunger strike throughout Ireland on 24 May. Events are being organized in New York, Washington, San Francisco, Houston, Cagliari, Milan, Choisy, Marseille, Paris, Lyon, Albertville, Nimes, Saint-Etienne, Montpellier, Brussels, Berlin, Victoria, Portadown, County Kildare, Dublin, Belfast, Stuttgart, London and more.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges all supporters of Palestine to continue to mobilize, demonstrate and organize in public squares, government offices and outside Israeli embassies, as the prisoners have urged. We also urge participation in the urgent call to action to pressure the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to take a real stand and end its complicity in the violation of Palestinian prisoners’ rights. Take Action:

1) Organize or join an event in support of the hunger strikers. Protest outside your local Israeli embassy, consulate or mission, or at a public square or government building. You can drop a banner or put up a table to support the prisoners and their strike. See the list of current international events here, and add your own: send your events and actions to us at samidoun@samidoun.net, on Facebook, or use the form to tell us about your actions.

2) Hunger Strike for Justice! Join the Palestinian hunger strikers to support their demands with a symbolic one-day hunger strike in your community or on your campus. Tell us about your solidarity strike at samidoun@samidoun.net, on Facebook, or use the form.

3) Call your government officials and demand action. Call your foreign affairs officials – and members of parliament – and urge action for the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.

Call your country’s officials urgently:

Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop: + 61 2 6277 7500
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland: +1-613-992-5234
European Union Commissioner Federica Mogherini: +32 (0) 2 29 53516
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully: +64 4 439 8000
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson: +44 20 7008 1500
United States President Donald Trump: 1-202-456-1111

Tell your government: Palestinian prisoners are on hunger strike for their basic human rights – for family visits, medical care, and freedom from imprisonment without charge or trial. Governments must pressure Israel to recognize the prisoners’ demands!

4) Take action on social media! Support the hunger strike on social media. Post a picture of yourself with a sign saying you support the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike! Include the hashtag #DignityStrike when posting your photo to Facebook or Twitter. Share and re-share information about the strike with the #DignityStrike hashtag.

5) Build the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign! Join the BDS Movement to highlight the complicity of corporations like Hewlett-Packard and the continuing involvement of G4S in Israeli policing and prisons. Build a campaign to boycott Israeli goods, impose a military embargo on Israel, or organize around the academic and cultural boycott of Israel.

Karim Younes from isolation: “Weakness and fatigue have hit our bodies, but our will and determination have grown”

23 May 2017

Karim Younes, the longest consecutively-held Palestinian prisoner in Israeli jails and one of the imprisoned leaders who joined 1500 fellow Palestinian prisoners in launching the Strike for Freedom and Dignity issued a statement from prison on Tuesday, 23 May. The statement was presented by Younes’ brother and lawyer, Tamim Younes:

Our resisting people

I address you from behind the barbed wire on the 37th day of the battle for freedom and dignity to inform you that our bodies may be weakened and barely able to move, but our spirits reach the sky, and despite the stretch of the battle and its ferocity, we are determined to continue until we achieve victory, not only for us but for all of our people.

The prison and security authorities have tried through several meetings offered to us to suspend the strike and discuss our demands after that, but we refused and have categorically rejected this approach.

We are determined to complete the mission to the fullest. This battle is not only a battle of prisoners and their demands, but it is the battle of the people and their dignity.

It is no secret that weakness and fatigue have hit our bodies, but our will and determination have grown and strengthened above the ability of our bodies.

On the 37th day, we assure you that we will not retreat before the escalation and arrogance of the occupier. We will escalate our steps of struggle in the days to come, at the forefront of these steps to refrain from taking salt water.

This requires a parallel escalation of our people and our supporters to expand and take the battle everywhere.

The occupation and its jailers have imprisoned our bodies, but our souls remain resisting and free.

We will not retreat, will not retreat, will not retreat.

Either victory or martyrdom.

Karim Younes
Isolation cells, Ramle Ayalon prison

23 May 2017

Rasmea Odeh addresses homecoming of Oscar Lopez Rivera in Chicago: Read her speech

23 May 2017

*Rasmea Odeh welcomes Oscar Lopez Rivera, 18 May, Chicago. Photo: Christine Geovanis*

Reprinted from the Rasmea Defense Committee. Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network salutes Rasmea Odeh on her 70th birthday of a lifetime of constant commitment to struggle for justice and liberation and love for the Palestinian people and all peoples working to be free from oppression:

Today, May 22nd, is Rasmea’s 70th birthday, and she’s been pretty busy the past few weeks. The Hana Center honored her on May 5th, she spoke at Northwestern University on May 15th, and she gave a powerful welcoming statement at the emotional return of former Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar Lopez to Paseo Boricua in Chicago on May 18th. (Watch Rasmea’s speech at the 1 hour, 45 minute mark here, and read the full text below.)

On this milestone birthday, the Rasmea Defense Committee is asking for your support to help close out some legal and other expenses. You all made an incredible commitment to Rasmea and her historic defense campaign, but we are still in need of additional donations. Please give what you can here, and be on the lookout for an announcement of Rasmea’s farewell event coming soon! Thank you!

Rasmea Defense Committee – May 22nd, 2017

***************************

Rasmea’s address at the Oscar Lopez homecoming in Chicago

In my organizing career, I have spoken in front of the Palestine National Council, the Palestinian legislative body in exile, and in front of a United Nations special committee in Geneva, but I am as proud to be in front of this audience tonight as I have ever been in my entire life.

Oscar, I was released after 10 years as a political prisoner in Palestine two years before you started your sentence, and I know your story very well, because your life is an example to me and to all of us. You have taught us what it means to be principled and committed to your people and all oppressed peoples of the world. We thank you for your sacrifice and your strength, and the way you motivate us to fight for our rights and our liberation like you always have.

The Puerto Ricans in this city have always been close to our community. We have faced similar grand jury repression and attacks on our activism. We’ve marched together in dozens of protests for immigrant rights, Palestinian independence, Puerto Rican independence, and other social justice issues. We organized together at UIC in the radical student days, and no other community mobilized like yours when the government came after the Palestine support movement and the Anti-War 23 in Chicago in 2010.

And now we get to celebrate together—with the National Boricua Human Rights Network and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center and all of you—the freedom of your leader Oscar Lopez. But he is not just your leader. He is our leader too.

Oscar, over six thousand Palestinians are political prisoners in Israeli jails because they fight for what you fight for, self-determination and an end to colonialism and full and complete independence. One thousand eight hundred of them are currently on an open ended hunger strike in its 31^stday, and they are in need of your voice of support, because they are inspired by your freedom and your refusal to accept anything less than all of your people’s demands.

I have faced my own criminalization by the U.S. government, and will have to leave my home here in a few months. Wherever I land, I will continue my fight for Palestinian independence, and I will continue to support the independence of Puerto Rico. And I pray that we both live long enough to see our two nations free from the evils of colonialism and U.S. imperialism. Welcome home, Oscar!

New York City protest shows solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike, urges HP boycott

21 May 2017

New York City protesters gathered on Friday, 19 May outside the Best Buy electronics store in Union Square for a protest in support of hunger-striking Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails. Organized by Samidoun Palestinian prisoner Solidarity Network, the protest also urged the boycott of Hewlett-Packard (HP) products, including computers, printers and other consumer electronics and supplies. HP is the subject of a global boycott campaign for its multiple contracts with the Israeli occupation military, the prison system that abuses 6500 Palestinian political prisoners and even the Israeli navy as it maintains its siege on Gaza.

Protesters carried signs supporting the hunger strike and distributed leaflets to passers-by with information about Palestinian prisoners, the boycott of HP, and the hunger strike launched by 1500 Palestinian prisoners on 17 April 2017, continuing to this day. The strikers’ demands focus on basic human rights, including an end to the denial of family visits, proper health care and medical treatment, the right to access distance higher education and an end to solitary confinement and administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial.

Palestinian prisoners have spent over a month on hunger strike; even as new strikers and prominent leaders have joined the battle, they have faced sharp repression inside Israeli prisons. Leaders of the strike, including Marwan Barghouthi, Ahmad Sa’adat, Abbas Sayyed, Anas Jaradat, Nael Barghouthi and Karim Younis have been repeatedly transferred and isolated. Frequent repressive raids and mass transfers target strikers while their personal belongings – and on many occasions, even the salt that they use with water to sustain their life and health – have been confiscated.

Participants in the protest had lengthy discussions with passers-by, informing them about the situation of Palestinian prisoners. They also chanted in support of the prisoners’ hunger strike and freedom for the Palestinian people. The protesters discussed the widespread international solidarity with the hunger-striking prisoners and the support of other national liberation movements and political prisoner support movements.

One protester, Anne Pruden, had recently traveled to Belfast, and spoke about the numerous events and actions in support of the prisoners and the solidarity between Irish republican strugglers and the Palestinian liberation movement. She highlighted the frequent demonstrations focusing on the prisoners’ struggle and support for the liberation of Palestine, as well as the murals on Belfast’s famous International Wall that collectively highlight Irish and Palestinian liberation struggles and the heroism of political prisoners. Irish republican political prisoners themselves recently issued a statement of support for the prisoners’ strike, while dozens of events have been organized in the past month across Ireland by a number of Irish organizations.

Samidoun in New York City is planning many more actions and events in support of the prisoners’ hunger strike. It is one of the co-sponsors of the event on Wednesday, 24 May being organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement and Existence is Resistance at 6:30 pm in Times Square in support of the prisoners. Samidoun will also rally and protest once again on Friday, 26 May at 5:30 pm outside the Union Square Best Buy, at 52 E. 14th St. All supporters of justice in Palestine are invited to join the protest to show their solidarity for Palestinian prisoners and the Palestinian people.

35 Days on Hunger Strike: Critical moment, solidarity needed for Strike of Freedom and Dignity

21 May 2017

On 21 May, Palestinian prisoners entered their 35th day of hunger strike in the Strike of Freedom and Dignity. Launched by 1500 of the 6500 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails on 17 April 2017, the strike has key demands that focus on basic human rights, including an end to the denial of family visits, proper medical care and treatment, the right to access distance higher education and an end to solitary confinement and administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial.

On the 35th day of the strike, hunger strikers’ health continues to face serious challenges and deteriorating conditions. Hunger striking Palestinian prisoners have been subject to intense repression, including frequent abusive and physically taxing transfers, denial of legal and family visits, confiscation of personal belongings, including the salt that strikers rely on with water to preserve their lives and health, and repressive raids by Israeli occupation forces on a frequent basis.

Meanwhile, the strike’s media committee officially declared that no negotiations have taken place with the leadership of the strike on the strikers’ demands, despite the hunger strike of over one month. The media committee declared that reports of negotiations are rumors being spread by the Israel Prison Service in an attempt to undermine the morale of the strikers and public attention and support for the strike at this urgent moment.

The Prisoners’ Affairs Commission and Palestinian Prisoners Society noted the desire of the Israeli government to end the strike before U.S. president Donald Trump arrives in the region and is attempting to isolate the strike’s leadership and neutralize its power through avoiding negotiating directly with the leadership chosen by the prisoners themselves.

A number of hunger strikers are experiencing severe weight loss, fatigue, inability to stand, blurred vision and even vomiting blood. While some strikers have been transferred to civilian hospitals, including a group transferred from Ashkelon prison to Barzilai hospital, many more are being held in prisons with so-called “field hospitals” created to hide the strikers from view or public access, pressure strikers into breaking their strike and threaten the strikers with forced feeding.

Former long-term hunger striker Samer Issawi was transferred to the Ramle prison clinic on Sunday, 21 May after the deterioration of his health. Meanwhile, hunger striker Mohammed Abu Rub told lawyer Khaled Mahajna that 50 hunger strikers are held in Ashkelon prison, where a so-called “field hospital” lacks all medical equipment and only offers glucose to the prisoners who refuse to take it.

Fayha Shalash, the wife of hunger-striking imprisoned journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq – himself a former long-term hunger striker – said that her husband’s health is deteriorating, and that she faces extreme difficulty in obtaining accurate information about her husband’s situation due to the policies of the Israel Prison Service. “There is still uncertainty about the whereabouts of my husband, despite the news we receive about his health….he is one of the most affected among the prisoners in this battle of dignity, because Mohammed has not yet recovered from his first and second hunger strikes,” she said. Reporting what she had been told by a newly released prisoner, she said that “he is a prisoner who has fought two strikes and always calls for collective hunger strikes, so it is not surprising that he participates in this strike.”

Hunger strikers in Ohli Kedar and Eshel prisons issued a message to the world about their continuing strike:

To the masses of our heroic Palestinian people, to the free people and revolutionaries:

We are sending this message with you as we confront with our empty stomach the strongest military power in the Middle East, and we challenge them with our hunger and declare before the world that we will die standing and will not kneel. And we affirm to the steadfast masses of our people that we are continuing our strike until the fulfillment of our just and legitimate demands and that all conspiracies will be destroyed on the rock of our will and steadfastness. The cowardly enemy will see us victorious with the help of God and our will and determination.

To the masses of the Palestinian people…in this moment the jailer practices various types of abuse against us. We call upon all the free people of the world to stand by us and expose this brutal enemy, and we assure our people that we are steadfast until victory.

Throughout Palestine, villages, cities and refugee camps are filled with protests, actions and support tents for the strikers. In Jenin on Saturday, 20 May, former prisoner Lina Jarbouni addressed the participants in the protest tent, urging the escalation of the movement to support the prisoners as they go through this very difficult stage and need popular support more than ever. Jarbouni, freed in April 2017, was the longest-serving Palestinian woman prisoner in Israeli jails. In Ramallah, a women’s march in support of the prisoners included women from villages throughout the area. Saturday events as called for by the National Committee to Support the Strike also included work to implement the boycott of Israeli goods by traders, merchants and people broadly.

On Sunday, various cities conducted a partial strike from 11 am to 2 pm in support of the strike. On Monday, there is a call for a general strike throughout occupied Palestine – in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jerusalem, and occupied Palestine ’48 – with participation from the diaspora, with protests starting at 11 am and a one-day hunger strike from 10 am to 10 pm in a national day of anger and protests in response to the presence of U.S. president Trump. On Tuesday, 23 May, the committee is urging marches from the protest tents in all cities and areas, while on Wednesday, 24 May, they are urging night marches in support of the prisoners. The committee is also calling for popular conferences to support the prisoners on Thursday, 25 May and marches to confrontation points with occupation forces after public prayers on Friday, 26 May.

Meanwhile, many Palestinian organizers were sharply critical of the role of the Palestinian Authority in relation to the prisoners’ strike, especially as the PA continues its security coordination with the Israeli occupation despite clear calls for it to end coming from the prisoners’ movement and the Committee to Support the Strike. Abla Sa’adat, Palestinian activist and the wife of hunger striking imprisoned PFLP leader Ahmad Sa’adat said in Sakhnin at a prisoner support tent that PA President Mahmoud Abbas is “wandering from country to country in America, Russia and India as if nothing is happening to our people and our prisoners.”

Palestinian lawyer Muhannad Karajeh of the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association said that arrests of Palestinian activists by PA security services have escalated, particularly among university students and after solidarity activities supporting the prisoners’ hunger strike. Multiple activists arrested by the PA security forces told Quds News that they were interrogated about solidarity actions and social media posts in support of the prisoners’ hunger strike.

International actions also continued in support of the prisoners’ strike. Labor for Palestine issued a call for action from workers in support of the prisoners’ strike. The Union of Palestinian Communities and Organizations in Europe held its fourth conference in Berlin on Saturday, 20 May, which it dedicated to the prisoners. Protests continued in Parma, Montreal, Derry, Thionville, Auckland, Bristol, Paris, Copenhagen and elsewhere in support of the prisoners’ strike. Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges further international actions and support for the prisoners at this critical time in their struggle for victory in the Strike of freedom and Dignity.

1...377378379...691 Page 378 of 691

Rasmea’s address at the Oscar Lopez homecoming in Chicago

Follow us on Instagram @samidounnetwork