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April 6-8: Chicagoans mobilize to participate in Palestine Right of Return March
Thousands will march on April 7 in New York City and in other cities around the world to reaffirm the right of Palestinian refugees to return to homes and lands from which they were expelled in 1948 and thereafter.
April 6-8: Chicagoans organize to participate in Palestine Refugee Return March
Initiated by Al-Awda, the Palestine Right of Return Coalition, the rallies will coincide with the fifty-third anniversary of the massacre of Palestinians in the village of Deir Yassin in 1948.
The rallies and marches on April 7 are intended to draw the public's attention to the human rights abuses and suffering inflicted on the Palestinian people. They are also intended to send a strong signal of support to Palestinian Christians and Muslims who continue to suffer human rights abuses under Israeli occupation. More than three hundred and fifty Palestinian civilians have been killed and over 11,000 injured by Israeli forces in the past few months. A large majority of these injuries and deaths have been of refugees.
Palestinian refugees represent the oldest and largest refugee population in the world. Today there are more than 5 million dispossessed Palestinians, a number equivalent to the population of the state of Maryland. The suffering of refugees is magnified by Israel's continued denial of their legal, historical and legitimate right to repatriation and restitution, as required by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions and United Nations Resolution 194.
In September 2000, thousands rallied in Washington D.C., London, and in the refugee camps in Palestine and Lebanon to demand the right to return. Those activities were organized by Al-Awda and co-sponsored and endorsed by over one hundred and fifty solidarity organizations as well as thousands of individuals. Invited speakers for the forthcoming rallies include Palestinian refugees and
national and international figures.
Chartered buses will leave for New York from Chicago on Friday night, April 6 and return by Sunday morning. Marchers will assemble at noon, Saturday, April 7, at the Israeli Mission to the UN at 42nd St. and 2nd Ave.
To reserve seats, please contact any sponsoring organization below.
Al Awda Chicago - voicemail: 773-913-6162
The Committee for a Democratic Palestine: 773-436-6060, ext. 223
Islamic Association for Palestine: 708-974-3380
For more info on how you can help, or to endorse the demonstration, please visit the Chicago Al-Awda website at:al-awda-chicago.org