The Chicago chapter of the International Solidarity Movement (palsolidarity.org/) invites you to attend a special meeting for volunteers interested in working in support of the Free Gaza Movement and the January 1 March on Gaza.

Date: Sunday, August 2
Time: 4 PM-6:30 PM
Location: ISM-Chicago apartment(near Elston & Irving Park Road)

For more information: ISMinChicago (at) aol.com or 773-267-5198

Please bring snacks, food or beverages to share for this potluck dinner meeting.

ISM-Chicago now serves as mid-west coordinator for the Free Gaza Movement (www.freegaza.org/) and we need volunteers to form a local affinity group to support their efforts. We need you skills, energy and commitment to the struggle.

Since August 2008, the Free Gaza Movement has sailed from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip on several successful voyages, bringing in international witnesses to see first hand the devastating effects of Israeli violence against the Palestinian people. Ours are the first international boats to journey to Gaza since 1967.

We are Italian, Irish, Canadian, Greek, Tunisian, German, Australian, American, English, Scottish, Danish, Israeli, and Palestinian. We are of all ages and backgrounds. We have years of experience volunteering in Gaza and the West Bank at the invitation of Palestinians. But now, because of the increasing stranglehold of Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine, many of us find it almost impossible to enter Gaza, and an increasing number have been refused entry to Israel and the West Bank as well.

We want to break the siege of Gaza. We want to raise international awareness about the prison-like closure of the Gaza Strip and pressure the international community to review its sanctions policy and end its support for continued Israeli occupation. We want to uphold Palestine's right to welcome internationals as visitors, human rights observers, humanitarian aid workers, journalists, or otherwise.

We have not and will not ask for Israel’s permission. It is our intent to overcome this brutal siege through civil resistance and non-violent direct action, and establish a permanent sea lane between Cyprus and Gaza.
Points of Unity
All participants in the Free Gaza Movement accept the following principles and practices:

1. We respect the human rights of everyone, regardless of race, tribe, religion, ethnicity, nationality, citizenship or language.

2. The lawful inhabitants of all territories occupied by Israel since June 5, 1967 must have unimpeded access to international waters and air space, in conformity with all UN resolutions and international law.

3. The lawful inhabitants of all territories occupied by Israel since June 5, 1967 have the right to control all entry and exit to and from those territories without Israeli interference.

4. Israel must withdraw its military presence from all territories occupied since June 5, 1967 and revoke all legislation, regulations, directives and practices that apply differently to different populations living in those territories.

5. Israel must demolish all barriers built to restrict passage in all territories occupied by Israel since June 5, 1967.

6. We recognize the right of all Palestinian refugees and exiles and their heirs to return to their homes in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories; to recover their properties, and to receive compensation for damage, dispossession and unlawful use of such property. This is an individual and not a collective right, and cannot be negotiated except by the individual.

7. We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, but support no particular political party or organization, without exception.

8. We agree to adhere to the principles of nonviolence and nonviolent resistance in word and deed at all times.

To learn more about the Free Gaza Movement please see: www.youtube.com/gazafriends

March on Gaza - Jan. 1, 2010 - Chicago supporters
Article on the Campaign:
Activists plan march to break Gaza siege, July 1, 2009, Daily Star
www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp
Also at:
www.normanfinkelstein.com/onward-to-victory/

More information at: www.normanfinkelstein.com/


Norman Finkelstein On His Trip to Gaza, and the Upcoming Demonstration 6/13/09 (4/5)
Source: www.youtube.com

Norman Finkelstein speaks with Julia Riber Pitt of CSUN, and Charngchi Way Brooklyn, NY, 6/13/2009 www.normanfinkelstein.com/ Filmed and edited by Charngchi Way Our radio show: www.authoritysmashers.wordpress.com ...
Dr. Finkelstein describes his courageous vision for the March on Gaza

Coalition to End the Illegal Siege of Gaza:
Draft Statement of Purpose and Principles

Human Rights Watch has called the blockade of Gaza a “serious violation of international law.”

Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter has said the people of Gaza are being treated “like animals” and has called for “ending of the siege of Gaza—the starving of one and a half million people of the necessities of life.”

The world’s leading authority on Gaza, Sara Roy of Harvard University, has said that the consequence of the siege “is undeniably one of mass suffering, created largely by Israel, but with the active complicity of the international community, especially the U.S. and European Union.”

The law is clear. The conscience of humankind is shocked.

Yet, the siege of Gaza continues.

It is time for the people to act!

The Mile-Long March toward Freedom

The Coalition to End the Illegal Siege of Gaza will dispatch thousands of people from around the world to Gaza.

On January 1, 2010 we will march the Long Mile across Erez checkpoint alongside the people of Gaza in a nonviolent demonstration that breaches the illegal blockade.

The march draws inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi called his movement Satyagraha—Hold on to the truth. We hold on to the truth that Israel’s siege of Gaza is illegal and inhuman.

Gandhi said that nonviolence requires more courage and is more effective than violence. We want to prove the truth of Gandhi’s beliefs with our deeds.

We are not afraid, we won’t turn back, we won’t let Gaza die.

Gandhi said that the purpose of nonviolent action is to “quicken” the conscience of humankind. We want to bring humankind not just to deplore Israeli brutality but actively to stop it.

Those of us residing in the United States also draw inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement.

If Israel devalues Palestinian life then—just as northern whites went down South during Freedom Summer—we must interpose our bodies to shield Palestinians from Israeli brutality.

If Israel defies international law then—just as federal marshals were sent in to enforce the law of the land against racist southern sheriffs—we must send nonviolent marshals from around the world to enforce the law of the international community in Gaza.

We take no sides in internal Palestinian politics. We side only with international law and basic human decency.

We conceive this march as the first step in a protracted nonviolent campaign.

The siege is illegal.

The wall is illegal.

The settlements are illegal.

The closures and curfews are illegal.

The roadblocks and checkpoints are illegal.

The detention and torture are illegal.

The truth is that if international law were enforced the occupation would be unsustainable.

The march can succeed only if we arouse the conscience of humanity.

If we bring thousands to Gaza and millions more around the world watch the march on the internet, we can end the siege without a drop of blood being shed.

If the whole world is watching, Israel can’t shoot.

Please join us as we build a Chicago support group!