RACHEL: AN AMERICAN CONSCIENCE is a documentary film about a 23 year old American who gave her life defending human rights and freedom two years ago.
With her death, Rachel Corrie's work and message became a beacon of hope in a sadly dark world.

According to UN figures, less than 600 of the 12,000 houses demolished since the Occupation began in 1967 involved security suspects. All the remaining 94% were simply houses of ordinary people that were in Israel's way. That was the case of the home of Dr. Samir Nasrallah, which Rachel died protecting. Dr. Nasrallah had engaged in no hostile activities and had not been charged with anything. His house was demolished because, like dozens of others that have been bulldozed in that section of the dense Rafah refugee camp, it lay within a wide "security strip" that Israel wants to create along the border with Egypt. No compensation was given to Dr. Nasrallah, no opportunity to appeal to any court, no alternative housing offered. Simply demolition that leaves families homeless, impoverished, traumatized, ruined. These demolitions are an illegal policy, as international law forbids the demolition of houses by an Occupying Power. 
 
Rachel was not the first person killed as a result of the Israeli policy of house demolitions. Nuha Makadma Sweidan and her unborn child were also killed in Gaza when the Israeli army "accidentally" demolished their home when they blew up another home nearby. A few weeks before that, an elderly woman and a disabled man died under the rubble of their Gazan home when the soldiers "failed to notice" them. These were no mere accidents. Israel routinely demolishes Palestinian houses on top of all the families' possessions and in their haste do not bother to follow prosaic rules of "safety."

Mr. Yahya Barakat, director of this powerful 90 minute documentary, goes beyond the politics of the Occupation to depict the facts on the ground. He shows the Palestinian struggle, and shows what motivates concerned individuals from around the world to come to Palestine to resist demolition of Palestinian homes and lives. 
 
Rachel was not an Israeli nor was she a Palestinian. But she was a member of the International Solidarity Movement and a member of international civil society. In her actions she affirmed her responsibility for upholding the inherent dignity and equal rights of all people. She opposed non-violently the violence that occupation does to the Palestinians.

Location

We are the BIG YELLOW STORE on the East side of Ashland Avenue.

Healing Earth Resources 

3111 N Ashland Avenue  Chicago, Illinois 60657 

*FUNDS RAISED AT THIS PREMIER SCREENING WILL BE USED FOR THE ISM-CHICAGO TRAVEL
FUND TO ASSIST VOLUNTEERS TRAVELING TO PALESTINE  AND OPERATING EXPENSES FOR
THE CHICAGO CHAPTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT.