Gaza Crisis Call to Action: Counter-Protest 1/8/09

Counter-Protest at "We Stand with Israel" Rally

When: Thursday 1/8/09 @ 11:30am

Where: Meet at 15th St. & Market St. by Clothes Pin Statue (we will move together to rally at Love Park at 11:50 am).

This is a call to the people of Philadelphia to mobilize a counter-presence at the "'We Stand with Israel" rally sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and others this Thursday, January 8th at 12:00pm. Co-sponsored by SUSTAIN and PJJP (Philadelphia Jews for a Just Peace), we ask that you join us.

As a group of Jews and people of all backgrounds, we stand with the world majority-- including the thousands of Israelis who've taken to the streets to protest the actions of their government- in calling for an immediate end to Israel's current and devastating aggression in Gaza, for Israel to be held accountable for it's actions, and for our fellow Pennsylvanians to join us.

The "We Stand with Israel" rally sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and others is being held at Love Park on 16th St. and JFK Blvd. We will meet at 11:30am at the giant Clothes Pin statue on 15th St. and Market St and move to the rally at 11:50am. For anyone coming from West Philly, we will be gathering making signs at a home at the corner of 50th and Catherine St. at 10:00am (email nlmcgiffert@gmail.com for more details). We will then get on the 34 trolley at 11:04am.

Please wear black for cohesion and to symbolize loss.

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Photos from Al-Nakba Demonstration

Many thanks to all those who participated in yesterdays action, commemorating the Al-Nakba by sending a cloud of black balloons over the Israel@60 parade. It was an incredibly dramatic and powerful event, and sent a clear message to those celebrating that Palestinians and those that stand for peace will not be silenced.

The Philadelphia Daily News shot a video of our protest that can be viewed here: Protesters Clash on Parkway.

This event was the culmination of 60 Days of Action for 60 Years of Palestinian Dispossession. Thanks to all who supported these two months of education and action! If you are interested in getting involved with SUSTAIN or other Palestine solidarity work, please email sustainphilly@gmail.com.

SUSTAIN will be meeting tomorrow, Tuesday May 20th, at Kaffa Crossing to debrief the demonstration and chart our next steps. Our meetings are open to all. Kaffa Krossing is located at 4423 Chestnut St.

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Volunteers Needed! Commemoration of Al-Nakba

-please forward widely

On Sunday, May 18th , Philadelphia-area Middle East peace activists will cast a shadow of mourning on The Israel at 60 anniversary celebration.

As supporters of Israel celebrate down the Ben Franklin parkway, Palestinians and solidarity activists send a cloud of black balloons into the sky to mark the 60th anniversary of Palestinian dispossession.

Volunteers are needed to prepare and release the balloons in order to make this action as effective as possible.

To prepare balloons meet at 10AM at AFSC (15th and Cherry Sts) on Sunday, May 18. To release balloons, arrive by 11AM for a rally in front of AFSC. Remember to wear black!

To help plan this commemoration, please meet at Calvary Church on Thursday, May 15 at 6:30pm. This event is sponsored by the Philadelphia Al-Nakba Coalition, http://phillyalnakba.org/

For those concerned with the environmental effects of balloon releases, let it be known that we are not tying strings to the balloons and that latex, made from natural tree rubber, is biodegradable.

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