IAC Supports Sept 16th Palestine Right of Return Demonstration in Washington D.C.
5 Sep 2000
The International Action Center will be mobilizing to support the Mass Rally in Washington D.C. on Saturday, September 16 demanding the Palestinian Right of Return.
Today more than 5 million Palestinian refugees are still denied the basic human right of return to their homeland. We are urging all progressive organizations and individuals to help mobilize and participate. We have included in this message the press release, web site and mobilizing information of the Palestinian Right of Return Coalition.
In New York City a bus going to the demonstration will be leaving from the International Action Center office located at 39 West 14th St, between 5th and 6th Ave. at 6 a.m. Saturday, Sept 16. Bus tickets are $25. and should be reserved and paid for by Wednesday, September 13 by calling or coming into the IAC office, 39 West 14th St, # 206, NY,NY, 10011 (between 5th and 6th Ave in Manhattan) MORE BUS INFORMATION
On Tuesday, September 5th the IAC will be hosting a teach-in at the IAC office with organizers of the Al Awda Coalition.
Start mobilizing and organizing transportation in your community or campus for this very important demonstration.
See you in Washington next Saturday, September 16
Sara Flounders Kadouri Al Kaysi Randa Jamal Richard Becker for the IAC Staff
[For those interested from Baltimore for more information call Steven at (410) 258-0311.]
Press Release of Palestinian Right of Return Coalition
MASS RALLY TO DEFEND THE RIGHT TO RETURN FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On 16 September 2000, thousands will march and rally in Washington, DC to demand implementation of the right of Palestinian refugees to return to the homes and lands from which they were expelled. The gathering is organized by The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, known by the Arabic name Al-Awda.
The march will begin at Freedom Plaza at 11 AM, and proceed along Pennsylvania avenue. It will be followed by a rally in Lafayette Park where supporters will hear addresses by national and international figures.
The march and rally coincide with the deadline set by Israeli and Palestine Authority negotiators for reaching a final status agreement, and also mark the date of the 1982 massacre of Palestinians at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Israeli-occupied Beirut. The right of refugees to return to their homes is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International law, and in UN Resolution 194.
Palestinian refugees represent the largest refugee population in the world. Some 800,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes in 1948, and many more forcibly displaced by Israel since that time. Today there are about 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 and legitimate right to repatriation and restitution.
Confirmed speakers include: Palestinian Legislative Council member Abdul Jawad Saleh, human rights lawyer Allegra Pacheco, human rights activist Dr. Eyad Sarraj, Palestinian-American author Fawaz Turki, poets Suheir Hammad and Lisa Suheir Majaj, film maker and poet Annemarie Kattan-Jacir, Barbara Lubin of the Middle East Children's Alliance, journalist and author Ralph Schoenman, activist Rania Masri, journalist Lamis Andoni, media critic Ali Abunimah, Dr. Hala Maksoud President of the Arab-American Anti Discrimination Committee, Executive Director of American Muslims for Jerusalem Khalid Turaani, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Nihad Awad, and Al-Awda rally co-Chair Dr. Zahi Damuni.
Speakers not yet confirmed include: Presidential candidate Ralph Nader, Ambassador Andrew Young, Imam Hamza Yusuf, Palestine National Council member Dr. Naseer Aruri, actors Susan Sarandon and Martin Sheen, and Congressional Representatives.
Invited also are internationally renowned musicians Marcel Khalife and Simon Shaheen.
The Palestine Right to Return Coalition is a broad-based grassroots coalition sponsored and endorsed by over sixty Arab, Muslim and solidarity organizations as well as thousands of individuals.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE INTERVIEWS CONTACT:
Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh
Al-Awda - Palestine Right To Return Coalition-USA
Tel: 203-785-6317
Fax: (717)832-1123
email: prrc@mail.com
Web: http://al-awda.org
International Action Center
39 West 14th Street, Room 206
New York, NY 10011
email: iacenter@iacenter.org
web: www.iacenter.org
CHECK OUT THE NEW SITE www.mumia2000.org
phone: 212 633-6646
fax: 212 633-2889
