Thousands in Los Angeles March and Rally to commemorate the 1948 massacre of Palestinians at Deir Yassin, and to protest the escalating violence by Israeli Occupation Forces against innocent Palestinians
Demonstrators demanded to "Stop the Killing" and called for a Free Palestine and an end to the Israeli Occupation
08 Apr 2002 --Los Angeles: Thousands rallied in Westwood, Los Angeles on Saturday, April 6, 2002, to demand an end to the killing of innocent Palestinians by Israeli military forces, and for an immediate end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. The event was also in commemoration of the April 9 1948 massacre at the Palestinian village of Deir Yassin where at least 120 men, women and children were massacred in cold blood by the Zionist terrorists.
More than six thousand protesters filled the area in front of the Westwood Federal Building, chanting and carrying signs denouncing the murder of innocent Palestinians by Israel, and demanding justice for the people of Palestinian.
The rally was a heart-felt outpouring of outrage at the brutality of the Israeli occupiers and the virtual "green light" of the Bush administration to the Israeli atrocities, and sympathy and support in the same time for the steadfastness of the Palestinian resistance.
The Protestors, who came from throughout the region, Chanted: "Free, Free Palestine," and "Stop Killing Palestinian Children." Their united voice rang through the air. Drummers and musicians led the protesters back and forth across Wilshire Blvd at Veteran, one of the busiest intersections in Los Angeles. By passers honked their horns in support. A large contingent of Latino demonstrators chanted in Spanish, "Libre, Libre, Palestina! Hundreds of Palestinian flags were carried by demonstrators to show solidarity with the national and political aspirations of the Palestinian people.
The wide diversity of national and ethnic representation at the event and the large participation of youth underscored the growing solidarity with the Palestinians among people in the United States.
Michel Shehadeh, the Western Regional Director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), summarized the significance of the demonstration:" It is vital that people understand that Israel is violating all the moral, international, and human rights laws. It is terrorizing, and targeting civilians, and brutally subjugating an entire nation." Michel Shehadeh said. "It is imperative that the American people stand with what is right. The Palestinian struggle symbolizes today what kind of a future we want to have, a world that condones Israeli colonialism, and its military oppression of Palestinians, or a world that promotes peace with justice. It is up to each of us to decide on which side to stand."
Maggie Vascassenno of the International Action Center agreed with Shehadeh and added: There are demonstrations going on today all over the world in solidarity with Palestine. The Palestinian flag symbolizes the just struggle of the Palestinians and of all people for peace with justice in the world and against the Bush administration's policies of colonial occupation and war."
Ad-Hoc Committee to: Stop the Israeli War of liquidation against the People of Palestine
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