(January 4, 2009) Saturday saw sizable protests throughout the
world against the bombing and invasion of Gaza. -- As the Israeli military
began a massive ground invasion of Gaza, including infantry, tanks, and
artillery, hundreds of thousands of people were in the streets around the world
chanting "Free, Free Palestine!"
Possibly the largest protest took place in
New York City where
a huge rally in Times Square stretched from 42nd Street south to 36th Street,
along 7th Ave. Buses came from throughout the region. Crowd
estimates ranged from 25,000 and 30,000. Just before the demonstration started
the announcement of the Israeli invasion came over the news wires. An
angry march through midtown Manhattan, shut down 42nd St, stalled mid-town
traffic and ended at the Israeli Mission to the U.N. At the closing rally, the
crowd stretched from 48th to 42nd Street, along 2nd Ave.
Many of the organizers of today's rally, including Al-Awda: Palestine Right
to Return Coalition-NY; the Arab Muslim American Federation; MAS- Muslim
American Society NY (Youth Center), National, Queens, NJ, Yonkers; GUPS - The
General Union of Palestine Students; BAYAN-USA; Islamic Society of Bay Ridge;
International Action Center; December 12
|
URGENT!
The International Action Center is mobilizing for demonstrations across the
U.S. to stop the attack on Gaza, and we are networking with activists across
the globe who are taking to the streets against U.S./Israeli war crimes.
Please consider making an emergency donation at
http://www.iacenter.org/donate
to help with the costs of organizing and mobilizing. |
Movement; New York City Labor Against the War; Troops Out Now Coalition;
Pakistan USA Freedom Forum; International League of Peoples Struggle; F.I.S.T.;
and others, announced plans for a rally again
next Sunday, January 11
in New York City's Times Square, beginning at 1 pm.
While much of the U.S. national media limited their coverage of world wide
protests to Europe and the Middle East, the size of the New York protest
clearly equaled or surpassed other protests. Ty Chandler, reporting at the
scene of the protest for New York 1 TV, stated on camera near the Israeli
Consulate "This massive crowd is still making its way up 2nd Ave., and you
can see the anger and frustration on their face, this crowd is huge, it goes
for blocks."
In
Boston, about 1500 people took to the streets to protest
the US/Israeli Genocide in Gaza. Chanting "Free, Free Palestine",
"From the River to the Sea, Palestine will Free", "We Support
the Resistance" the demonstrators marched through main shopping area of
downtown Boston, stopping at the US Military Recruiters and the Israeli
Consulate for mini rallies. The demonstration, called by an ad-hoc coalition
formed to protest the US/Israeli massacres in Gaza, was led by a militant
contingent of Palestinian youth.
In
Atlanta, hundreds turned out for a protest in front of CNN,
with 2 black caskets draped with Palestinian flags, and more than 100 signs
with the names of people who have died in the assault.
More than 500 marched in
Charlotte, North Carolina, where
protesters, with Palestinian & Muslim youth at the forefront, took over
downtown Charlotte with a sea of Palestinian flags & energetic chants.
Around 1,000 people stretched across the steps in front of
Philadelphia's City Hall for a rally targeting U.S.
funding for the Israeli war against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The
crowd predominantly Palestinians, youthful, and militant.
Chants targeted the terrorist nature of Israel's bombing in Gaza.
Speakers linked budget cuts in Philadelphia that will close 11 libraries to
U.S. funding of Israeli bombs being dropped on elementary schools.
Passing motorists honked in support.
Behind a lead banner that read "War is Terrorism with a Bigger Budget -
Stop U.S.-Israeli War on Palestinians" demonstrators marched through the
Center City shopping area to the Federal Building and FOX News, stopping for
occasional mini-rallies to explain what the protest was about to people who
gathered to listen along the way.
At least 10,000 people gathered at
Toronto's Yonge-Dundas
Square to protest against Israel's recent assault on Gaza. Protesters then
marched through the streets of Toronto to the Israeli Consulate and the United
States Embassy.
Thousands took to the streets in London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Athens and
several Asian cities, following similar events in parts of the Muslim world on
Friday. In London, protesters, including former mayor Ken Livingstone, marched
to Trafalgar Square, chanting, "Free, free Palestine" and
"Israel terrorists!" Many stopped at Downing Street, the Prime
Minister's residence, to throw shoes at the gates, following the example of
the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush last month.
As these marches were taking place, the media announced that the
Israeli military had begun a massive ground invasion of Gaza. This
invasion follows a week of continuous bombing that has killed at least 453
Palestinians and wounded more than 2,000. According to the U.N., at more than
one quarter of those killed in the current conflict have been civilians.
The situation of the 1.5 million Palestinians crammed into the Gaza Strip - one
of the most densely populated areas on the planet - grows more desperate.
Humanitarian agencies warned that water, food and medical supplies were running
short. And now the people of Gaza are facing a brutal and merciless attack by
infantry, artillery, and tanks.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Please be ready to join us in the streets - the people of Gaza need our
solidarity.
1) Activists are meeting today to discuss urgent
emergency responses to this criminal attack. Check the IAC website often over
the next few days for emergency responses, protests, and direct actions. There
will be protests throughout the week in cities across the U.S. and worldwide
and many groups are cooperating on major actions for next weekend –
2) In New York, rally and march next Sunday, January 11 at 1
pm in Times Square.
3) Sign the
On-line Appeal from Ramsey Clark to
Stop the Attack on Gaza! More than
500,000 messages
have been sent to President Bush, President–Elect Obama, members of the
U.S. Congress and Senate, UN officials and missions, Israeli officials and many
media. Sign at
www.iacenter.org/gazapetition/
