Dear Friends,
We are writing with an urgent request for your help to build an ongoing massive
outpouring of support and solidarity to stand with Gaza.
Click here to make an
urgently needed donation to support the IAC's continued mass emergency
response to the crisis in Gaza.
The entire world is watching with horror and outrage as Israel, with full U.S.
backing, and flouting international law, has unleashed a full-scale invasion of
Gaza, with thousands of troops, tanks, and artillery, while continuing its
horrific bombings via air, sea, and land. There is no end in sight to
this criminal, inhuman all-out assault on the 1.5 million Palestinians living
in Gaza, the most densely populated area in the Middle East, where the vast
majority are refugees, and most people live in desperate
poverty.
Since this crisis began, the IAC has been mobilizing non-stop - and
with your help, we will continue to do so. Responding to this
crisis has entailed many expenses. March and rally costs include again
and again the providing of sound equipment, renting stage set-ups and vehicles,
making banners and signs, text-messaging, and phone banking. We have also
provided meeting space, photocopying, and whatever else is needed.
The world wide outcry against the U.S.-backed Israeli
assault began immediately when the bombs began to fall. Millions have
protested. Strong demonstrations have taken place throughout the Middle
East, and in Europe, East Asia, Africa, Latin America, and in the U.S. and
Canada. Palestinian, Arab and Muslim forces throughout the world have
been joined by anti-war organizations, human rights groups and other
progressive forces to show solidarity with the people of Gaza and demand Israel
stop its brutal war.
The IAC sprang into action and co-organized, together with Arab and Muslim
organizations, a 5,000-strong protest in New York City within 24 hours after
the bombings started, while organizing and joining in demonstrations around the
country, including in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Boston, Houston, Chicago,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and Dearborn.
We issued an emergency appeal from Ramsey Clark to protest the military
assault.
This appeal, which has now generated 1.2 million
petitions, has been sent to President Bush, members of the House and
Senate, the UN Security Council, the President and Prime Minister of Israel,
and members of the media. (Sign it online at
http://www.iacenter.org/gazapetition)
On January 3, a large and vital protest of 25-30,000 people marched through New
York City's Midtown to the Israeli Mission, which the IAC helped to intiate
and mobilize for with forces from the Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim
communities. (See http://www.iacenter.org/palestine/gaza010408/
for recent reports, photos, and news)
The IAC played a key role in organizing an important press conference in New
York City's Union Square on Monday, January 5, where Jewish activists spoke
out against the attacks on Gaza. (see
http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/politics/91746/protests-held-across-city-as-gaza-violence-continues/Default.aspx
for video coverage)
We must continue mobilizing to stop the invasion - the
crisis in Gaza is becoming more and more desperate by the
day. Israeli authorities are barring humanitarian
aid, including medical supplies and emergency teams; the humanitarian crisis is
worsening by the hour. MSNBC reported today that hospitals in Gaza are
overwhelmed with the mostly civilian victims of Israeli attacks (see video
here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/28528992#28528992).
There is a growing public health crisis because of damage to Gaza's
sewage system and a shortage of clean drinking water.
Yesterday, the Israeli military shelled Fakhura, a girls elementary school in
the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza. At least 43 people
were killed and 55 wounded in the school, where hundreds of Palestinians had
sought refuge from the fighting, pushing the Palestinian death toll above 680
since the latest Israeli assault on the people of Gaza began on December
27.
We must continue to stay in the streets! Today, in
another mass rally, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, we will be at City Hall in New York
City to protest Mayor Michael Bloomberg's recent trip to Israel, where he
supported the attack against the people of Gaza. We're asking people
to bring their old shoes; the slogan is: Stand with Gaza - Shoes to
Bloomberg!
Every mass mobilization requires sound systems, banners,
hundreds of placards, and thousands of leaflets to help get the word
out. Please consider making a donation to help us continue to be an
organizing hub for this important struggle. The IAC has an all-volunteer
staff, so your donation will go entirely to cover the enormous costs of staying
in the streets.
This weekend, the International Action Center is mobilizing for two important
demonstrations. We are mobilizing to join with progressive organizations
from across the country for a "Let Gaza Live" National March,
assembling on the north side of the White House at 1 pm on Saturday.
Then, on Sunday, is another mass rally in New York City at Times Square at 1
pm, and then March for Truth past the New York Times to
CNN/Time Warner. For more information on both of these events, see
http://www.bsg-ny.org/.
Activists in the U.S. have a particular responsibility to stand in solidarity
with Palestine. None of the attacks on the people of
Gaza would be possible without the complicity of the U.S. government, which has
given Israel the green light to carry out the brutal campaign against the
people of Gaza. The artillery shells raining down on schools, the bombs
dropping on civilian neighborhoods, the white phosphorous (banned by the Geneva
conventions), cluster bombs, and radioactive depleted uranium shells being used
against the people of Gaza - are all paid for with billions of dollars of U.S.
aid, funds which are diverted from social programs for health care, jobs,
education, housing and food subsidies at home.
We are committed to mobilizing to stop these brutal attacks
and we urgently need your help. This
is an emergency situation which needs resources so that the IAC can do
everything possible to oppose this terrible invasion and demonstrate solidarity
with the people of Gaza in major cities across the U.S.
We are asking all of our friends and supporters, you who are among those who
are most strongly opposed to U.S.-backed military aggression, to make an
emergency donation (http://iacenter.org/donate/) to enable the
IAC to do what must be done. We also encourage you to join us in protest
- check the IAC website at www.iacenter.org for updates on current
actions.
With our continued thanks and solidarity,
The International Action Center National Staff
Click here to make an urgently needed donation to
support the IAC's ongoing emergency response to the crisis in
Gaza.
