A NEW YORK WELCOME FOR THE GAZA FREEDOM MARCHERS

January 5, 2010 at 09:03 (Activism, Associate Post, DesertPeace Exclusive, Gaza, Israel, Palestine, Photography)

Commentary by Chippy Dee, Photos © by Bud Korotzer

On the morning of January 4th, with the thermometer hovering at 20 degrees, people carrying extra coats, scarves, and gloves, gathered in front of the Israeli Consulate on 2nd Avenue in NYC to welcome home 13 New Yorkers who were returning from Egypt that morning.  The 13 went there to join with 1,400 people from 42 countries and march in solidarity with the people of Gaza.  The first thing the exuberant delegation wanted to do when they returned home was to tell the Israelis to lift the siege and free Gaza.

A lengthily picket line was quickly formed.  People carried signs that said “Free Gaza” and chanted.  Surprised people, who appeared to be Israelis, came out the building that houses the Consulate.   The police arrived and asked those picketing to do so across the street.

Negotiations were attempted.  Eventually the police issued a 5 minute pre-arrest warning.  About half of the people crossed the street believing that even though they had every right to be where they initially were, it wasn’t worth an arrest.  The others took the risk and stayed on the side of the street where the Consulate was located.  Eventually, they crossed too and the demonstration continued.

One of the people returning from Cairo was Cheryl Qamar.  She said that when the internationals learned that they would not be allowed to go through the Rafah crossing into Gaza they immediately mobilized and developed actions in Cairo, where public gatherings of more than 6 people are illegal.  They had major demonstrations there at the United Nations, the Egyptian Museum, and the Israeli Consulate.  They joined in a hunger strike, intent on showing solidarity with “the people of Gaza who are starved for both food and freedom.”  They wanted to put Gaza back in the headlines – and they succeeded on an international scale.  They also challenged the Egyptian government for the role they were playing in the blockade.  One unanticipated outcome of their actions was that they showed the people of Cairo, living under a repressive regime, “an example of freedom and the power of civil society united for justice.”  Many Egyptian people approached them and said, “Thank you for speaking out.”  Some whispered it, but they still felt compelled to say it.

The South African delegates issued a Declaration which was supported by all the delegations.  It called for an intensified campaign of boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel, an end to the siege of Gaza, open borders, an end to the Israeli apartheid walls, and the right of return.  She added that the dedication of the people in the movement did not falter even though they faced police in riot gear everyday.

The world is learning that Israel is attempting to destroy the Palestinian people.  The passion of the Gaza Freedom Marchers in Cairo, and their many millions of supporters throughout the world, is in the best tradition of international solidarity to defeat injustice.  It is a continuation of the tradition of the international brigades that went to Spain in 1937 to defend democracy and defeat fascism.