On Thursday June 3, activist will gather in Union Square, New York City, New York, and stage a "mock checkpoint," protesting the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the recent assault against the Gaza Flotilla, the six-ship fleet delivering humanitarian aid to besieged Gaza.
June 5, 2010 marks 43 years since the 1967 War that began the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Three and a half million Palestinians live under Israeli occupation which denies their most basic freedoms. There are almost 100 checkpoints in the West Bank, where Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) control Palestinian freedom of movement, causing devastating effects to the economy and daily life.
"Activist will engage in a 'mock checkpoint' which will recreate the experience that is a demeaning and destructive everyday reality to the millions of Palestinians in the West Bank, who must wait for hours when traveling short distances. A trip that should take 15 minutes becomes three hours," said an organizer from Women in Black Sherry Gorelick.
Often, Palestinians are denied entry through a checkpoint, which have grave consequences to their health. Gorelick notes, "last month a Palestinian-French citizen, Mohammed Aliat, 63, died at Al-Hamra from a heart attack, after collapsing from dehydration as a result of the IDF repeatedly refusing to let him pass."
WOMEN IN BLACK UNION SQUARE is part of the international movement of that began in Israel in January 1988. Motivated by the first Palestinian Intifada (uprising) to protest Israel's ongoing occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, Israeli women began to hold a vigil once a week, dressed in black, and holding signs in English, Hebrew and Arabic that read "Stop the Occupation," "Negotiate." There are over 250 women in black vigils around the world.
WOMEN IN BLACK UNION SQUARE is a diverse group of women and men who stand EVERY THURSDAY from 5:30-6:30 on 14th street in Union Square to assert our support for Palestinians and Israelis working for justice, peace, and human rights. We stand to educate the public about the injustices done to Palestinians, and to urge our fellow citizens to demand that our government change to a more just and constructive policy regarding Israel. In particular we call on the U.S. government to stop spending our tax money on the Israeli military, and stop enabling Israel's irresponsible behavior regarding human rights and international law.
This action is endorsed by Adalah-NY.
