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Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, August 2008, pages 57-58 Waging Peace WIB Hosts “Free Gaza” Event
IT WAS BILLED as “Culture as Resistance: A Night of Hip Hop, Activism and the Spoken Word”—and as one spectator commented at the June 7 fund-raiser for the Free Gaza Mission, “It’s like being back in the ‘60s without the cigarette smoke.” More than 115 Armenians, Latinos and curious Anglos turned up at the Side Bar in Glendale, CA to learn more about the boat trip planned in August by unarmed civilians to break the Israeli-imposed blockade of Gaza, which even prevents Palestinian fishermen from fishing in their waters. Stirring Hip Hop lyrics were presented by Omar Chakaki, an architect and founding member of the N.O.M.A.D.S., and Nizar Wattad, a screenwriter and producer of “Free the P.” An emotional performance was offered by poet Mark Gonzalez, who has traveled to refugee camps in Palestine and the streets of Havana. Adding to the world class entertainment was a surprise performance by Palestinian American comedienne Maysoon Zaid, who volunteered her hilarious stand-up comedy when she learned about the event. Prof. Yigal Arens, who was born in Israel and is director of USC’s Information Science Institute, discussed the injustices Palestinians live in under Israeli military occupation. Many questioned Dr. Arens about Israel’s reasoning behind starving and depriving Gazans of basic human rights. Women In Black activist Greta Berlin discussed why Americans and Europeans are willing to pay money to risk their lives on the proposed August boat trip to bring food and medical supplies to the people of Gaza. Afterwards, concerned listeners asked Berlin to come to the Rotary Club and other civic organizations and discuss the plight of the Palestinian people. For more information, please see the ad on page 17. —Pat McDonnell Twair |
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