Re: Palestine
Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 2:22 pm
Israeli police beat pallbearers at journalist’s funeral
By JOSEF FEDERMAN
May 14, 2022
Israeli police confront with mourners as they carry the casket of slain Al Jazeera veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during her funeral in east Jerusalem, Friday, May 13, 2022. Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American reporter who covered the Mideast conflict for more than 25 years, was shot dead Wednesday during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank town of Jenin. (AP Photo/Maya Levin)
Israeli police confront with mourners as they carry the casket of slain Al Jazeera veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during her funeral in east Jerusalem, Friday, May 13, 2022. Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American reporter who covered the Mideast conflict for more than 25 years, was shot dead Wednesday during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank town of Jenin. (AP Photo/Maya Levin)
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli riot police on Friday pushed and beat pallbearers at the funeral for slain Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, causing them to briefly drop the casket in a shocking start to a procession that turned into perhaps the largest display of Palestinian nationalism in Jerusalem in a generation.
The scenes of violence were likely to add to the sense of grief and outrage across the Arab world that has followed the death of Abu Akleh, who witnesses say was killed by Israeli troops Wednesday during a raid in the occupied West Bank. They also illustrated the deep sensitivities over east Jerusalem — which is claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians and has sparked repeated rounds of violence.
Abu Akleh, 51, was a household name across the Arab world, synonymous with Al Jazeera’s coverage of life under Israeli rule, which is well into its sixth decade with no end in sight. A 25-year veteran of the satellite channel, she was revered by Palestinians as a local hero.
Late Friday, the Palestinian public prosecutor said preliminary findings show Abu Akleh was killed by deliberate fire from Israeli troops. The prosecutor said the investigation would continue. Israel’s military said earlier Friday that she was killed during an exchange of fire with Palestinian militants, and that it could determine the source of the shot that killed her.
At the funeral, thousands of people, many waving Palestinian flags and chanting: “Palestine! Palestine!” It was believed to be the largest Palestinian funeral in Jerusalem since Faisal Husseini, a Palestinian leader and scion of a prominent family, died in 2001.
Ahead of the burial, a large crowd gathered to escort her casket from an east Jerusalem hospital to a Catholic church in the nearby Old City. Many of the mourners held Palestinian flags, and the crowd began shouting, “We sacrifice our soul and blood for you, Shireen.”
Shortly after, Israel police moved in, pushing and clubbing mourners. As the helmeted riot police approached, they hit pallbearers, causing one man to lose control of the casket as it dropped toward the ground. Police ripped Palestinian flags out of people’s hands and fired stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
Abu Akleh’s brother, Tony, said the scenes “prove that Shireen’s reports and honest words ... had a powerful impact.”
Al Jazeera correspondent Givara Budeiri said the police crackdown was like killing Abu Akleh again. “It seems her voice isn’t silent,” she said during a report.
East Jerusalem, home to the city’s most important Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites, was captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. It claims all of the city as its eternal capital and has annexed the eastern sector in a move that is not internationally recognized.
The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state. Israel routinely clamps down on any displays of support for Palestinian statehood. The conflicting claims to east Jerusalem often spill over into violence, helping fuel an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza militants last year and more recently sparking weeks of unrest at the city’s most sensitive holy site.
Outside of prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque, Israel rarely allows large Palestinian gatherings in east Jerusalem and routinely clamps down on any displays of support for Palestinian statehood.
Police said the crowd at the hospital was chanting “nationalist incitement,” ignored calls to stop and threw stones at them. “The policemen were forced to act,” police said. They issued a video in which a commander outside the hospital warns the crowd that police will come in if they don’t stop their incitement and “nationalist songs.”
Shortly before midnight, the Israeli police issued a second statement claiming that they had coordinated plans with the family for the casket to be placed in a vehicle, but that a “mob threatened the driver of the hearse and then proceeded to carry the coffin on an unplanned procession.” It said police intervened “so that the funeral could proceed as planned in accordance with the wishes of the family.”
The police claims could not be immediately verified. Earlier this week, Abu Akleh’s brother had said the original plans were to move the casket in a hearse from the hospital to the church, and that after the service, it would be carried through the streets to the cemetery.
Al Jazeera said in a statement that the police action “violates all international norms and rights.”
"Israeli occupation forces attacked those mourning the late Shireen Abu Akhleh after storming the French hospital in Jerusalem, where they severely beat the pallbearers,” it said. The network added that it remains committed to covering the news and will not be deterred.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki called the images “deeply disturbing.”
The focus should be “marking the memory of a remarkable journalist who lost her life,” Psaki said. “We regret the intrusion into what should have been a peaceful procession.”
During a Rose Garden event, U.S. President Joe Biden was asked whether he condemns the Israeli police actions at the funeral, and he replied: “I don’t know all the details, but I know it has to be investigated.”
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “was deeply disturbed by the confrontations between Israeli security forces and Palestinians gathered at St. Joseph Hospital, and the behavior of some police present at the scene,” according to a statement from his deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq.
Israeli police eventually escorted the casket in a black van, ripping Palestinian flags off the vehicle as it made its way to the church.
“We die for Palestine to live!” crowds chanted. “Our beloved home!”
Later, they sang the Palestinian national anthem and chanted “Palestine, Palestine!” before her body was buried in a cemetery outside the Old City.
Her grave was decorated with a Palestinian flag and flowers. The Palestinian ambassador to the U.K., Husam Zomlot, and Al Jazeera’s bureau chief, Walid Al-Omari, placed flowers on the grave.
Salah Zuheika, a 70-year-old Palestinian, called Abu Akleh “the daughter of Jerusalem,” and said the huge crowds were a “reward” for her love of the city.
“We already miss her, but what had happened today in the city will not be forgotten,” he said.
Abu Akleh was a member of the small Palestinian Christian community in the Holy Land. Palestinian Christians and Muslims marched alongside one another Friday in a show of unity.
She was shot in the head Wednesday morning during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank town of Jenin.
In preliminary findings released late Friday, the Palestinian public prosecutor disputed the military’s claim that Abu Akleh was caught in crossfire. The prosecutor said that at the time she was shot, Israeli troops were the only ones firing, with the nearest forces about 150 meters (yards) away.
The report said Abu Akleh was shot deliberately, citing traces on the tree next to where she was hit which, the prosecutor argued, indicated that the shots were fired directly at her. It said the shooting continued after she was hit, hindering first aid attempts.
Earlier Friday, the Israeli military said it could not could not determine who was responsible for her death without a ballistic analysis.
“The conclusion of the interim investigation is that it is not possible to determine the source of the fire that hit and killed the reporter,” the military said.
Israel has called for a joint investigation with the Palestinian Authority and for it to hand over the bullet for forensic analysis to determine who fired the fatal round. The PA has refused, saying it will conduct its own investigation and send the results to the International Criminal Court, which is already investigating possible Israeli war crimes.
Reporters who were with Abu Akleh, including one who was shot and wounded, said there were no clashes or militants in the immediate area. All of them were wearing protective equipment that clearly identified them as reporters.
The PA and Al Jazeera, which has long had a strained relationship with Israel, have accused Israel of deliberately killing Abu Akleh. Israel denies the accusations.
Rights groups say Israel rarely follows through on investigations into the killing of Palestinians by its security forces and hands down lenient punishments on the rare occasions when it does. This case, however, drew heavy scrutiny because Abu Akleh was well-known and also a U.S. citizen.
Palestinians from in and around Jenin have carried out deadly attacks in Israel in recent weeks, and Israel has launched near daily arrest raids in the area, often igniting gunbattles with militants.
Israeli troops pushed into Jenin again early Friday, sparking renewed fighting.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said 13 Palestinians were wounded. The Israeli military said that Palestinians opened fire when its forces went in to arrest suspected militants. Police said a 47-year-old member of a special Israeli commando unit was killed.
https://apnews.com/article/shireen-abu- ... f4a9aa2fb3
*******************************
Palestinians determined to resist following assassination of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
Kenya ElliottMay 13, 2022
Download PDF flyer https://flyer-generator.herokuapp.com/? ... sts/105247
Tens of thousands of mourners marched today as part of the funeral procession for assassinated Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. In a continuation of their long history of killing those in Palestine who work to show the truth of brutal apartheid rule, Israeli forces murdered Abu Akleh on Wednesday. She was covering an Israeli military raid in the Palestinian city of Jenin when she was assassinated by an Israeli sniper.
Israeli forces outrageously attacked mourners present at the funeral, shooting stun grenades and beating many of those in attendance.
Abu Akleh was with a group of three other Palestinian journalists when she was killed. Another member of the group, Ali al-Samoudi, was also shot and injured. All four journalists were wearing vests and helmets that clearly identified them as being members of the press. In addition, no Palestinian fighters were present at the scene when Israeli forces opened fire, and the Israeli forces continued to shoot even after they had hit Abu Akleh. The group of journalists were clearly targeted by the Israeli forces, despite the fact that there was no mistaking their status as members of the press.
One of the most well-known and respected journalists in Palestine, Abu Akleh was viewed as honest, brave and powerful. She had been covering news related to the Israeli apartheid state for decades, and her name was a household one. She was widely considered to be a voice of the Palestinian struggle and experience living under occupation, and was known not only for her reporting, but also for her social involvement.
The murder of such a prominent journalist is a significant escalation by Israel. However, the targeting of Palestinian journalists by Israel is nothing new. Israeli forces are reported to have killed 83 Palestinian reporters over the course of the last 50 years. According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, over 46 of those killings have happened since the start of the Second Intifada in 2000. Also within that time frame, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate typically recorded between 500 and 700 instances per year of attacks on and crimes against Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces. Israeli authorities have been attempting to silence Palestinian journalists in their attempts to show the violence that’s been perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinian protests, which are themselves a response to acts of brutality by Israeli police and armed forces.
Some of the tactics employed by Israel to attack Palestinian media workers include firing live ammunition on journalists, targeting photojournalists with steel bullets, police intimidation of the press while covering events, and disruption of live reports and footage. Israel has also launched airstrikes on buildings that housed the offices of media organizations, including the bombing of a building in Gaza that was home to several media offices less than a year ago.
The murder of Shireen Abu Akleh has had a profound impact on the Palestinian people, but the will to resist has only gotten stronger. Her death has become a focal point of mass struggle. There is such global outrage that criticism of the assassination of Abu Akleh, who held U.S. citizenship, has even come from the halls of the U.S. Congress and White House. All U.S. aid to Israel must immediately end in light of this and many other horrific crimes.
https://www.liberationnews.org/palestin ... rationnews
New York Times targeted for calloused coverage of assassination of Palestinian journalist
Jose GarzaMay 16, 2022
On May 13, more than 100 protestors gathered at the southwest corner of the New York Times building to protest the assassination of beloved Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by the Israeli military. The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner has said that the killing of Abu Akleh may constitute a war crime.
Organized by Al-Awda NY: The Palestinian Right to Return Coalition , they targeted the New York Times and other mainstream media for their callous coverage of the act. Members of different organizations spoke, each adding to the charge that the New York Times was “complicit in colonial violence.”
Wassim from Al-Awda took to the mic and said, “I was looking for the New York Times headlines, and all they said was she died at 51. That is unacceptable!” He continued to elucidate that this “devaluing of lives” is part of a system of oppression that will only end if we continue to fight back.
Amongst the outrage, others shared their deep grief for the loss of a respected member of the Palestinian community. Rabbi Joseph Kohn of Neturei Karta International shared in the anguish, “we send our condolences to Shireen’s friends and families, we stand united with Palestine.”
During the last half of the demonstration, speakers outlined what is ultimately required to stop this violence. Black Alliance for Peace speaker Margaret Kimbel told the crowd that it was not enough to just oppose Israel. Living in the U.S., “we needed to also oppose U.S. imperialism,” she said.
Hannah Craig, shared with the crowd the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s call for solidarity with “the people of Palestine who continue to resist the violent Israeli apartheid regime and the brave journalists who put their lives on the line to tell their stories.” It is only by building socialism at home and abroad that we can oppose the brutal actions of global U.S. imperialism.
Lamis Deek, from Al-Awda said that by demonstrating at this busy corner the action “hoped to reach the hearts of the masses of New York,” because “our strength and power lies in the masses.”
The crowd then took to the streets, blocking all eastbound traffic on 42 St. They marched to the Israeli embassy where the protestors rallied one more time.
Liberation photo.
https://www.liberationnews.org/new-york ... rationnews
By JOSEF FEDERMAN
May 14, 2022
Israeli police confront with mourners as they carry the casket of slain Al Jazeera veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during her funeral in east Jerusalem, Friday, May 13, 2022. Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American reporter who covered the Mideast conflict for more than 25 years, was shot dead Wednesday during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank town of Jenin. (AP Photo/Maya Levin)
Israeli police confront with mourners as they carry the casket of slain Al Jazeera veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during her funeral in east Jerusalem, Friday, May 13, 2022. Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American reporter who covered the Mideast conflict for more than 25 years, was shot dead Wednesday during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank town of Jenin. (AP Photo/Maya Levin)
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli riot police on Friday pushed and beat pallbearers at the funeral for slain Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, causing them to briefly drop the casket in a shocking start to a procession that turned into perhaps the largest display of Palestinian nationalism in Jerusalem in a generation.
The scenes of violence were likely to add to the sense of grief and outrage across the Arab world that has followed the death of Abu Akleh, who witnesses say was killed by Israeli troops Wednesday during a raid in the occupied West Bank. They also illustrated the deep sensitivities over east Jerusalem — which is claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians and has sparked repeated rounds of violence.
Abu Akleh, 51, was a household name across the Arab world, synonymous with Al Jazeera’s coverage of life under Israeli rule, which is well into its sixth decade with no end in sight. A 25-year veteran of the satellite channel, she was revered by Palestinians as a local hero.
Late Friday, the Palestinian public prosecutor said preliminary findings show Abu Akleh was killed by deliberate fire from Israeli troops. The prosecutor said the investigation would continue. Israel’s military said earlier Friday that she was killed during an exchange of fire with Palestinian militants, and that it could determine the source of the shot that killed her.
At the funeral, thousands of people, many waving Palestinian flags and chanting: “Palestine! Palestine!” It was believed to be the largest Palestinian funeral in Jerusalem since Faisal Husseini, a Palestinian leader and scion of a prominent family, died in 2001.
Ahead of the burial, a large crowd gathered to escort her casket from an east Jerusalem hospital to a Catholic church in the nearby Old City. Many of the mourners held Palestinian flags, and the crowd began shouting, “We sacrifice our soul and blood for you, Shireen.”
Shortly after, Israel police moved in, pushing and clubbing mourners. As the helmeted riot police approached, they hit pallbearers, causing one man to lose control of the casket as it dropped toward the ground. Police ripped Palestinian flags out of people’s hands and fired stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
Abu Akleh’s brother, Tony, said the scenes “prove that Shireen’s reports and honest words ... had a powerful impact.”
Al Jazeera correspondent Givara Budeiri said the police crackdown was like killing Abu Akleh again. “It seems her voice isn’t silent,” she said during a report.
East Jerusalem, home to the city’s most important Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites, was captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. It claims all of the city as its eternal capital and has annexed the eastern sector in a move that is not internationally recognized.
The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state. Israel routinely clamps down on any displays of support for Palestinian statehood. The conflicting claims to east Jerusalem often spill over into violence, helping fuel an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza militants last year and more recently sparking weeks of unrest at the city’s most sensitive holy site.
Outside of prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque, Israel rarely allows large Palestinian gatherings in east Jerusalem and routinely clamps down on any displays of support for Palestinian statehood.
Police said the crowd at the hospital was chanting “nationalist incitement,” ignored calls to stop and threw stones at them. “The policemen were forced to act,” police said. They issued a video in which a commander outside the hospital warns the crowd that police will come in if they don’t stop their incitement and “nationalist songs.”
Shortly before midnight, the Israeli police issued a second statement claiming that they had coordinated plans with the family for the casket to be placed in a vehicle, but that a “mob threatened the driver of the hearse and then proceeded to carry the coffin on an unplanned procession.” It said police intervened “so that the funeral could proceed as planned in accordance with the wishes of the family.”
The police claims could not be immediately verified. Earlier this week, Abu Akleh’s brother had said the original plans were to move the casket in a hearse from the hospital to the church, and that after the service, it would be carried through the streets to the cemetery.
Al Jazeera said in a statement that the police action “violates all international norms and rights.”
"Israeli occupation forces attacked those mourning the late Shireen Abu Akhleh after storming the French hospital in Jerusalem, where they severely beat the pallbearers,” it said. The network added that it remains committed to covering the news and will not be deterred.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki called the images “deeply disturbing.”
The focus should be “marking the memory of a remarkable journalist who lost her life,” Psaki said. “We regret the intrusion into what should have been a peaceful procession.”
During a Rose Garden event, U.S. President Joe Biden was asked whether he condemns the Israeli police actions at the funeral, and he replied: “I don’t know all the details, but I know it has to be investigated.”
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “was deeply disturbed by the confrontations between Israeli security forces and Palestinians gathered at St. Joseph Hospital, and the behavior of some police present at the scene,” according to a statement from his deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq.
Israeli police eventually escorted the casket in a black van, ripping Palestinian flags off the vehicle as it made its way to the church.
“We die for Palestine to live!” crowds chanted. “Our beloved home!”
Later, they sang the Palestinian national anthem and chanted “Palestine, Palestine!” before her body was buried in a cemetery outside the Old City.
Her grave was decorated with a Palestinian flag and flowers. The Palestinian ambassador to the U.K., Husam Zomlot, and Al Jazeera’s bureau chief, Walid Al-Omari, placed flowers on the grave.
Salah Zuheika, a 70-year-old Palestinian, called Abu Akleh “the daughter of Jerusalem,” and said the huge crowds were a “reward” for her love of the city.
“We already miss her, but what had happened today in the city will not be forgotten,” he said.
Abu Akleh was a member of the small Palestinian Christian community in the Holy Land. Palestinian Christians and Muslims marched alongside one another Friday in a show of unity.
She was shot in the head Wednesday morning during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank town of Jenin.
In preliminary findings released late Friday, the Palestinian public prosecutor disputed the military’s claim that Abu Akleh was caught in crossfire. The prosecutor said that at the time she was shot, Israeli troops were the only ones firing, with the nearest forces about 150 meters (yards) away.
The report said Abu Akleh was shot deliberately, citing traces on the tree next to where she was hit which, the prosecutor argued, indicated that the shots were fired directly at her. It said the shooting continued after she was hit, hindering first aid attempts.
Earlier Friday, the Israeli military said it could not could not determine who was responsible for her death without a ballistic analysis.
“The conclusion of the interim investigation is that it is not possible to determine the source of the fire that hit and killed the reporter,” the military said.
Israel has called for a joint investigation with the Palestinian Authority and for it to hand over the bullet for forensic analysis to determine who fired the fatal round. The PA has refused, saying it will conduct its own investigation and send the results to the International Criminal Court, which is already investigating possible Israeli war crimes.
Reporters who were with Abu Akleh, including one who was shot and wounded, said there were no clashes or militants in the immediate area. All of them were wearing protective equipment that clearly identified them as reporters.
The PA and Al Jazeera, which has long had a strained relationship with Israel, have accused Israel of deliberately killing Abu Akleh. Israel denies the accusations.
Rights groups say Israel rarely follows through on investigations into the killing of Palestinians by its security forces and hands down lenient punishments on the rare occasions when it does. This case, however, drew heavy scrutiny because Abu Akleh was well-known and also a U.S. citizen.
Palestinians from in and around Jenin have carried out deadly attacks in Israel in recent weeks, and Israel has launched near daily arrest raids in the area, often igniting gunbattles with militants.
Israeli troops pushed into Jenin again early Friday, sparking renewed fighting.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said 13 Palestinians were wounded. The Israeli military said that Palestinians opened fire when its forces went in to arrest suspected militants. Police said a 47-year-old member of a special Israeli commando unit was killed.
https://apnews.com/article/shireen-abu- ... f4a9aa2fb3
*******************************
Palestinians determined to resist following assassination of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
Kenya ElliottMay 13, 2022
Download PDF flyer https://flyer-generator.herokuapp.com/? ... sts/105247
Tens of thousands of mourners marched today as part of the funeral procession for assassinated Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. In a continuation of their long history of killing those in Palestine who work to show the truth of brutal apartheid rule, Israeli forces murdered Abu Akleh on Wednesday. She was covering an Israeli military raid in the Palestinian city of Jenin when she was assassinated by an Israeli sniper.
Israeli forces outrageously attacked mourners present at the funeral, shooting stun grenades and beating many of those in attendance.
Abu Akleh was with a group of three other Palestinian journalists when she was killed. Another member of the group, Ali al-Samoudi, was also shot and injured. All four journalists were wearing vests and helmets that clearly identified them as being members of the press. In addition, no Palestinian fighters were present at the scene when Israeli forces opened fire, and the Israeli forces continued to shoot even after they had hit Abu Akleh. The group of journalists were clearly targeted by the Israeli forces, despite the fact that there was no mistaking their status as members of the press.
One of the most well-known and respected journalists in Palestine, Abu Akleh was viewed as honest, brave and powerful. She had been covering news related to the Israeli apartheid state for decades, and her name was a household one. She was widely considered to be a voice of the Palestinian struggle and experience living under occupation, and was known not only for her reporting, but also for her social involvement.
The murder of such a prominent journalist is a significant escalation by Israel. However, the targeting of Palestinian journalists by Israel is nothing new. Israeli forces are reported to have killed 83 Palestinian reporters over the course of the last 50 years. According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, over 46 of those killings have happened since the start of the Second Intifada in 2000. Also within that time frame, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate typically recorded between 500 and 700 instances per year of attacks on and crimes against Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces. Israeli authorities have been attempting to silence Palestinian journalists in their attempts to show the violence that’s been perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinian protests, which are themselves a response to acts of brutality by Israeli police and armed forces.
Some of the tactics employed by Israel to attack Palestinian media workers include firing live ammunition on journalists, targeting photojournalists with steel bullets, police intimidation of the press while covering events, and disruption of live reports and footage. Israel has also launched airstrikes on buildings that housed the offices of media organizations, including the bombing of a building in Gaza that was home to several media offices less than a year ago.
The murder of Shireen Abu Akleh has had a profound impact on the Palestinian people, but the will to resist has only gotten stronger. Her death has become a focal point of mass struggle. There is such global outrage that criticism of the assassination of Abu Akleh, who held U.S. citizenship, has even come from the halls of the U.S. Congress and White House. All U.S. aid to Israel must immediately end in light of this and many other horrific crimes.
https://www.liberationnews.org/palestin ... rationnews
New York Times targeted for calloused coverage of assassination of Palestinian journalist
Jose GarzaMay 16, 2022
On May 13, more than 100 protestors gathered at the southwest corner of the New York Times building to protest the assassination of beloved Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by the Israeli military. The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner has said that the killing of Abu Akleh may constitute a war crime.
Organized by Al-Awda NY: The Palestinian Right to Return Coalition , they targeted the New York Times and other mainstream media for their callous coverage of the act. Members of different organizations spoke, each adding to the charge that the New York Times was “complicit in colonial violence.”
Wassim from Al-Awda took to the mic and said, “I was looking for the New York Times headlines, and all they said was she died at 51. That is unacceptable!” He continued to elucidate that this “devaluing of lives” is part of a system of oppression that will only end if we continue to fight back.
Amongst the outrage, others shared their deep grief for the loss of a respected member of the Palestinian community. Rabbi Joseph Kohn of Neturei Karta International shared in the anguish, “we send our condolences to Shireen’s friends and families, we stand united with Palestine.”
During the last half of the demonstration, speakers outlined what is ultimately required to stop this violence. Black Alliance for Peace speaker Margaret Kimbel told the crowd that it was not enough to just oppose Israel. Living in the U.S., “we needed to also oppose U.S. imperialism,” she said.
Hannah Craig, shared with the crowd the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s call for solidarity with “the people of Palestine who continue to resist the violent Israeli apartheid regime and the brave journalists who put their lives on the line to tell their stories.” It is only by building socialism at home and abroad that we can oppose the brutal actions of global U.S. imperialism.
Lamis Deek, from Al-Awda said that by demonstrating at this busy corner the action “hoped to reach the hearts of the masses of New York,” because “our strength and power lies in the masses.”
The crowd then took to the streets, blocking all eastbound traffic on 42 St. They marched to the Israeli embassy where the protestors rallied one more time.
Liberation photo.
https://www.liberationnews.org/new-york ... rationnews