12/15/2001

Defend Palestine Emergency Demonstration

Page 1 -Pickets

Page 1 -Topic: Censorship
Page 2 -Attacks
Page 3 -March
Page 4 -Speaking Out
Index -More FZ Photo Reports

Organizers: -For more information on the views expressed today

-International A.N.S.W.E.R.

 (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)  www.iacboston.org/ANSWER  617-522-6626

-Al-Awda Boston

 Palestine Right to Return Coalition arabmass@hotmail.com

ANSWER's Call to Demonstrate:

  • As of July 2000, in Arab East Jerusalem and the West Bank, there have been 10,000 Palestinian homes ordered for demolition by Israel, and 14,622 Israeli settlement homes built.
  • The Israeli settler population in the West Bank increased by 13,000 to 200,000 during the first 9 months of 2000.
  • By 1998, Israel had confiscated 73% of West Bank land.
  • Since September 2000, 744 Palestinians have been killed (four times the number of Israeli) and 15,000 have been wounded (12 times more than on the Israeli side).
  • 150,000 olive and citrus trees belonging to Palestinians have been punitively uprooted.

    • Report:

    A large number of vocal demonstrators met above Park Street Station beside the historical Boston Common to picket against and to denounce American foreign policy regarding Israel and Palestine.
    As demonstrators related critical information routinely cleansed from corporate media coverage, they were constantly interrupted by a small group of "counter protestors", determined to disrupt the demonstration. At least one demonstrator and a photographer were attacked.
    .

    As I arrived, these Veterans were heckling the Demonstrators

    The degree to which we defend the right of political dissent is a critical gauge of the health of our Democracy.
    Without freedom of expression and information, no one can claim to have an informed opinion.
    Conformity was enforced during Hitler's rise by brownshirts in the streets who viciously attacked those brave few who dared oppose the Third Reich. Suppression of dissent facilitate the empowerment of fascism.

    Demonstrators with pickets -1

    Essential to our national identity are two traditions of constitutional enforcement, The Bill of Rights is well understood to draw limits on our governments' powers, from national to local.

    Demonstrators with pickets -2

    Americans working out differences -1

    At today's demonstration, a group of "counter-demonstrators" confronted protestors, shouting and interfering with the demonstration.
    I interviewed some of these folks, and though I don't question their motivaion, I believe their goal of censoring the demonstration is essentially contrary to American values. Participation in debate is essential, but to muddy the discourse with interference is unacceptable behavior.
    The difference may seem subtle between simply voicing a different opinion and gagging an ideological opponent, but it's essential to discourse that one must hear the other side before presenting a counter argument.

    Americans working out differences -2

    The counter protestor activity consisted primarily of off the point heckling aimed at the fact of the demonstation more than the content of the views expressed.

    Americans working out their differences -3

    Discussions and arguments generally ended in some mutual understanding.
    These are not the folks who later on are seen attacking demonstrators.

    International Action Center's Frank Neisser distributing information

    "Justice In Palestine: Send Sharon to the Hague...End The Occupation"