Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Cynthia McKinney Update: "Spirit of Humanity" Ship Seized by Israelis With Crew

NATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE 06/30/09

URGENT: PROPOSAL FOR EMERGENCY PROTEST TO DEMAND RELEASE OF "SPIRIT OF HUMANITY"

All activists around the country are urged to organize emergency protests on Wednesday, July 1st to demand the release of the Free Gaza Movement's "Spirit of Humanity" ship seized by Israeli commandos. Those who have been kidnapped and could be facing indefinite detention include Former U.S. Congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney and Noble laureate Mairead Maguire.

Below is an announcement sent out by the IAC for an emergency demo tomorrow called by N.Y. City Councilperson, Charles Barron at a press conference earlier this afternoon. The IAC is sending out a major notice about this crisis later on today including the contact information of U.S. officials to demand that the ship, that is carrying vital supplies to besieged Gaza, and its passengers be released immediately. Please let the IAC, by replying directly to this email, know if you can call an emergency demo tomorrow so that your city can be listed in a national press release. It is critical that these demonstrations, no matter how modest, happen asap in light of the Viva Palestina convoy that is scheduled to leave for Cairo starting this weekend.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Dustin Langley 646-354-8056

EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION
Against Israeli Piracy & Kidnapping
Free Cynthia McKinney and all kidnapped human rights workers!

WEDNESDAY 4-6 PM

at the

ISRAELI MISSION
800 Second Avenue
(Second Avenue @ 43rd St.)

Last night, Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. The passengers and crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.

The seizure of humanitarian supplies and abduction of human rights workers is an act of piracy, a crime under international law. When the boat was attacked, it was not in Israeli waters and was on a human rights mission to Gaza. Israel's deliberate and premeditated attack on an unarmed boat in international waters is a clear violation of international law. Join us tomorrow from 4 to 6 pm at the Israeli Mission to demand an immediate and unconditional release of the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, all 21 human rights workers, and the humanitarian supplies.

According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are "trapped in despair." Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel's December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel's disruption of medical supplies.

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