Vol. 73/No. 4      February 2, 2009

The events were organized by Al-Awda, Palestine Right to Return Coalition, Free Palestine Alliance, National Council of Arab Americans, Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation San Diego Chapter, Middle East Cultural and Information Center, ANSWER Coalition, and San Diego International Action Center.

Nearly 350 people attended the rally, held in Balboa Park. The demonstration was one of several protests in the last few weeks here against Israel’s assault.

“Recently, the current mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, has been solidarizing himself with what Israel is doing in Gaza,” Harris said to the rally. “The real truth is, Israel has been the aggressor for 60 years.”

“My campaign calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Stop the bombing, end all U.S. aid to Israel, end the blockade of Gaza, which is a criminal act! For a democratic and secular Palestine!”

During the march and at the Harris for Mayor campaign table several people came up to the socialist candidate to shake his hand and wish him luck in his campaign. Two students from Palomar College in San Marcos invited Harris to come speak at their campus.  
 
New York
BY OLGA RODRÍGUEZ
AND WILLIE COTTON  
NEW YORK—A contingent of campaign supporters of Dan Fein, Socialist Workers Party candidate for mayor in this city, joined hundreds in a march and rally January 19 in support of the Palestinian struggle. The demonstration, held on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, came a day after the cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.

Addressing the rally, Fein said to much applause, “The Socialist Workers campaign denounces the Israeli aggression over the past three weeks which resulted in the deaths of 1,300 Palestinians—an aggression that was due in part to the billions in aid Israel receives from the U.S. government.”

“As you know,” Fein continued, “there is a cease-fire in Gaza. Israel won the war. But that is not the end of the story. We can be sure the Palestinian people will continue the struggle, be it around water rights, political prisoners, land, opening the borders, or political rights.”

Demonstrators marched from Union Square to Washington Square Park through a continuous snowfall, chanting “Israeli troops, out now!” and “Free, free Palestine.”

The march was led by dozens of Muslim women and children. Many of the demonstrators were youth, including a spirited group of more than 20 who came from Brooklyn.

“We want to show the American people that there is another side in this fight,” said Jehan, who came with two other classmates from John Dewey High School in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. “The media doesn’t give the American people a choice; it only gives Israel’s side,” she continued. The three students have posted and passed out leaflets on the situation in Palestine in an effort to reach out to classmates and teachers. They are organizing a Gaza Awareness Day on campus.

The demonstration was organized by the Break the Siege on Gaza coalition, which includes Al-Awda, International Action Center, and others.
 
 
Related articles:
End Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip!
Over 1,300 dead as Israeli troops withdraw
Australia to Minnesota: No to Israeli assault!
Lift the Israeli blockade on Gaza!
Tel Aviv asked for U.S. help to bomb nuclear site in Iran  
 
 
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