[News] Join Anti-Apartheid Wall Taskforce and Days of Action

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Join the Anti-Apartheid Wall Taskforce and National Days of Action
To join or endorse, please write to: 
<mailto:taskforce at arab-american.net>taskforce at arab-american.net

In this Urgent Call to Action:
- Why the Anti-Apartheid Wall Taskforce
- What we stand for
- How to join
- What you can do
- Contact information
- Taskforce current organizational members (in formation)

WHY THE ANTI-APARTHEID WALL TASKFORCE:
In response to the international consensus in opposition to the
construction and presence of the Israeli Apartheid Wall, reflected in the
precedent-setting ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The
Hague, an open Anti-Apartheid Wall Taskforce (the "Taskforce") for the
United States and Canada has been established.

* In forming this open Taskforce, we encourage all organizations sharing the
vision of justice to join and participate.

While the ICJ ruling reflected the international consensus in its
determination that the Israeli Apartheid Wall violates the rights of the
Palestinian people, the US administration and the majority of Congress
nonetheless continue to support Israel and its construction of the Wall.
Only days ago, the House of Representatives of the United States voted for
Resolution 713, deploring the ICJ ruling and supporting the Wall.  The
overwhelming 361 members who voted "yes" spanned the twin parties, with 45
nays, 13 presents, and 14 not voting.   At the same time, the Democratic
Party finalized its proposed platform on the Middle East by staunchly
supporting Israel's illegal policies and practices.  The proposed platform
includes rejection of the right to return, support for the expansion of the
1967 borders, and support for the Apartheid Wall, among other extreme
positions.  And as is the case annually, Israel is once again getting the 
lion's
share of the US Foreign Aid budget.

We recognize that the upcoming period provides an important window to
address US policy. As such, Arab-American and Palestinian community
organizations established this open Taskforce to coordinate all efforts
pertaining to the proposed protest actions and Solidarity Fasts to be
carried out in various cities in the United States and Canada.  The actions
are to be carried out on the following days:

- July 24 and 25, 2004 - days leading up to the Democratic National
Convention
- August 28 and 29, 2004 - days leading up to the Republican National
Convention
- January 19 and 20, 2005 - the day before and day of the presidential
inauguration

WHAT WE STAND FOR:
On these 6 days, we will fast and/or take action to:

- Demand the Apartheid Wall be dismantled.
- Demand the full implementation of the right of the Palestinian people to
return to their homes and homeland after 56 years of exile and
dispossession.
- Demand an end to the colonial occupation of Palestine.
- Demand an end to the colonial occupation of Iraq.
- Stand in defense of civil rights and liberties and oppose the USA Patriot
Act.
- Stand in solidarity with all who are struggling against poverty, racism,
and war - in the United States and across the world, from Haiti to
Afghanistan and beyond.
- Stand in honor of people' solidarity with each other, as we collectively
reject segregation and Apartheid.
- Stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle against
colonial occupation and exile.

 From Boston, to New York to Washington DC, from coast to coast and through
the heartland of the United States, we extend our hand to all those
struggling for justice, and ask that we join together in 6 days of
teach-ins, solidarity, and mutual understanding in every neighborhood and
town.

We envision joint and unified coordinated actions. We envision Tents of
Justice and Peace to be pitched in parks and other public areas during these
days as homes for all those participating and/or supporting the Solidarity
Fast.

As we have collectively transformed the Shanties of South Africa to symbols
of resistance in the struggle against South African Apartheid, our Tents
will be erected to symbolize the fight against the remaining Apartheid -
this time manifested most recently in concrete walls 25 feet high.
Together we will defeat racism, and ensure that the colonial occupation of
Palestine comes to an end!

As we stand together in one collective will, let these Tents be our homes as
we reject being pitted against each other - peoples and communities.

For many years, Apartheid imprisoned Mandela and others in the notorious
Robben Island prison.  We cannot allow the Israeli Apartheid Wall to
transform all Palestinian towns into disjointed and segregated Robben
Islands.

HOW TO JOIN:
We ask all organizations working for justice to join as members of the
Taskforce.  By joining the Taskforce you will be part of a national effort
to coordinate actions on the listed 6 days in full collaboration and
coordination with existing activities, leading up to joining the
counter-inauguration mobilization called for by the ANSWER Coalition in
Washington DC on January 20, 2005.

If you agree with the campaign, but cannot join, please consider endorsing.
We consider all actions dedicated to the various struggles for justice that
your organization may want to undertake locally or nationally on these days
as a stand against racism everywhere.  By also dedicating your work to
bringing down the Wall, we believe that a significant step of international
solidarity will be taken.
You can endorse by writing to: 
<mailto:taskforce at arab-american.net>taskforce at arab-american.net
Please include the name of your organization and contact person.

Join us now as we pledge together an over-arching stance for justice and a
solid opposition to war, racism, poverty and all forms of occupation.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
We have received a multitude of actions so far in various cities,
including:

- Setting up tents in parks or public locations to hold solidarity fasts
- Holding a people's teach-ins in open space
- Holding rallies, pickets, demonstrations, and speak outs
- Showing movies, organizing forums and panels
- Making your opinion known to your respective officials

In some cities, local authorities may not grant overnight stay permits.
Open rallies, discussions, sit-ins, and pickets at busy intersections are
great alternatives.  These and all similar actions in dedication to all
issues of justice can be also dedicated to bringing down the wall and
supporting the rights of the Palestinian people to return.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Since the initial call was issued, many activists contacted us to coordinate
events or to request information.  We suggest that all questions,
endorsements, reports and suggestions be directed to the Taskforce national
office.  The National Council of Arab Americans (NCA) is providing its
national office in California as a clearinghouse and a coordination center
for this campaign.  You can reach Lara Kiswani or Husam Abusneineh of the
NCA, Monday through Friday, 9-5 PM (PST), at:

The National Council of Arab Americans (NCA)
1260 Lake Blvd., Suite 208
Davis, California 95616 - USA
(530) 756-5548
(310) 709-7506

Or, you can write the Taskforce at: 
<mailto:taskforce at arab-american.net>taskforce at arab-american.net

Additionally, we are providing the following selected list of contacts
throughout the country of activists working on this campaign.  Please note
that the national office will be able to provide contacts or information in
your specific area.  If you would like to be added as a contact, please let
us know at 
<mailto:taskforce at arab-american.net>taskforce at arab-american.net. 
Subsequent updates will be sent out
periodically up to January 20, 2005, and will include additional information.

We ask that you inform the Taskforce national office of any events
that you plan in order for us to provide a national summary for all people
to join.

 > National Contacts:
Lara Kiswani: (530) 756-5548; <mailto:lara at riseup.net>lara at riseup.net
Husam Abusneineh: 310-977-7080; <mailto:ahusam at netzero.net>ahusam at netzero.net

 > Southern California:
Los Angeles area - Muna Coobtee: 
310-365-0017;  <mailto:munacoob at yahoo.com>munacoob at yahoo.com
Los Angeles area - Mamdouh Aldimassi: 
310-709-7506;  <mailto:mtndew2000 at yahoo.com>mtndew2000 at yahoo.com
San Diego Area - Zahi Damuni: <mailto:zahi at al-awda.org>zahi at al-awda.org

 > Northern California:
San Francisco - Jess Ghannam; 
<mailto:ghannam at itsa.ucsf.edu>ghannam at itsa.ucsf.edu
Sacramento/Davis - John Batarseh; 
<mailto:info at arab-american.net>info at arab-american.net

 > US Midwest:
Nebraska - Musa Al-Hindi: <mailto:malhindi at netzero.net>malhindi at netzero.net
Illinois and Kentucky - Mahmud Ahmad: 
<mailto:mahmudahmad at Bellsouth.Net>mahmudahmad at Bellsouth.Net
Illinois - Lutuf Ghantous: <mailto:lnghantous at msn.com>lnghantous at msn.com

 > US East Coast:
Boston - Rima Anabtawi: <mailto:rimaanabtawi at yahoo.com>rimaanabtawi at yahoo.com
Washington, DC - Samia Saleh: <mailto:ssaleh03 at hotmail.com>ssaleh03 at hotmail.com
Washington, DC - Hussein Agrama: 
<mailto:info at arab-american.net>info at arab-american.net

 > Canada:
Khaled Barakat: <mailto:givara72 at yahoo.com>givara72 at yahoo.com

THE ANTI-APARTHEID WALL TASKFORCE
(List in formation, please join or endorse):

- The National Council of Arab Americans (NCA)
- The Free Palestine Alliance, USA
- Al-Awda: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
- The Palestine Right of Return Congress - USA
- Al-Qalam Institute
- The Palestine Arab Center, Vancouver, Canada
- The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Los Angeles/Orange County
- The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, San Francisco
- The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Sacramento
- Justice in Palestine Coalition, San Francisco Bay Area
- Students for Justice in Palestine - University of California, Davis
- Students for Justice in Palestine - California State University,
Sacramento
- Students for Justice in Palestine - University of California, Berkeley
- Students for Justice in Palestine - University of California, Los Angeles
- Muslim Students Association - California State University, Long Beach

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