Philadelphia Protests Israel’s Apartheid Wall in a Week-Long Demonstration for Justice
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Philadelphia Protests Israel’s Apartheid Wall in a Week-Long Demonstration for Justice

From November 9th thru the 16th, communities throughout Philadelphia participated in the Palestinian call for global resistance to the Israeli Apartheid Wall, demanding an immediate end to the Wall. In addition to protesting the Wall and the Israeli Occupation, the demonstrators highlighted the responsibility of the United States government and taxpayers to cease funding of Israel terror. Activists used a series of eight-foot high mock Walls covered with maps, images, commentary and other resources to call attention to the injustice and devastation of the Apartheid Wall.

Throughout the week, numerous activities were held to foster momentum and provide opportunities for education, networking and mobilization in solidarity with on-the-ground organizing in Palestine.

***image2***A presentation was held at the Unitarian Society of Germantown and a panel discussion at Temple University gave a platform to local organizers and Palestinian activist George N. Rishmawi. On Friday, Nov. 14th, Philadelphia’s Stop the Wall working group joined the Philadelphia Jewish Peace Network for its weekly vigil at the Israeli Consulate, while on Saturday, Nov. 15th, they installed their entire Wall exhibit at Rittenhouse Square for a powerful visual display for passers-by to engage in. The event was complete with the mock Wall panels, a guard tower, tin foil machine guns and a wealth of informational resources to provide a glimpse into the true devastation of the Wall, its impact on water, land, resources and people while calling special attention to role of US funds in making it all possible.

Throughout the week, the Stop the Wall Working Group was successful in distributing hundreds of educational flyers and engaging numerous participants and passers-by in compelling and important discussion about the impact of the Apartheid Wall on Palestinian communities. On November 16, organizers held a final exposition entitled, Building Bridges, Not Walls, again displaying the mock Wall with an exhibit by Artists Against the Occupation. Also, videos of the week’s activities as well as other worldwide resistance actions were screened. To close, a forum was held to discuss the impact of the week’s events and build for future actions.

Local activities were organized by Philadelphia’s Stop the Wall Working Group, a diverse coalition convened by the Philadelphia Jewish Peace Network, the American Friends Service Committee, and the Philadelphia chapter of SUSTAIN! (Stop US Tax-funded Aid to Israel Now!), and endorsed by more than a dozen campus and community groups.

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