For Immediate Release July 20, 2004
DNC, RNC, and Inauguration National Days of Action
Formation of the Anti-Apartheid Wall Taskforce
When: Immediate days – July 24 & 25, 2004
Subsequent days â August 28 & 29, 2004 and January 19 &20, 2005
Where: Locations across the United States
LOS ANGELES:
48-hour Hunger Strike at Tent of Peace & Justice
Friday July 23 5 p.m. thru Sunday July 25 5 P.m. at Palisades Park, Santa Monica (Ocean Blvd & Colorado, Next to Santa Monica Pier)
Local Contacts: (310) 709-7506 or (310) 365-0017 or (562) 435-7585 or (323) 464-1636; mail@adclaoc.org
Schedule of Events:
Friday, July 23, 7-9 p.m.: Kick-off Rally
Saturday, July 24, 7-9 p.m.: Candlelight procession around park and pier
Sunday, July 25, 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: Tear Down the Wall & Closing Rally
Saturday & Sunday During the Day: Political Discussion, Messages of Solidarity, Leafleting and much more. Fasters will be available for interviews at all times.
National Contacts:
The Anti-Apartheid Wall Taskforce
National Office, 1260 Lake Blvd., Suite 232, Davis, California 95616
Phone: (530) 756-5548 â Fax: (53) 756-5748
Lara Kiswani: (530) 756-5548;
Husam Abusneineh: (310) 977-7080;
Elias Rashmawi: (530) 304-4573
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 Anti-Apartheid Wall Taskforce (the “Taskforce”) has been established by numerous community and grassroots organizations in the United States and Canada. Headquartered at the national office of the National Council of Arab Americans (NCA), the Taskforce is coordinating national events to take place during the days running up to the Democratic National Convention, and subsequently to the Republican National Conventions and the Presidential Inauguration.
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 in both Houses 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 Israelâs illegal policies and practices. The proposed platform includes rejection of the right to return, support for the expansion of the 1967 borders, and an implicit support for the Apartheid Wall, among other positions.
The Call to Action of the Taskforce intends to challenge the policies of the Democrats and the Republicans, and to shine a spotlight on the damaging nature of these positions. The Taskforce Call stated: “On these 6 days, we will fast and/or take action to demand the Apartheid Wall be dismantled, and the full implementation of the right of the Palestinian people to return to their homes and homeland after 56 years of exile and dispossession”. The taskforce calls for an “immediate end to the colonial occupation of Iraq, and stands in solidarity with all who are struggling against poverty, racism, and war â in the United States and across the world.”
Initiating members of the Anti-Apartheid Wall Taskforce â The full list may be viewed at: www.arab-american.net/taskforce 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 â USA; Al-Qalam Institute; The Palestine Arab Center, Vancouver, Canada; Chapters of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, in Los Angeles/Orange County, San Francisco, and Sacramento; Justice in Palestine Coalition, San Francisco Bay Area; Chapters of the Students for Justice in Palestine – UC Davis, CSU Sacramento, UC Berkeley, CSU Los Angelos; Muslim Students Association, California State University, Long Beach and UC Davis.