Rally to Support Gaza Freedom March Held Outside Israeli Consulate

BOSTON/Back Bay – Following on the heels of the “First Night Against the Wars – Let Gaza Live!” New Year’s Eve Copley Square rally in support of the Gaza Freedom March local members of CODEPINK: Women For Peace – one of the official March sponsors – were joined by the Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights and other groups in a lunchtime demonstration on Wednesday outside the Israeli Consulate at 20 Park Plaza. Eleanor Roffman representing the Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights and Jewish Women for Justice in Israel/Palestine spoke of the protest as a way to “keep momentum going” for the Gaza Freedom March. In the last days of December The International Coalition to End the Illegal Siege of Gaza a group of over 1 300 delegates from around the world traveled to Egypt in an attempt to enter Gaza break the Israeli blockade and bring humanitarian aid. Egyptian authorities prevented most of the activists from entering Gaza but according to Sarah Roche-Mahdi of Code Pink who recently returned from Cairo forty people successfully delivered aid and money to Gazans in need. Roche-Mahdi joined thirteen other Massachusetts citizens in the March. “We were blocked everywhere. Egyptians followed us everywhere ” she told Open Media Boston. She reported little protection from the U.S. embassy in response to police attacks. While describing the atmosphere in the city as “chaotic ” she nevertheless saw a positive response to the activists’ presence. “The people of Cairo were with us. There was no question about the solidarity with Palestine ” she said. Roche-Mahdi believes that America is the only country not familiar with the mission of the Gaza Freedom March and she hoped the demonstration would help spread the word. She invoked the March’s “Cairo Declaration ” a renewed call for Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) as a means of continued opposition to Israel’s actions. A counter protest was organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council which brought together a coalition of individuals and groups. Ari Alexenberg director of the Israel Action Center said that he was “troubled […] to see signs supporting Hamas considered a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.” In his view the Gaza Freedom March supporters have misdirected anger towards Israel. “The protestors didn’t seem to recognize that the root of suffering in Gaza is a direct result of Hamas rule. To bring peace and end the suffering endured by all parties we need to work towards a two-state solution ” said Alexenberg. Reverend Fumio Taku president of Christians and Jews United for Israel held a banner with the image of Martin Luther King with a quote by the civil rights leader that read ‘When people criticize Zionists they mean Jews. You're talking anti-Semitism.’ “We want to make sure the facts are given ” said Taku. “I’m not Jewish. I’m not Palestinian […] but when you look at the situation objectively just think about which place has more human rights women’s rights.” Referring to a large banner held by members of the Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights that read ‘End the Siege of Gaza/Free Palestine’ Taku said: “Gaza is not under siege. The sign doesn’t make any sense.” David Funnell recording secretary of the CJUI said that he believes “the press has been giving too much favor to the representatives of terrorist killers. The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority have exploited people for personal wealth.” With approximately 20-30 people on opposite sides of the street a confrontational exchange ensued. While the Gaza Freedom March supporters shouted slogans such as “Let Gaza Live” and “Israel you can’t hide we charge you with genocide ” pro-Israel groups fired back with “2-4-6-8 go back to your terror state.” David Gabriel a representative from Jewish Voice for Peace said he was “standing in solidarity with the people of Gaza.” He added that the “the subjugation of Palestinian people is not in line with Jewish values.” After the standing demonstration the pro-Palestinian group marched in a circle around the plaza. Police kept close control of both sides and protestors were accused of crossing private property lines. Bob of Veterans for Peace believes that “things are pretty bleak with our government sacrificing justice for colonialism and imperialism […] the battle for Americans has to be won here.” Photos by Elizabeth Washburn. Copyright Elizabeth Washburn 2010. Bookmark/Search this post with: Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Reddit Newsvine Facebook Google Yahoo Technorati