Featuring flotilla survivors Farooq Burney and Kevin Neish
AND SPECIAL SREENING OF "VUVUZELA," John Greyson's new video short about BDS, the flotilla and the World CupP U B L I C F O R U M
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Doors open: 6:30 p.m. | Event begins: 7:00 p.m.
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
Main auditorium, 252 Bloor Street West
TTC: St. George | Public parking available on Bedford Road
Suggested donation at the door: Adult $10 | Student/youth/senior $5
- or -
PWYC (pay what you can): No one will be turned away due to lack of funds
Event on Facebook: http://bit.ly/cxy7fA
In the early hours of May 31, Israeli commandos illegally boarded and seized six ships carrying 663 unarmed humanitarian aid activists from 37 countries, and over 10,000 tons of badly needed aid for the people of Gaza. When the raid was over, nine passengers were dead, dozens more were injured, and hundreds were transferred to Israeli jails.
This illegal military assault on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla has, once again, focused the world's attention on the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The flotilla's cargo included food, medicine, medical equipment, toys, books, paper, school supplies, clothing, building materials, and electricity generators - items that Israel has kept out of Gaza since it imposed its illegal blockade in 2007.
The acute humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, as well as the attack on the flotilla, are part of a growing list of Israel's deadly violations of international law, including its war crimes committed in Gaza and documented in the Goldstone Report (http://bit.ly/99GPQb), and war crimes committed against the Lebanese people in 2006.
While the United Nations and world states have remained largely silent and complicit, millions of people around the world have responded with outrage about Palestinians' collective experience of over six decades of Israeli apartheid. Immediately following the attacks, protests were held across Canada and internationally to demand justice for those killed on the flotilla, to demand an end to the Israeli siege on Gaza, and to call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law.
On the eve of the 5th anniversary of the Palestinian-led BDS campaign, join us for eyewitness accounts and discussion with flotilla activists.
Farooq Burney and Kevin Neish, two of three Canadians who participated in the flotilla, were aboard the Mavi Marmara when it was attacked by Israeli commandos. Farooq and Kevin will share their eyewitness accounts of the raid, and their experiences in Israeli detention. We will also discuss ongoing efforts to end the siege of Gaza, and and what you can do to support the broader BDS campaign to end Israeli apartheid.
Farooq Burney is the Director of Al Fakhoora (http://www.fakhoora.org/), an international campaign to defend the education rights of Palestinian students living in Gaza and the West Bank. He was transporting 65 computers to students in Gaza as part of the humanitarian mission.
Kevin Neish is a social justice and peace activist based in Victoria, BC. A retired engineer, he has participated in numerous solidarity campaigns in Canada, Latin America, and Palestine.
Co-organized by
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid
Toronto Coalition to Stop the War
Students Against Israeli Apartheid, a working group of OPIRG Toronto
Endorsed by
Palestine House Community Centre
Palestinian Canadian Congress
Gaza Freedom March
Beit Zatoun
Canadian Arab Federation
Canadian Peace Alliance
Educators for Peace and Justice
Muslim Unity
Canadian Shia Muslims Organization (CASMO)
Independent Jewish Voices
Women in Solidarity with Palestine
Not In Our Name (NION): Jewish Voices Opposing Zionism
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network - Toronto
The Holy Land Awareness and Action Group of Southwest Presbytery (United Church)
Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) - Toronto
Queers Against Israeli Apartheid
For more information or to endorse, please e-mail flotillareport@gmail.com.
For media requests, please e-mail flotillareport@gmail.com.
The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid is part of the growing movement against Israeli Apartheid, and supports the global
campaign of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel until it recognizes the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law.
http://www.caiaweb.org/ | endapartheid@riseup.net
The Toronto Coalition to Stop the War is Toronto's city-wide peace coalition, representing over 70 labour, student, faith, and
community organizations, and a member of the Canadian Peace Alliance.
http://www.nowar.ca/ | info@nowar.ca | 416-795-5863
