We are appalledby the concerted effort, led by Israeli officials, Zionist organizations andapologists, to derail the Durban Review Conference. We condemn the use of the memoryof the Nazi genocide, as Jewish organizations did during the Durban Reviewweek, in the defense of Israel'ssystematic domination and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. We areshocked by the cynical pretense of defending human rights, for example in Darfurand Rwanda, by organizations and groups that are only interested in silencing Palestiniandemands for accountability and redress and have no serious commitment to humanrights. The brazen exploitation of genocides and racialized violence inAfrica for the purpose of protecting and extending colonial domination in Palestine is itself aninstance of colonial racism. It is only tolerated due to the strength of racisminside the institutions of global governance.

Racismis one of the legacies of colonialism and a fundamental injustice insocietiesall over the world. The World Conference Against Racism in Durban 2001took abelated small step toward recognizing the impact of colonialism andracism on Africa and initiating a global discussion about the crimeof slavery and the need for restitution; it also addressed manyother instances of racism that must be addressed. It is beyond obvious to us thata conference about racism, and especially a conference that seeks to addressthe legacy of colonial oppression, must discuss Israel,since Israelis a settler-colonial state that systematically oppresses and deniesbasic human rights to millions of Palestinians. Israel's attempt to derail thisimportant conference in order to avoid being examined and called to account isan affront against all the victims of racism all over the world, including the sixmillion Jews who perished in the Nazi genocide.

Demonstrations

In solidarity with thegrassroots movements demonstrating at the World Conference AgainstRacism to demand accountability for the role of governments in racism,we are organizing a global day of action.

On April 18th, join with others across the globe in taking another step toward a united front against racism!

Join with the families of 10,000 Palestinian political prisoners being held in Israeli prisons and detention centers.

Join with families of political prisoners and immigrants held in detention in the United States and Guantanamo.

Joinwith the international community gathering in Geneva for the WorldConference Against Racism to demand international accountability forracism, anti-immigrant policies and colonization.

Organize a rally, demonstration or educational event insupport of local struggles for racial and economic justice, immigrantand indigenous rights, and in solidarity with the people ofAfghanistan, Iraq, Haiti and Palestine struggling against occupation.

For more information, contact organize@unitedagainstracism.net or ijan@ijsn.net.

For full call-to-action and background information: www.unitedagainstracism.net.