PROJECTS & CAMPAIGNS

San Francisco Will Not Tolerate Islamophobia and Racism

A Community Speak Out and Forum was held in response to Pamela Geller's racist ad campaign, carried on SanFrancisco municipal buses this summer. The event was hosted by theCouncil on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), Asian Law Caucus (ALC), ArabResource & Organizing Center (AROC), and Arab Cultural & CommunityCenter (ACCC).

This community forum was intended as a space for Arabs,Muslims, and their allies to express their concerns to city officials,including the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, about the harm which hasresulted from the Geller ads and to send the message that the community willnot tolerate Islamophobia and racism. The event was standing roomonly, and those in the audience included members of municipal institutions(e.g. the Municipal Transit Authority Board, San Francisco Board ofSupervisors, San Francisco Department of Public Health) and community members,groups and organizations, such as Students for Justice in Palestine, PeopleOrganized to Win Employment Rights (POWER) and the National Lawyers Guild. Speakersincluded Dr. Hatem Bazian, Zahra Billoo, Dr. Rabab Abdulhabi, and HusamEl-Qoulaq, as well as a MUNI bus driver who refused to drive his bus with thisad on it, Arab youth, and leaders of grassroots organizations.

IJAN was asked to speak at the event and below is the text of our statement

Confronting Zionism

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On 20 November 2012, under the shadow of the Israeli bombing of Gaza, a Jewish anti-Zionist panel spoke about Confronting Zionism at the London School of Economics (LSE) - organised by LSE Student Union Palestine Society.

Yael Kahn & Michael Kalmanovitz (both IJAN) spoke about their rejection of, and campaigning against, Zionism; also speaking was John Rose from the British Committee for Universities for Palestine (BRICUP). Thepredominatly student audience was transfixed when Yael spoke about her discovery that her family home was on stolen land. The meeting was chaired by Emeritus Professor Jonathan Rosenhead (BRICUP).

Reception for Refuseniks

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On 22 November 2012, IJAN & Payday men's network hosted a reception for refuseniks Ben Griffin (left in the photo) and Ronnie Barkan at the Crossroads Women's Centre.

Ronnie, an Israeli activist, refused to complete his military service, he co-founded Boycott From Within and is a member of Anarchists Against the Wall.

Ben,a UK activist, formerly an SAS trooper, resigned from the military and exposed the UK forces' complicity with extraordinary rendition and torture. Currently he leads UK Veterans for Peace and campaigns for Bradley Manning and Julian Assange.

Bothspoke movingly and informatively about their anti-military and anti-warorganizing - leading by example those of us who refuse to be killers, torturers and rapists for murderous governments.