Never Again for Anyone – Overview
Jewish Women Occupy Israeli Consulate in Toronto
A diverse group of Jewish Canadian women are currently occupying the Israeliconsulate at 180Bloor Street West inToronto.This action is in protest against the on-going Israeli assault on the people ofGaza.
The group is carrying out this occupation in solidarity with the 1.5 millionpeople of Gaza and to ensure that Jewish voicesagainst the massacre in Gazaare being heard. They are demanding that Israelend its military assault and lift the 18-month siege on the GazaStrip to allow humanitarian aid into the territory.
Israelhas been carrying out a full-scale military assault on the Gaza Strip sinceDecember 27, 2008. At least 660 people have been killed and 3000 injured in theair strikes and in the ground invasion that began on January 3, 2009. Israel has ignoredinternational calls for a ceasefire and is refusing to allow food, adequatemedical supplies and other necessities of life into the Gaza Strip.
Protesters are outraged at Israel'slatest assault on the Palestinian people and by the Canadian government'srefusal to condemn these massacres. They are deeply concerned that Canadiansare hearing the views of pro-Israel groups who are being represented as theonly voice of Jewish Canadians. The protesters have occupied the consulate to senda clear statement that many Jewish-Canadians do not support Israel'sviolence and apartheid policies. They are joining with people of conscience allacross the world who are demanding an end to Israeli aggression and justice forthe Palestinian people.
The group is carrying out this occupation in solidarity with the 1.5 millionpeople of Gaza and to ensure that Jewish voicesagainst the massacre in Gazaare being heard. They are demanding that Israelend its military assault and lift the 18-month siege on the GazaStrip to allow humanitarian aid into the territory.
Israelhas been carrying out a full-scale military assault on the Gaza Strip sinceDecember 27, 2008. At least 660 people have been killed and 3000 injured in theair strikes and in the ground invasion that began on January 3, 2009. Israel has ignoredinternational calls for a ceasefire and is refusing to allow food, adequatemedical supplies and other necessities of life into the Gaza Strip.
Protesters are outraged at Israel'slatest assault on the Palestinian people and by the Canadian government'srefusal to condemn these massacres. They are deeply concerned that Canadiansare hearing the views of pro-Israel groups who are being represented as theonly voice of Jewish Canadians. The protesters have occupied the consulate to senda clear statement that many Jewish-Canadians do not support Israel'sviolence and apartheid policies. They are joining with people of conscience allacross the world who are demanding an end to Israeli aggression and justice forthe Palestinian people.
Three Days of Action
Three days of action took place in SanFrancisco this week, in response to Israel'sbombing of the Gazastrip. On Sunday December 28th, there was an emergency protest at Powelland Market that lasted for a couple hours. About 200 people came withnoisemakers, banners, signs and Palestinian flags. Palestinian familiesjoined the protest, and speakers were mostly young Palestinians speaking aboutthe events in Gaza-twowomen performed spoken-word poetry. The organizations that gathered thatday included AROC, HOMEYS, IJAN, and Palestinian student groups, who alsopromoted the following day's rally. Sara Kershnar from IJAN spoke outagainst the Zionist logic behind the bombing, saying, "they took theJewish holiday Hanukah, a holiday of resistance, and turned it into a massacreof civillians."
On Monday evening, December 29th, a candlelight vigil took place at Market andMontgomery Streets in downtown SanFrancisco, outside Senator Diane Feinstein'soffice. The vigil turned into spontaneous direct actions as hundreds ofprotesters blocked the streets and shut down rush hour traffic through downtownSan Francisco,blocking the intersection for about two hours. Protesters linked arms inthe streets, chanting, "Free, Free, Palestine! Stop Bombing Gaza!" IJAN had a collective presence at the action: we participated in civildisobedience, shutting down the street, and supported the young Palestinianprotesters who took the lead in actions. Finally, the crowd formed aspontaneous march through downtown, passing through Union Square's busy streets of holidayshoppers, where there were more speak-outs. The night culminated in adie-in on Market Street.The event was co-sponsored by Direct Action to Stop the War; the Middle EastChildren's Alliance; Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism; SF Women in Black;Break the Silence Mural Project; Global Exchange; International JewishAnti-Zionist Network; San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper; BeaconPresbyterian Fellowship; Jewish Voice for Peace - Bay Area; and the AmericanFriends Service Committee SF Office.
On Tuesday, December 30th, protesters gathered in front of the Israeliconsulate, where police tried to contain the crowd on the sidewalk next to thebuilding, while directing Zionist demonstrators to the opposite side of thestreet. However, the pro-Israeli group of about 50 was quicklyoverwhelmed by hundreds of boisterous pro-Palestinian demonstrators, whospilled out onto every sidewalk, finally pushing across police lines andentering into the streets. The group chanted and danced in the street forabout an hour, blocking the intersection of Montgomery and Sansome, and thenmobilized for a march through downtown on Market Street, through Civic Centerand into the Tenderloin. The march was several blocks long, with perhaps2000 people participating. The demonstration was part of a national Dayof Action called by the ANSWER Coalition, Muslim American Society Freedom, FreePalestine Alliance, National Council of Arab Americans, and Al-Awda,International Palestine Right to Return Coalition.
On Monday evening, December 29th, a candlelight vigil took place at Market andMontgomery Streets in downtown SanFrancisco, outside Senator Diane Feinstein'soffice. The vigil turned into spontaneous direct actions as hundreds ofprotesters blocked the streets and shut down rush hour traffic through downtownSan Francisco,blocking the intersection for about two hours. Protesters linked arms inthe streets, chanting, "Free, Free, Palestine! Stop Bombing Gaza!" IJAN had a collective presence at the action: we participated in civildisobedience, shutting down the street, and supported the young Palestinianprotesters who took the lead in actions. Finally, the crowd formed aspontaneous march through downtown, passing through Union Square's busy streets of holidayshoppers, where there were more speak-outs. The night culminated in adie-in on Market Street.The event was co-sponsored by Direct Action to Stop the War; the Middle EastChildren's Alliance; Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism; SF Women in Black;Break the Silence Mural Project; Global Exchange; International JewishAnti-Zionist Network; San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper; BeaconPresbyterian Fellowship; Jewish Voice for Peace - Bay Area; and the AmericanFriends Service Committee SF Office.
On Tuesday, December 30th, protesters gathered in front of the Israeliconsulate, where police tried to contain the crowd on the sidewalk next to thebuilding, while directing Zionist demonstrators to the opposite side of thestreet. However, the pro-Israeli group of about 50 was quicklyoverwhelmed by hundreds of boisterous pro-Palestinian demonstrators, whospilled out onto every sidewalk, finally pushing across police lines andentering into the streets. The group chanted and danced in the street forabout an hour, blocking the intersection of Montgomery and Sansome, and thenmobilized for a march through downtown on Market Street, through Civic Centerand into the Tenderloin. The march was several blocks long, with perhaps2000 people participating. The demonstration was part of a national Dayof Action called by the ANSWER Coalition, Muslim American Society Freedom, FreePalestine Alliance, National Council of Arab Americans, and Al-Awda,International Palestine Right to Return Coalition.
IJAN Bulletin – December 2008
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