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Philadelphia-area Middle East Peace Activists Cast a Shadow of Mourning over “Israel at 60” Celebration
Submitted by onion on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 23:43
by Nathaniel 
Philadelphia SUSTAIN (Stop US Tax-Aid to Israel Now!) and the Al Nakba Coalition concluded 60 Days of Action for 60 years of Occupation by releasing 1000 black balloons over the “Israel 60” parade led by mayor Michael Nutter. These balloon marked the 60th anniversary of Palestinian dispossession, when more than half the native population was expelled from Palestine, over 530 villages destroyed, and the history and heritage of an ancient people was stolen to make way for the creation of Israel.
Black balloons were released by Palestinians in the West Bank and by Palestinian refugees in other areas of the world to mark the day. In the West Bank 21,195 balloons were released - one for every day of the Nakba.
Simultaneous No Time To Celebrate, a Jewish organization working against the occupation, donned black and engaged those celebrating about the other side of the story, a side of heartache, suffering and dispossession.
The balloons were the culmination of two months of events in Philly remembering Palestinians’ loss and celebrating their resistance includinga week long film festival, speakers such as Dr. Joseph Massad, Mazin Qumsiyeh, and Bassam Haddad, book discussions, and the Sabeel Conference at Villanova University.
Since concluding the days of action SUSTAIN is focusing on connecting housing displacement in Philly to land theft and home destructions in Palestine and building momentum for a local divest from Israel campaign.
SUSTAIN meets regularly every other Tuesday, at 7pm @ Kaffa Crossing, on 44th and Chestnut [http://www.kaffacrossing.com]. Join us and get involved in this important work.
If you are unable to make it to Tuesday meetings, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We will happily update you on events and announcements and add you to our organizers listserv.
SUSTAIN Contact info:
sustain email: sustainphilly@gmail.com
join listserv: send an email to sustain-subscribe@lists.riseup.net.
website: www.sustainphilly.blogspot.com
