Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 14:17:11 -0500 (EST) From: TASC <•••@••.•••> Subject: From Selma to Palestine Dear People of Conscience, Israel's Prime Minister Sharon seems intent on dealing with suicide bombers by putting all Palestinians under a massive military thumb and utterly repressing them, not matter how many Palestinians die. As you know, he justifies this as "defense" of Israeli citizens, yet such utter repression will only motivate more and more people to devote their lives to revenge. Part of Sharon's plan is to force foreigners and journalists to leave the major cities. High on his list of foreigners to eject, undoubtedly, are members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). These brave citizens of Europe, America, Canada, Australia, and other nations have committed the ultimate sin in the minds of people like Sharon-they have protected Palestinians from his wrath and focused media attention on the true nature of the Occupation. I helped organize the first ISM campaign in August. Since then, the ISM has challenged the military occupation and American media silence by using the militant, nonviolent direct action methods of Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, and other strategists of human rights campaigns. We have worked with Palestinians and Israelis who share our commitment to achieving peace with peaceful means, and justice by speaking truth to power with our lives. On Monday, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition at a peaceful demonstration led by ISM volunteers in Beit Jala. There was no provocation, and seven people, including two journalists, were wounded. Since then, I have spent hours responding to over 50 Americans and several other people who are VOLUNTEERING TO REINFORCE THE ISM by traveling to Palestine NOW or in the near future. Jews and Gentiles, nurses and students and doctors and accountants, young and not-so-young, people are saying "I saw the ISM at work on news broadcasts and am inspired by their dedication to the best of human ideals. I've never done anything like this before, but I am determined to join them." I am writing this to you to appeal for two things: 1. Perhaps you or someone you know would be willing to become an ISM volunteer. It is dangerous work, and according to Adam Shapiro, the Israelis are trying to block people from entering the West Bank. However, the ISM has strategies to deal with this. If you are interested, please reply to this e-mail, or call me at 734-668-1549. 2. We are in DESPERATE need of money. We can send more people if we have money to subsidize them, and, as in the days of the Civil Rights Movement, we need money for legal fees for our members who are arrested. PLEASE send a generous donation to: The Center for Creative Democracy 2084 Pauline Blvd. #2-B Ann Arbor, MI 48103 This campaign began in the spirit of the great Selma Campaign of 1965, and of Dr. King who urged Northerners to stand in solidarity with thousands of people standing up to injustice. The Palestinian people are no less worthy of attaining their rights than were African Americans. The circumstances of their oppression are different than under Southern Jim Crow society, but the tools for achieving justice are the same: Standing up to violence with nonviolence, challenging lies with truth, meeting murderous hatred and racism with love and a willingness to die that all people might be free. Please respond. Thom Saffold Ann Arbor, MI 734-668-1549
