Called by Direct Action to Stop War & Occupation (DASWO), endorsed by the Anti-War Committee (AWC), the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network Twin Cities Chapter (IJAN-TC), the Minnesota Break the Bonds Campaign (MNBBC), Opposition to War & Occupation (OWO), and Women Against Military Madness (WAMM).
When: Friday, June 4th at 3:15pm
Where: Leaving from the State Capitol steps in Saint Paul and marching to the Minnesota Trade Office (32 Minnesota Street, St. Paul)
Early Monday morning, The Gaza Freedom Flotilla was raided by Israeli military commandos in international waters who fired live ammunition on the civilian passengers, killing at least 9 people and wounding scores more. The flotilla was a humanitarian aid convoy of 6 ships en route to the Gaza strip carrying 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies, construction materials. On board were more than 600 passengers from over 40 countries including activists, parliamentarians, journalists, and doctors. The flotilla’s stated purpose was to break the inhumane Israeli blockade of Gaza’s borders, which has deprived its population of more than 1.5 million of mobility and access to basic needs since 2007. While the violent raid of the Freedom Flotilla in international waters is itself a horrific assault on human life and a repressive act of state violence by Israel, it is but one expression of Israel’s ongoing apartheid program in Palestine.
On Tuesday, Minnesotans entered Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office to demand a political response to both the killings on the flotilla and the inhumane blockade of Gaza. This Friday, we will go to the MN trade office to demand an end to local economic relations between Minnesota and the State of Israel as part of a larger project of relinquishing all US financial sponsorship of the Israeli war economy. The Minnesota Trade Office facilitates the relationship between Minnesota-based corporations and the State of Israel. In 2008, Minnesota companies made over $10 million on goods exported to Israel. The blockade of Gaza and the occupation of Palestine cannot be sustained without the military and financial support of the United States. This year alone the US will give a total of $2.8 billion to the state of Israel. The US also supports the occupation of Palestine through military aid in the form of technology, training, and weapons. In Minnesota, companies with Israeli contracts directly profit from the systematic violent assault on Palestinian life in the occupied territories.
Join us Friday to show that we will NOT tolerate the murder of activists and the undue persecution of Gazans. March on the Trade Office and demand NO MORE TRADE! TAKE DOWN THE BLOCKADE!
Media coverage of Tuesday’s action at Amy Klobuchar’s office here.
Media coverage of Tuesday’s protest in Duluth here.
Updates on the imprisoned flotilla activists and resistance to the blockade around the world here.
