As I was ordering a delicious zataar with labani from Forn Al-Hara’s in Little Arabia yesterday, I picked up a flyer for an important event going down this weekend in Anaheim.  The Muslim Public Affairs Council has organized a special event on Saturday at the Heritage Forum featuring an eyewitness account of Israeli’s attack of the Freedom Flotilla, a divestment and boycott organizer and live music. Ambassador Ed Peck was part of the international “Freedom Flotilla” that never reached the shores of the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid it carried as part of its cargo. Nine activists aboard the Mavi Marmara were killed in the ensuing violence following a pre-dawn raid on May 31st. Israeli spin in the media has been constant ever since, but to get an idea of the perspective to be offered by Peck on Saturday evening, the retired diplomat spoke with CNN:

MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati has said that Saturday’s ‘Set the Truth Free’ is “our chance to raise our voices for the voiceless people of Gaza, who are suffering from one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent decades which is compounded by Israel’s blockade.” Locally, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez has yet to echo Representative Keith Ellison’s call for an opening of Gaza’s border and an investigation into the violence that took place in international waters. Regardless of Sanchez’s political will, Anaheim, though vastly under reported, continues on as an important location for the U.S. based struggle for justice in Palestine. Saturday’s informative event is just the latest to come along.

To learn more about “Set the Truth Free” visit MPAC at: http://www.mpac.org/index.php

The left-leaning website Alternet has started a petition urging President Barack Obama and members of Congress to condemn yesterday’s Israeli attack on an aid flotilla headed to Gaza. At least ten people on board the lead vessel Mavi Marmara were killed in the assault that took place in international waters and targeted a convoy stocked with humanitarian aid headed for the coastal Gaza strip. Worldwide condemnation has followed in the aftermath and so far the White House has only issued a statement expressing “deep regret at the loss of life… and concern for the wounded, many of whom are being treated in Israeli hospitals.”  According to the White House, “The President also expressed the importance of learning all the facts and circumstances around this morning’s tragic events as soon as possible.”

In the halls of Congress, the attack on the flotilla aimed at breaking the siege of Gaza that has been imposed on the territory since 2007, has already become an issue in a primary race between Representative Jane Harman and her Progressive challenger Marcy Winograd. The Blue Dog Democrat has chided her opponent’s stances on Israel and Palestine before, but has so far only offered silence in response to the current crisis. In complete contrast, Winograd, as a founder of LA Jews for Peace, issued an immediate statement on her website calling for “an international investigation into the Israeli military’s use of deadly force” and urging Congress to “immediately pass a resolution supporting such an investigation.”

Should petitions and pressure bring the issues at hand before Congress, would Orange County’s own Blue Dog Democrat Loretta Sanchez support such a resolution? Like Harman, silence has been the initial indicator. However, the Congresswoman, whose 47th district includes the “Little Gaza” area of Anaheim, has had a voting record worthy of examination. Right-wing opponents like to fashion Sanchez as a “Cairista” who isn’t supportive enough of Israel and offer two forms of supposed evidence: her vote of “present” and not “yes” concerning a resolution supporting, among other things, Israel’s “right to defend itself” during Operation Cast Lead against Gaza in late 2008/2009 (the other more Liberal Sanchez sister voted yes) and her singing onto a letter by Representative Keith Ellison and others urging President Obama to place diplomatic pressure easing – not ending – the collective punishment metered out by the blockade of Gaza.

Given government inaction by the United States and other nations, the flotilla that was attacked yesterday was prompted to organize a people’s navy of sorts in the first place to break the siege and deliver aide. It had been successful before and now has been violently repelled. As a result, the blockade remains solidified by means of violence against those who would dare to defy it in this new critical juncture. Congresswoman Sanchez’s ‘present’ vote and signature on Ellison’s letter is not the end all of her recent record, however. Last year, she was one of the many Democratic congressional lawmakers to condemn the United Nation’s Goldstone Report in a resolution against the nearly six-hundred page examination of war crimes committed by the state of Israel and Hamas during the hostilities a year and a half ago. A member of Human Rights Watch reacted at the time by stating, “This sort of resolution sends a terrible message to the international community about American willingness to believe in international justice for all.”

Now that breaking the siege of Gaza by sea has dramatically and directly intersected with Israeli aggression, which Congresswoman will we see? The one who signed onto the Ellison letter at least acknowledging that the blockade can not continue as is? Or the one who looked the other way on Israeli war crimes by condemning the Goldstone Report? There is sure to be a protest over the flotilla attack in Little Gaza soon. In previous demonstrations, local politics have been absent on protest signs and demands. Perhaps the time has come for such a focus to come into play.

Contact Congresswoman Sanchez and urge her to condemn the attack on the freedom flotilla!

The Al-Awda Palestinian Right to Return Coalition will be holding its eigth annual convention in Orange County this weekend. It is a very important political gathering surrounding one of the most polarizing issues in world affairs and yet gets scant local media attention. In the past, important developments such as the intellectual articulation of the one-state solution and raising awareness and donations for a very young Free Gaza movement have all taken place there. The organization also held the declaration of Viva Palestina USA with Ron Kovic and British MP George Galloway last year. This year, the focus seems to be orientated on the boycott and divestment movement from Israel among other vital issues of importance.

Another solid lineup of speakers will round out the three day convention held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Garden Grove just outside of Anaheim and Disneyland. Radical professor Dr. Norman Finkelstein will be appearing this evening. Others include former PLO legal advisor Diana Buttu, Dr, Mustafa Barghouti, and Laila Al-Arian. This year will also mark the tenth anniversary of the Al-Awda organization!

For more information of the conference, visit: http://www.al-awda.org/convention8/index.html

On Tuesday, members of Congress voted on a house resolution to condemn the United Nations’ Goldstone Report. Orange County’s very own Loretta Sanchez was predictably among the 179 Democratic lawmakers who cast their lot against the nearly six-hundred page examination of war crimes committed late last December into early January in Gaza. The fact finding report was overwhelmingly affirmed recently by a vote in the U.N. and takes Israel to task for violations committed during the conflict while condemning Hamas as well.

As opposed to the Goldstone Report, Sarah Whitson of Human Rights Watch characterized the non-binding congressional resolution as “one-sided and biased” in her interview with the Inter-Press Service. She followed by saying that “This sort of resolution sends a terrible message to the international community about American willingness to believe in international justice for all.”

Much of the controversy in the debate is unfortunately based on false premises. As the Goldstone Report moves to the U.N. Security Council, it is truly regrettable that Congress has chosen to call on the President and the Secretary of State to dismiss it outright. Locally, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, whose 47th Congressional District includes an area of Anaheim known as ‘Little Gaza,’ failed her constituents once again. She may pride herself on her international profile, but at the end of the day, she’s just another Blue Dog Democrat…

Three-time presidential candidate, consumer advocate and author Ralph Nader will be speaking in Anaheim tonight as part of a special fundraiser. The website for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund notes:  “On October 17, 2009, the Southern California Chapter of the PCRF will be hosting its annual Healing Hands gala at the Anaheim Hilton in Anaheim. The dinner will start at 6:00PM and will feature Ralph Nader as the keynote speaker. Tickets are now available by contacting us at pcrfsc@pcrf.net or (562)432-0005.”

Though the local press rarely covers it, the annual international Al-Awda Palestinian Right to Return convention will be taking place once again in Anaheim this weekend. Speakers at the three-day event will include British member of parliament George Galloway, Ron Kovic, Dr. Jamal Nassar and UCSB professor William Robinson. Galloway was present at a fund raising event organized by Al-Awda last month in Anaheim when he announced the beginning of the Viva Palestina USA campaign to bring relief to the beleaguered people of Gaza besieged by the Israeli assault of late December – early January.  He is coming to town once more to follow up on organizing that effort which is scheduled to depart on the fourth of July.

Various panels and film screenings will also be taking place throughout the convention on everything from Palestinian hip hop to divestment campaigns against Israel. It’s excellently organized, informative and provides immediate channels to participate in the efforts to end the occupation of Palestine so if you’re not going out of town this Memorial Day weekend, do consider checking it out.

Fiesta Shalom, as the name suggests, is a street festival aimed at bridging Latino and Jewish cultures. It will be taking place this Sunday in Boyle Heights in front of the historical breed street synagogue but Quetzal, the seminal East Los Angeles band, won’t be there. It’s not that they weren’t invited. In fact they were.

However, as the band members claim, when they were originally asked to perform they weren’t informed that Fiesta Shalom was sponsored by the Israeli Consulate of Los Angeles – a site of protest and civil disobedience during the three week assault on Gaza in late December – early  January. Furthermore, the event was billed to celebrate the 61st anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel – which Palestinians mark as al-Nakba or “the catastrophe.”

Issuing a public statement, Quetzal gave numerous reasons as to why they felt it obligatory to pull out from performing at Sunday’s Fiesta Shalom including: “Decades of Chican@ solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle for Self-determination” and  “Decades of solidarity with the non-zionist, non-imperialist peace-loving Jewish community.” (Sunday’s playoff game 7 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets was not listed) News of the band’s decision hit social networking sites, the progressive blogosphere and even an interview with Quetzal Flores was conducted on Pacifica’s Free Speech Radio News.

{I’m just glad the story hasn’t been picked up and distorted on that one infamous website that portends to be the voice of la raza or its radio mouthpiece that has now since disappeared…thankfully!}

Anyway, the band has even recorded a protest song called “Intifada,” from their current residence in Seattle, Washington where it is rumored that they are working on an experimental grunge-jarocho project!

[audio http://mimisdeprived.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/intifada-3.mp3]

For the second straight time, the Israeli navy has reasserted itself against international activists in its blockade of the coastline of Gaza. A boat carrying humanitarian supplies – which are sorely needed – as well as physicians, was turned back from its point of departure in Cyprus. With the Free Gaza movement bringing such ‘dangerous’ cargo, the Israeli navy reportedly threatened to open fire if the boat did not turn around.

After a boat ramming incident by the Israeli navy stopped a previous attempt from reaching the people of Gaza, passengers this time around made a full disclosure of intent and cargo to the Israeli authorities before departing.  Of course, this made no difference as yesterday’s events illustrate. Nevertheless, international activists have pledged to attempt to deliver aid by sea once more at a later date.  After successfully breaking the siege numerous times before the start of the December 27th Israeli offensive on Gaza, they have been unable to reach shore. Will they ever be able to again?

Someday history will remember when the Israeli navy turned back “the Spirit of Humanity.”

Just as the sign in the photo says the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles was closed for war crimes this morning! The direct action taken in response to the murderous campaign Israel is waging – which has today taken the lives of over 1,000 Palestinians with more than 300 children among the dead – comes as result of activists involved in the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network. They blocked the entrance to the consulate for more than three hours before negotiating an end of the action with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Hannah Howard, a local member of the network, explained the motivation for shutting the consulate down:

“We are shocked and outraged at Israeli’s latest act of violent aggression against the Palestinian people. Killing over 950 people, including 250 women and children, bombing schools and mosques and then calling it self-defense-that is the worst kind of hypocrisy. It also amounts to war crimes. We are shutting down the Israeli consulate today because as Jewish people we cannot allow business as usual while violence is being done in our name. This is a direct betrayal of our Jewish tradition of social justice.”

A few minutes into the action, Uprising Radio broke the news with a live interview with Lisa Adler, a participant in today’s morally righteous action:

[audio http://www.archive.org/download/DailyDigest011409/2009_01_14_adler.mp3]

With the overall death toll in Gaza reaching 854 people since the December 27th Israeli invasion, today’s protest action at the Westwood Federal Building in Los Angeles was aptly titled “Let Gaza Live!”

There were thousands of supporters on this day where regional protests also occurred in Washington D.C. and San Francisco. The man beneath the waving Palestinian flag was holding up a prop representing a dead baby and chanted “stop killing children” as the offensive has claimed the lives of more than 200 young ones.

Various speakers took to the ‘Let Gaza Live’ stage of the protest rally after the mass march concluded including spokespersons from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Al-Awda and KPFK host Blase Bonpane!

The flags of Palestine were out en masse as one speaker instructed the crowd to lift them high. The wind obliged as well, flapping them with its strength in an impressive display.

Finding agreement with Venezuela’s decision to expel the Israeli ambassador from their country, a man at the rally held a sign declaring “Viva Gaza!”

Like I said about Councilmember Weiss’ statement, all of Los Angeles does NOT stand with Israeli agression. “Our Solidarity Shines Through Protest” Let Gaza Live!