Al-Awda, Palestine Right to Return Coalition For Immediate Release *ISRAELI PERPETRATED MASSACRE *PROTESTS TO BE HELD IN CITIES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA Demonstrations are planned in cities across North America to protest Israel's ongoing massacre of Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. More than thirty Palestinians have been killed, as of October 1, including at least seven children, by murderous Israeli occupation troops who have gone on an uncontrolled rampage. More than one thousand others have been injured by anti-tank missiles, live ammunition, plastic-coated steel bullets, and tear gas. The bloodshed began on Thursday, September 28, after Israeli General Ariel Sharon forced his way into the Haram Al-Sharif, Islam's holiest site in Jerusalem, accompanied by 1,000 heavily armed occupation troops. Palestinians protesting this provocation have been brutally suppressed by the occupying army. *In one of the most horrifying scenes shown on world television, 12-year old Muhammad Al-Dura was shot dead in cold blood by an Israeli sniper, while his father, Jamal, was trying to protect him from the hail of Israeli bullets. A Palestinian ambulance driver, Bassam al-Bilbeisi, who attempted to rescue the two was also shot dead by the Israeli sniper. Jamal Al-Dura remains critically injured in hospital. *In another alarming development, on Sunday, October 1, Israeli occupation forces began firing anti-tank missiles at a Palestinian Authority post near a heavily populated civilian neighborhood in the occupied Gaza Strip, killing a ten-year-old child and injuring at least 30 people. It is worth recalling that Ariel Sharon was the mastermind behind Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, which claimed more than 20,000 Palestinian and Lebanese lives, and the notorious massacres of thousands of Palestinian men, women and children at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon, the same year. In October 1990, occupation forces massacred 17 worshippers at the Haram Al-Sharif, and again stormed the compound in September 1996, killing three. Al-Awda/the Palestine Right to Return Coalition strongly urges all peace-loving people to protest the ongoing massacres and to demand that the United States government immediately stop providing the weapons to Israel which are used to massacre civilians. WHERE THE PROTESTS ARE: New York: Monday, October 2, 2000; The Consulate General of Israel in New York, 800 2nd Avenue (between 42nd and 43rd St.), New York, NY, 10017 Tel. (212) 499-5410 Fax (212) 499-5425, 12 to 2 pm. For more info contact Al-Awda Palestine Right to Return Coalition NY/NJ: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or International Action Center [EMAIL PROTECTED] San Francisco: Tuesday October 3rd, 2000 In front of the Israeli embassy in San Francisco, 456 Montgomery St. From 12:00 to 1:00 PM. For directions on how to get to the embassy, see: www.Israelemb.org/sanfran. For more Information call American Muslims for Global Peace and Justice 408-988-1011, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] or Al-Awda SF at [EMAIL PROTECTED] UC Berkeley: Monday, Oct. 2 (details to be announced). Ann Arbor, Michigan: 12 noon Monday, Oct. 2, Michigan Union steps. 530 South State Street, Ann Arbor. For more info write to Al-Awda Michigan: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Philadelphia: In front of Israeli Consulate 230 S. 15th St. (between Walnut and Locust). Tuesday October 3, 4 PM. Contact: Al-Awda Pennsylvania [EMAIL PROTECTED], Shouki Kassis 610-6661411 or Tawfiq Barqawi 609 685 9898, Anan Zahr 610-459-8498. Washington DC: Details will be posted as soon as they become available from Al-Awda DC. Montreal: Meet in front of the Concordia Hall building on Monday, 2nd of October at 3:00 PM and proceed to the Israeli Consulate on Rene Levesque. For more info contact SPHR [EMAIL PROTECTED] Houston: Demonstration 3:30 PM Sunday 10/1/00 Gathering will be at Cedar's Mediterranean Cafe & Restaurant 4703 Richmond Ave, (just inside the 610 Loop). For more info contact The Arab American Student Association and the Arab community in greater Houston Raleigh, NC: Tuesday October 3, in front of State Capitol. For information contact Al-Awda NC c/o Rania Masri at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Chapel Hill, NC: For information contact Al-Awda NC c/o Rania Masri at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Los Angeles: Monday October 2, 2000, The Israel Consulate 6380 Wilshire Blvd. (Main Cross Street is Fairfax) Los Angeles, CA. Time: 12 - 1 PM, Directions: from HWY 10 take Fairfax exit and go North till Wilshire Blvd. Go left on Wilshire, Consulate will be on your left. From HWY 405 take Wilshire exit and go East before you reach Fairfax, consulate will be on your right. For more information contact Palestinian Right of Return Task Force/ADC : (714)6361232 or (714)9042212. New Haven CT: Sunday October 1, 2000. Meeting Point: At 5:30 Church and Chapel, Downtown New Haven to be followed at 6:30 by a gathering at Lieberman's house. 2 PM meeting in Orange to prepare signs and placards. Call 213-397-0067 for information. Chicago: Monday October 2, 5PM. March from Chicago Tribune Tower (435 N. Michigan) to Israeli consulate. Sponsored by: Arab American Action Network,Al-Awda Chicago, Arab American Institute, Arab American View Newspaper, Islamic Association for Palestine, United Arab Networking, American Friends Service Committee, Hammerhard Mediaworks, (list in formation). For information, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Previous Demonstration: Friday 29th September from 3 PM to 6 PM: Israeli Embassy in London, Kensington High Street. Friends of Al-Aqsa, PRC, Al-Awda London. Further info: 077 11 823 524 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
