Part 1 of this article, in this issue of WIP, describes the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the many actions that PASS (Palestine Action of South Sound) has taken to influence our local federal representatives. In this Part 2 of the article the authors explain ways that readers can help PASS or other local activists to fight against the genocide in Gaza: local weekly Friday vigils; the Chevron Boycott campaign; and local remembrance events for lost Gaza children.
Alongside the daunting challenge of trying to impact our legislators is the much needed action in the streets: Friday night vigils at Percival Landing, street marches and rallies at the WA Capitol here in Olympia. At the recent “Rage Against the Regime” rally on August 2nd, PASS had a prominent information table and was able to talk with folks interested in the Gaza crisis and wanting connection with movement efforts. A key feature of the day was Dr. Mimi Syed’s comments from the stage… she spoke movingly of a 5-year-old girl who was brain damaged, almost given up for lost, then stabilized and given hope for a future. She spoke of the “genocide in real time” and how as an ER physician she sees the worst and the best…. from starvation as a weapon —- to finding the power of our collective voice.
PASS activists have also created a steady public voice over the corporate contributors to the genocide in Gaza… one in particular: Chevron. The Boycott Chevron campaign tells us this: “Chevron supplies light and energy via the operation and co-ownership of two major Israeli-claimed fossil gas fields in the Mediterranean…. Chevron’s extraction activities are funneling millions of dollars in tax revenues to Israeli government coffers, directly fueling Israel’s system of settler colonialism and violence against all Palestinians.” (from Boycott Chevron flyer) “Chevron Fuels Genocide” picket-protests are focused on the Tumwater Chevron on alternate Wednesdays. (see link below for more information)
On August 17, the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice and PASS created a local remembrance, a vigil, a solemn presence in downtown Olympia … “Shoes for Sidra.” Following shoe events this past year in Seattle and Portland and shroud events in Oslo, Norway, we recreated the somber, grievous remembrance of the children lost in Gaza. We lay out many shoes to symbolize the children lost, from toddlers to teenagers. This was a heart-wrenching, haunting reflection on our urgent need to say more, do more… to stop the loss of life.
From one of the posters at the vigil: “Sidra left this earth without legs and feet. She and many other children like her no longer need shoes. We as a global community have failed to protect them, and it is our responsibility to share their stories and honor their lives.”
…………
We are often left without words when thinking about Gaza. We question whether we have the right, the will, the energy to say anything, to do anything. We have definitely all felt at times … rage, confusion, futility, hopelessness.
But we are needed… our conscience, our concern, our dedication, our small acts, our witness.
…………….
The website for PASS is https://www.passoly.org/
About PASS, guiding principles, list of events/actions.
For detailed profiles of many PASS actions, events, analyses, key advocates, the writings of Dr. Mimi Syed and more, go to the PASS Legislative Committee website. https://passlegislative.com/
Chevron campaign: www.boycottchevron.info
Rachel Corrie Foundation: https://rachelcorriefoundation.org/
Institute for the Understanding of Anti-Palestinian Racism: https://antipalestinianracism.org/
Emily Antoon-Walsh is a pediatrician, a founder of the Institute for the Understanding of Anti-Palestinian Racism, and a member of PASS.
Lin Nelson is a retired Evergreen teacher, a former board member of the Rachel Corrie Foundation and a member of PASS.
Be First to Comment