Letter from an Israeli Jail, by Cynthia McKinney
Mark Graffis
section Saturday, 04 July 2009
This is Cynthia McKinney and I'm speaking from an Israeli prison
cellblock in Ramle. [I am one of] the Free Gaza 21, human rights
activists currently imprisoned for trying to take medical supplies
to Gaza, building supplies - and even crayons for children, I had
a suitcase full of crayons for children.
While we were on our way to Gaza the Israelis threatened to fire
on our boat, but we did not turn around. The Israelis high-jacked
and arrested us because we wanted to give crayons to the children
in Gaza. We have been detained, and we want the people of the world
to see how we have been treated just because we wanted to deliver
humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.
I am facing deportation from the state that brought me here at
gunpoint after commandeering our boat. I was brought to Israel
against my will. I am being held in this prison because I had a
dream that Gaza's children could color & paint, that Gaza's wounded
could be healed, and that Gaza's bombed-out houses could be rebuilt.
....... Let's change the world together & reclaim what we all need as human
beings: Dignity. I appeal to the United Nations to get these women
of Ramle, who have done nothing wrong other than to believe in
Israel as the guardian of the Holy Land, resettled in safe homes.
I appeal to the United State's Department of State to include the
plight of detained UNHCR-certified refugees in the Israel country
report in its annual human rights report. I appeal once again to
President Obama to go to Gaza: send your special envoy, George
Mitchell there, and to engage Hamas as the elected choice of the
Palestinian people.
I dedicate this message to those who struggle to achieve a free
Palestine, and to the women I've met at Ramle. This is Cynthia
McKinney, July 2nd 2009, also known as Ramle prisoner number 88794.
Original audio message available here:
http://freegaza.org/it/home/56-news/984-a-message-from-cynthia-from-a-cell-bl
ock-in-israel
Entire Letter from an Israeli Jail, by Cynthia McKinney:
http://freegaza.org/en/home/56-news/986-letter-from-an-israeli-jail-by-cynthi
a-mckinney
Cynthia McKinney is a former U.S. Congresswoman, Green Party
presidential candidate, and an outspoken advocate for human rights
and social justice. The first African-American woman to represent
the state of Georgia, McKinney served six terms in the U.S. House
of Representatives, from 1993-2003, and from 2005-2007. She was
arrested and forcibly abducted to Israel while attempting to take
humanitarian and reconstruction supplies to Gaza on June 30th. For
more information, please see http://www.FreeGaza.org
Contact President Obama at:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/mypolicy
Call the White House at:
Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461