This Thursday July 8th - Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Eyewitness Reports and John Greyson flotilla video short

[Mary-Jo Nadeau]

Please plan to attend this important event ... spread the word widely ...

GAZA FREEDOM FLOTILLA: EYEWITNESS REPORTS
Featuring flotilla survivors Farooq Burney and Kevin Neish

AND SPECIAL SREENING  OF "VUVUZELA", John Greyson's new video short
about BDS, the flotilla and the World Cup

P U B L I C   F O R U M
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Doors open: 6:30 p.m. | Event begins: 7:00 p.m.
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
Main auditorium, 252 Bloor Street West

TTC: St. George | Public parking available on Bedford Road

Suggested donation at the door: Adult $10 | Student/youth/senior $5
- or -
PWYC (pay what you can): No one will be turned away due to lack of funds

Event on Facebook: http://bit.ly/cxy7fA

In the early hours of May 31, Israeli commandos illegally boarded and
seized six ships carrying 663 unarmed humanitarian aid activists from
37 countries, and over 10,000 tons of badly needed aid for the people
of Gaza. When the raid was over, nine passengers were dead, dozens
more were injured, and hundreds were transferred to Israeli jails.

This illegal military assault on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla has, once
again, focused the world's attention on the humanitarian crisis in the
Gaza Strip. The flotilla's cargo included food, medicine, medical
equipment, toys, books, paper, school supplies, clothing, building
materials, and electricity generators - items that Israel has kept out
of Gaza since it imposed its illegal blockade in 2007.

The acute humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, as well as the attack
on the flotilla, are part of a growing list of Israel's deadly
violations of international law, including its war crimes committed in
Gaza and documented in the Goldstone Report (http://bit.ly/99GPQb),
and war crimes committed against the Lebanese people in 2006.

While the United Nations and world states have remained largely silent
and complicit, millions of people around the world have responded with
outrage about Palestinians' collective experience of over six decades
of Israeli apartheid. Immediately following the attacks, protests were
held across Canada and internationally to demand justice for those
killed on the flotilla, to demand an end to the Israeli siege on Gaza,
and to call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel
until it complies with international law.

On the eve of the 5th anniversary of the Palestinian-led BDS campaign,
join us for eyewitness accounts and discussion with flotilla
activists.

Farooq Burney and Kevin Neish, two of three Canadians who participated
in the flotilla, were aboard the Mavi Marmara when it was attacked by
Israeli commandos. Farooq and Kevin will share their eyewitness
accounts of the raid, and their experiences in Israeli detention. We
will also discuss ongoing efforts to end the siege of Gaza, and and
what you can do to support the broader BDS campaign to end Israeli
apartheid.

Farooq Burney is the Director of Al Fakhoora
(http://www.fakhoora.org), an international campaign to defend the
education rights of Palestinian students living in Gaza and the West
Bank. He was transporting 65 computers to students in Gaza as part of
the humanitarian mission.

Kevin Neish is a social justice and peace activist based in Victoria,
BC. A retired engineer, he has participated in numerous solidarity
campaigns in Canada, Latin America, and Palestine.

Co-organized by
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid
Toronto Coalition to Stop the War
Students Against Israeli Apartheid, a working group of OPIRG Toronto

Endorsed by
Palestine House Community Centre
Palestinian Canadian Congress
Gaza Freedom March
Beit Zatoun
Canadian Arab Federation
Canadian Peace Alliance
Educators for Peace and Justice
Muslim Unity
Canadian Shia Muslims Organization (CASMO)
Independent Jewish Voices
Women in Solidarity with Palestine
Not In Our Name (NION): Jewish Voices Opposing Zionism
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network - Toronto
The Holy Land Awareness and Action Group of Southwest Presbytery (United Church)
Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) - Toronto
Queers Against Israeli Apartheid

For more information or to endorse, please e-mail flotill...@gmail.com.

For media requests, please e-mail flotill...@gmail.com.

The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid is part of the growing
movement against Israeli Apartheid, and supports the global
campaign of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel until it
recognizes the Palestinian people's inalienable right to
self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of
international law.
http://www.caiaweb.org | endapa...@riseup.net

The Toronto Coalition to Stop the War is Toronto's city-wide peace
coalition, representing over 70 labour, student, faith, and
community organizations, and a member of the Canadian Peace Alliance.
http://www.nowar.ca | in...@nowar.ca | 416-795-5863