Cynthia McKinney Update, Spirit of Humanity Ship Seized With Crew Aboard

[XXPANTHAXX]

URGENT: PROPOSAL FOR EMERGENCY PROTEST TO DEMAND RELEASE OF "SPIRIT OF
HUMANITY"

All activists around the country are urged to organize emergency
protests on Wednesday, July 1st to demand the release of the Free Gaza
Movement's "Spirit of Humanity" ship seized by Israeli commandos. Those
who have been kidnapped and could be facing indefinite detention include
Former U.S. Congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney and Noble laureate Mairead
Maguire.

Below is an announcement sent out by the IAC for an emergency demo
tomorrow called by N.Y. City Councilperson, Charles Barron at a press
conference earlier this afternoon. The IAC is sending out a major
notice about this crisis later on today including the contact
information of U.S. officials to demand that the ship, that is carrying
vital supplies to besieged Gaza, and its passengers be released
immediately. Please let the IAC, by replying directly to this email,
know if you can call an emergency demo tomorrow so that your city can be
listed in a national press release. It is critical that these
demonstrations, no matter how modest, happen asap in light of the Viva
Palestina convoy that is scheduled to leave for Cairo starting this
weekend.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Dustin Langley 646-354-8056

EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION
Against Israeli Piracy & Kidnapping
Free Cynthia McKinney and all kidnapped human rights workers!

WEDNESDAY 4-6 PM

at the

ISRAELI MISSION
800 Second Avenue
(Second Avenue @ 43rd St.)

Last night, Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza
Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights workers
from 11 countries, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former
U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. The passengers and crew are being
forcibly dragged toward Israel.

The seizure of humanitarian supplies and abduction of human rights
workers is an act of piracy, a crime under international law. When the
boat was attacked, it was not in Israeli waters and was on a human
rights mission to Gaza. Israel's deliberate and premeditated attack on
an unarmed boat in international waters is a clear violation of
international law. Join us tomorrow from 4 to 6 pm at the Israeli
Mission to demand an immediate and unconditional release of the SPIRIT
OF HUMANITY, all 21 human rights workers, and the humanitarian supplies.

According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released
yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are "trapped in despair."
Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel's
December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of
almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and
other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that
hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to
Israel's disruption of medical supplies.

[Jalili]

Passing this along

[ajani]

It's very suspect (but not at all shocking) that this isn't getting any widespread mainstream coverage. I listened to the radio news for at least two hours yesterday evening on my way to work and watched the news when I got home late last night. I heard no mention of this. Even when you google the Congresswoman's name only about three sites report it (and one of the sites is the Free Gaza Movement!). *shaking head* Thanks for the post.