6.15.2009

"Hands For Gaza" event in NYC on June 17


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2009

Press Contacts: Nancy Mansour-Leigh and Mariam Aryia-Rivera, Existence is Resistance. handsforgaza@gmail.com/nancy@handsoffgaza.org/mariam@handsoffgaza.org

From NYC to Gaza: British MP George Galloway joins Progressive Hip Hop Artists Immortal Technique, Lowkey and others as well as Rosa Clemente in Benefit Concert to raise Money for the 2nd Viva Palestina Convoy…

Existence is Resistance organizers that brought you “Hands Off Gaza” and “Hands Off Palestine” present “Hands For Gaza” featuring George Galloway, Rosa Clemente, Immortal Technique, Lowkey, G.O.D., S.O.U.L. Purpose, Aalikes, Marcel Cartier, Rebel Diaz, Mohammad (PR Rappers Gaza) and DJ Vega Benetton to take place Wednesday June 17th, 2009 to raise money for the 2nd Convoy organized by Viva Palestina.

All monies raised are being donated directly to Viva Palestina. The event will be held at ARENA NYC, starting at 6.30pm @ 135 W41ST STREET, NYC. $20 w/ RSVP to handsforgaza@gmail.com.

About Viva Palestina: While the bombs were still showering down on what has been called the largest open-air prison in history, Galloway decided to organize a humanitarian convoy that would start in Britain, drive through France and Spain, and across North Africa to arrive in Gaza with aid, even as all borders to the devastated region were under complete blockade.

In just five short weeks, he pulled together 107 vehicles - including ambulances and a fire engine - 255 people and $2 million of aid, which set off from London on February 14. Some 23 days and 5,500 miles later it arrived in Gaza to tumultuous acclaim. The fact that so many people come from Britain whose government had, along with George W Bush, backed the Israeli aggression had an enormous impact on the besieged people of Gaza.

Now, Galloway is heading a second convoy - this time from the USA. The Vietnam War veteran, Ron Kovic, whose experiences in the war led him to become a life-long advocate of a more just US foreign policy, has readily agreed to be co-leader of the convoy. The convoy’s aim is to take hundreds of US citizens in 500 vehicles, bearing $10 million in medical aid from Cairo to Gaza. Convoy participants will leave from JFK airport on July 4, bearing the simple yet powerful message that Palestinian independence is as precious as US independence.

The group will organize the convoy in Cairo and proceed to Gaza the following weekend, proudly waving US and Palestinian flags, as well as banners declaring thousands of supporting organizations and institutions. This is set to be the biggest single aid effort for Palestine ever to leave US shores. It will be a source of great strength and hope for the Palestinian people. It will also have a major impact here in the United States, helping to stir US public opinion about the conflict in the Middle East and to bring about a permanent shift in government policy.

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