Waging Peace, Page 48

Palestinian Supporters March Across Golden Gate Bridge

IN SAN FRANCISCO some 300 supporters of the Gaza Freedom March walked across the Golden Gate Bridge Dec. 31 in solidarity with peace activists around the world to honor the 1,455 Gazans—including 431 children—killed by the Israeli military one year ago.

Sporting Palestinian keffiyehs around their necks and waving Palestinian flags, the marchers carried signs reading, “Free Palestine, Let Gaza Live,” “End the Siege of Gaza,” and “Stop Aid to Israel” to bring attention to the 1.5 million Gazans suffering under Israel’s strangling siege of their homeland. During its 22-day attack on predominantly civilians and their homes and infrastructure, the Israeli army committed war crimes by using illegal or experimental weapons, including white phosphorus bombs, flechettes and DIME (Dense Inert Metal Explosive), which causes deep cuts and amputations.

At the post-march rally, 15-year-old Mariam Al-Shafei of Beit Lahia, Gaza, recited one of her poems to the crowd. “Where are you, all of the Palestinians and Americans who care? Open your eyes, America! Scream loud for justice and freedom for Gaza,” read the teen poet, who was brought to California by the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund for medical attention. Miriam was critically injured in her home by shrapnel from an Israeli tank on Jan. 4, 2009.

The Gaza Freedom March was organized by the International Coalition to End the Illegal Siege of Gaza to bring human rights defenders to Gaza to march with the local population to the Israeli border. Due to the Egyptian government’s refusal to grant visas to all but 100 of the activists to enter through the Rafah crossing, the march inside the Palestinian seaside enclave was smaller than planned. Efforts by the activists remaining in Cairo to hold a solidarity march in the Egyptian capital were thwarted by security officers.

—Elaine Pasquini