Waging Peace, Page 48

SF Activists Fast Outside Egyptian Consulate to Protest Gaza Blockade

Outside San Francisco’s Egyptian Consulate, Code Pink members dressed as grieving Palestinian mothers protest the Mubarak administration’s decision to prevent 1,400 international activists from entering Gaza for the long-planned Gaza Freedom March. (Staff photo P. Pasquini)

“WHEN I READ about Hedy Epstein’s hunger strike, I thought immediately this is a way for me to be a part of the Gaza Freedom March!” Code Pink activist Leslie Angeline told the Washington Report about her decision to fast outside San Francisco’s Egyptian Consulate in solidarity with the Gaza freedom marchers in Cairo and El-Arish who were barred by the Egyptian government from entering the blockaded Palestinian coastal territory. Fellow Code Pinker Nancy Mancias quickly put out an action alert to protest the actions of the Hosni Mubarak administration. Local television station ABC-7 reported on the peaceful protest, but since the consulate is located in a quiet, upscale residential neighborhood, only a few people passed by the fasting activists.

In a written statement provided to the Washington Report by officials inside the consulate, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs alleged, “...some of the organizers did not fully comply with all requested procedures, including the failure to submit required documents.” In addition, “Disputes among the organizers complicated the approval process,” the statement read.

Through the efforts of First Lady Suzanne Mubarak, president of Egypt’s Red Crescent, 100 people were finally allowed to enter Gaza. Since 1,400 activists were seeking to participate in the solidarity action, march organizers deemed this decision unacceptable, and ultimately only 67 people—mostly Palestinians returning to their families and those delivering badly needed medical aid—boarded the bus to the heavily guarded Rafah crossing.

—Elaine Pasquini