Above: Texas Gaza Protest by Charlie.Pearce, August 2014
Must Watch Video Describes tells the Truth on Israel and Palestine, the Slaughter in Gaza and Our Responsibility as Americans
Texas Stands With Gaza held a 5,000 person gathering in Austin, Texas Saturday August 2nd, 2014 to march and rally in solidarity with Gaza.
The video shows a gathering of people from around Texas protesting Israel’s siege of Gaza and massacres of the Palestinian people, with US support and funding of Israel while it violates international law. It was held on Saturday, August 2nd, 2014, 1:30 —4:00 pm at the Texas Capitol South Steps in Austin.
The event included Austin’s Interfaith Community for Palestinian Rights (ICPR), Palestine Solidarity Committee at UT (PSC), the International Socialist Organization (ISO), and Muslim American Society – Austin (MAS), in coordination with organizations from Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, who assembled at the Capitol to protest Israel’s assault on the Palestinian people. It was followed by a march down Congress Avenue to City Hall, where the rally continued.
Since July 8th, 2014, Israel has escalated its aggression against the Palestinian people, deliberately and systematically harming civilians, killing more than 1,500 Palestinians of whom 85% were civilians according to a UN estimate. In addition, thousands have been injured, more than 3,000 homes destroyed, and more than 100,000 people displaced. Gaza has been under a harsh siege since 2007.
The rally demanded that Israel end the illegal and immoral collective punishment of the Palestinian people, including the siege of Gaza, and that the US government sanction and hold Israel accountable for violating international law and human rights. Clergy from the three monotheistic faiths addressed the gathering, along with other speakers, a live link to Gaza, a march to City Hall, and spoken word performances.
We call on all people of conscience to stand with us and demand justice, liberty, and equal rights for the Palestinian people.
The statement of the organizers, signed by multiple organizations is:
We, the people of Texas, demand an end to Israeli atrocities against Gaza, including the land, sea, and air siege, and demand an end to the US government’s support to Israel as long as it continues violating international law and denying Palestinians their human rights.
The video features the following speakers:
Dr. Rania Masri, Professor, writer, human rights activist
Minister Jim Rigby, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Jewish Voice for Peace
Sheikh Islam Mossaad, North Austin Muslim Community Center
Snehal Shingavi, Professor, writer, human rights activist
Videography by Jeffry Zavala, Dalton Zavala, Nathan Blond & Mari Hernandez.
Editing by Jeff Zavala & Grace Alfar.
Austin Indymedia Production.
http://Austin.Indymedia.org
More information is available at www.texansforgaza.org