The protest was in Seattle on Saturday, July 26, & under the space needle across the street. Signs read "Free Palestine now", "Stop Killing Children", "Zionism = Nazism", among many & accompanied by Palestinian flag waving & Netanyahu effigies in Nazi uniforms. The event was nonviolent & street crossings were done within legal limits. They cooperated with the police, which were in a large presence, possibly due to the Sea Fair Torch lighting parade on the same street later that night. Chants of "free, free, Pale-stinnnnne" ranged loud through megaphones partnered with drums.
"We stand in
solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine at this time of vicious
repression. This onslaught will achieve nothing but a mounting death
toll. We call for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from the
Gaza strip.
This carnage we
are witnessing would not have been possible without US taxpayers’
dollars, and Obama and Kerry’s support. They are attempting to defend
the indefensible. We call for an end to all US funding for the Israeli
war machine.Protests are
taking place around the world, including the mass protests in the West
Bank and in Israel. These protests within Israel/Palestine especially
offer huge hope of ending the destruction. We will work to build an
international mass movement against war and terror, and an end to this
system of exploitation and oppression.
Full Socialist Alternative Statement
"Stop Israeli State Terror
Mass Action Shows the way Forward!
Over 800
Palestinians have been killed in the current war – the overwhelming
majority civilians. 38 Israelis have also lost their lives. The
destruction raining down on the Gaza strip, carried out by the huge
US-backed military machine of the Israeli government, is completely
disproportionate to the threat faced by homemade rockets fired from
Gaza.
Israeli Prime
Minister Netanyahu claims that the war is necessary to guarantee
Israelis safety. In reality, this ground invasion will do nothing to
make Israelis safer. It is at the expense of many lives, such as the
vicious attack on people sheltering in a UN school. Homes of those
accused of killing Israelis have been targeted and destroyed, leaving
survivors to search for the dead amongst the rubble. Meanwhile, no such
action has been taken against the families of far-right Israeli
activists charged with killing Mohammad Abu-Khdeir.
This conflict,
and the ongoing vicious oppression of Palestinians, is rooted in the
western quest for domination throughout the Middle East. It is
intractable under the present capitalist system, which places profit
over people.
The spark that ignited this present conflict is the
collapse of US-backed peace talks in April, and the formation of a new
Palestinian government supported by both main political parties, Hamas
and Fatah. Israel had attempted to hold back demands for Palestinian
statehood by playing off one party against another; the threat of a
united government is the main threat the Israeli government is fighting.
Netanyahu’s
government has a policy of expanding into Palestinian areas by
supporting new settlements and driving Palestinians off their land. It
has no interest in working for a real peace, and for a genuinely
independent Palestine. The US, led by Obama, fully backs the right-wing
Israeli government as a steady partner in an oil-rich region wracked
with war and instability.
Unfortunately, the rockets fired into
Israel have threatened lives and given Israel the excuse it needed to
justify a ground invasion of the Gaza strip. These tactics are
counter-productive, and will not further the cause of an independent
Palestinian state.
We cannot rely on corporate politicians to solve
this situation; it is only through mass action of workers and others in
the area that a lasting solution can be won. The protests throughout the
West Bank, and of Arabs within Israel, including widespread closures of
businesses, are a tremendous example of what is needed.
This
movement shows the anger that exists, and the potential for a
Palestinian “Arab Spring.” It is fear of this kind of mass action
further developing that has helped force the US to step up efforts for a
ceasefire. Growing joint protests of Jews and Arabs within Israel have
also shown the potential for working-class people uniting for an end to
the conflict.
In 2011, Israel saw a mass movement for public
investment in housing, and other social services, which showed the
potential for class divisions to open up in Israeli society. The
struggle for peace, work and housing for Israelis and Palestinians can
only be won by mass struggle; kicking out the vested interests of the
western governments, of big business, and of the right wing parties in
Israel and Palestine.
• Stop the slaughter! End the missile strikes and other attacks on Gaza!
•
End the blockade of Gaza. For the immediate withdrawal of the Israeli
army from the Palestinian territories. The conflict will not be solved
by military means.
• For a mass struggle of the Palestinians, under their own democratic control, to fight for genuine national liberation.
• For independent workers’ organizations in Palestine and Israel.
•
For an independent, democratic socialist Palestinian state, alongside a
democratic socialist Israel, with two capitals in Jerusalem and
guaranteed democratic rights for all minorities, as part of the struggle
for a socialist Middle East and regional peace.
Socialist
Alternative is in solidarity with the Committee for a Workers’
International, and it’s affiliates around the world - including Israel /
Palestine"
www.socialistworld.net
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*Photos (in order of start-finish)
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| Anonymous member wearing the iconic Guy Fawkes mask. |
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*All photos taken by Digit Revs photojournalist
Collin Curtin unless otherwise stated.
Photos are allowed for non-profit use with accreditation. Contact for for-profit use.
Port Townsend, WA, a calm liberal hipster art area's municipal government is trying to regulate Arhata Osho, a 64 year old activist & friendly-hippy-looking with long hair & a ty-dye shirt's free speech. "Free Speech has been stolen" his sign reads. His protest-sign-cart has a LGBTQ-rainbow American flag, and many protest signs with messages ranging from his story of his court case, why free speech is important, anti-discrimination, & anti-religion("religion is all a myth"). At his cart you can donate money to him or sign up for his email list to receive his political writings. He's not yelling or soliciting, and his cart is only the size of about a shopping cart excluding the tall rainbow flag. It may be somewhat of an eyesore to some, but it's not causing any noise pollution and isn't blocking the walkway. “If they pass this, they are going to have to cart me away" he said in regards to the regulations being imposed. A local waitress commented saying "Port Townsend is always being difficult." Shocking to Arhata was that "this is happening in a state that legalized marijuana & has passed leading laws in gay rights. I might have thought this would happen to me when in California, but not here." Osho started on Venice Beach.
Follow Arhata at his blog: 
