Global Focus

Standing with Gaza in -11 Degrees Celsius

Umer Ansari, United States, Saturday 2 February 2008

On Thursday January 24th, a crowd of at least 50 people gathered around at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Diag in Ann Arbor Michigan. These fifty and more people stood with candles and banners in their hands. It was a very cold and chilly night, about 11 Degrees Fahrenheit (-11 Celsius) but they took out their time to stand against the recent boycott of Gaza by the State of Israel.

Israel announced the blockade on Thursday Jan 17, after few days Gaza’s only Power Station shutdown due to lack of oil supply leaving the city in darkness at night. According to Israel, it was in response to the rockets shot from Gaza. On 23rd some militants blew the border fence between Gaza and Egypt, resulting mass border crossing of Gazanians into Egypt for essential goods. For a week now, Egyptian security forces are not stopping mass border crossing. The traders have increased the prices of products and it’s hard for common Palestinians to fulfill there needs.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day 01/21/08, one of the African American’s leading non-violent Civil Rights Leaders, a student named Banasakr gave a thought to King’s famous quote “Injustice any where is injustice everywhere” and decided to protest against Israel’s economic boycott. According to Banasakr it was a two-day preparation; she e-mailed everyone in her contacts and organized this protest. She said, “It was a two day effort and church donated candles... we are here standing with people of Gaza.”

Protesters were from different age groups, from high school students to college students and retired adults, and were standing making huge circle many with hands in hands demanding lifting of the boycott.

Yamaan, another protester and a member of Muslim Student Association of U of M- Ann Arbor, when asked what is his objective to be out here in such cold night he replied “I am here to bring attention to the world about Gaza people.”

One of the many banners said:
“The Children of Gaza
Do not throw Rockets
The Children of Sderot
Do not starve Gaza
Stop the siege
Negotiate.”

The crowd dispersed peacefully with a hope that current situation of Gaza will soon come to an end and International community especially United States will pressurize Israel to lift the boycott and end this crisis peacefully.

This peaceful protest was one of many; there will be another peaceful rally on Tuesday January 29 at University of Michigan- Dearborn in Michigan to show the solidarity with the people of Gaza. In Houston Texas, this last Saturday Jan 26 08’ there was another Protest.

To teach the lesson to Hamas, all Palestinian residents of Gaza are suffering; United States is having little or no say, while Palestinian Authority President Mr Abbass is trying to negotiate with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

I hope that International Communtiy will resolve this conflict peacefully, more blood and lives are not worth it on both sides.