WIB HOSTS "FREE GAZA" EVENT
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
August 14, 2008
DC
Post-Free Gaza fund-raiser celebrants (l-r) Lucy DerTawitan, comedienne
Maysoon Zaid, Greta Berlin, Mary Hughes Thomas and Irena Varjabedian
(S. Twair photo).
IT WAS BILLED as "Culture as Resistance: A Night of Hip Hop, Activism
and the Spoken Word"–and as one spectator commented at the June 7
fund-raiser for the Free Gaza Mission, "It’s like being back in the
’60s without the cigarette smoke."
More than 115 Armenians, Latinos and curious Anglos turned up at the
Side Bar in Glendale, CA to learn more about the boat trip planned
in August by unarmed civilians to break the Israeli-imposed blockade
of Gaza, which even prevents Palestinian fishermen from fishing in
their waters.
Stirring Hip Hop lyrics were presented by Omar Chakaki, an architect
and founding member of the N.O.M.A.D.S., and Nizar Wattad, a
screenwriter and producer of "Free the P." An emotional performance
was offered by poet Mark Gonzalez, who has traveled to refugee camps
in Palestine and the streets of Havana.
Adding to the world class entertainment was a surprise performance
by Palestinian American comedienne Maysoon Zaid, who volunteered her
hilarious stand-up comedy when she learned about the event.
Prof. Yigal Arens, who was born in Israel and is director of USC’s
Information Science Institute, discussed the injustices Palestinians
live in under Israeli military occupation. Many questioned Dr. Arens
about Israel’s reasoning behind starving and depriving Gazans of
basic human rights.
Women In Black activist Greta Berlin discussed why Americans and
Europeans are willing to pay money to risk their lives on the proposed
August boat trip to bring food and medical supplies to the people
of Gaza. Afterwards, concerned listeners asked Berlin to come to the
Rotary Club and other civic organizations and discuss the plight of
the Palestinian people.