Anti-Zionism Rally Was Success in Union Square

The third Rachel Corrie Banner Project demonstration that took place at Union Square on Saturday, August 16th, was deemed a success even though only nine demonstrators parpticipated on the gloriously sunny summer day. Demonstrators felt good just to be able to exercise their freedom of speech and to get their message out to the general public, which is "Stop U.S. Support of Apartheid Israel Now".

The two, huge, two-sided banners help to not only get the message out loud and clear, but they also make the demonstrations seem larger than life.

The images of Rachel Corrie, whom the group reveres as a modern-day Saint for her immense courage and dedication to the cause of justice and equal rights for the Palestinian people which led to her martyrdom on March 16, 2003, adorn the banners. There is the famous photo of her standing in front of the bulldozer that moments later was used to murder her, and the equally famous photo of her with a thoughtful, pensive look, a beige scarf draped around her neck and sunglasses propped on her head, giving her the look of a spiritual aviator.

While many shoppers were too blasé to even accept a flyer about boycotting apartheid Israel with information from the website http://www.boycottisraeligoods.org, others were interested in learning more about Rachel Corrie and the campaign to boycott apartheid Israel.

One Zionist passer-by obscenely grabbed his groin and spit on one of the vinyl banners when passing. Another Zionist who claimed to be from Israel shouted an obsenity at the group. Yet another Iraqi-Israeli woman made a big show of tearing up one of the flyers and shouted out that she had family that was wounded in a terrorist attack. We advised her that if Israel would only transform from a racist, anti-democratic, apartheid regime into a true modern democracy with equal rights for all regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or sex, including for all the Palestinian refugees, then there would be no more suicide bombers.

On the other hand, we had several people come up to us and thank us for what we were doing.

Overall, the group felt elated to be able to get their message out to more of their fellow Americans about stopping U.S. support of apartheid Israel, as there were many people who stopped to read the banners when passing on foot, car, bus or trolley. At the very least, more and more people are becoming aware of the fact that Israel is indeed an apartheid country, and that is contrary to American ideals of equality, liberty and freedeom for all regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or sex.

The first two demonstrations were in front of Congresswoman Pelosi's office on June 16, and then Congressman Lantos' office, on July 16. The next demonstration, which will be on Tuesday, September 16th, from noon to 1:30 in front of Senator Feinstein's office at One Post St. in San Francisco. The Rachel Corrie Banner Project plans to continue with these demonstrations on the 16th of every month, until the U.S. stops supporting apartheid Israel, both financially and diplomatically.

For more information, e-mail to americansforjustice [at] earthlink.net.