Sunday, January 4, 2009
Yesterday, Saturday (planned so in part to prevent religious Jews from being able to counter-protest), was a large Pro-Hamas demonstration at Copley Square Boston. The announcement circulated on a number of lists (Facebook page here), including distribution by the Muslim American Society (MAS)/Islamic Society of Boston. The announcement itself is revealing:
No more US Tax Dollars for Israeli War Crimes!
End the Genocide in Palestine!
End the Israeli siege of Gaza!
End the 60 Year Occupation of Palestine! [How many years? -S]
We support the right of Palestinians to resist!
speakers confirmed:
Deema Faisal, poet, Palestine Cultural Center for Peace
Ian Lavallee, an Iraqi Veteran Against the War
Representative of Somerville Divestment Project [Ended up being John Spritzler who made it clear in his speech that they support armed "resistence" -S]
Salma Abu Ayyash, Palestinian Activist
Gabe Camacho, AFSC
Jeff Klein, Dorchester People for Peace (prefers not to be introduced as Jewish because he is not.) [That's in the original announcement and is not my edit. -S]
Hannah Nesbit Allen, Hampshire College Divestment Project
Representative of UMass Boston Antiwar Coalition
Turnout was extensive, as the following pics and video will demonstrate, and a wide variety of groups show the Left/Islamist alliance is bearing fruit. Tables with literature were there for the usual collection of socialist 'workers' groups, and International ANSWER was again a major sponsor. Kaffiyehs, Palestinian Flags, masks and hijabs were everywhere, and the crowd was angry.
Thanks to Hillel Stavis and Ethan Beardsworth who were in attendance and provided the following pictures and video.
Stavis was on hand to have a talk with a few participants. Here he speaks to Antisemitic Jews (yes, there is such a thing) of the Neturei Karta, a confused sign holder, and one older fellow who, for the record, denies he is an antisemite:
I know I shouldn't be, but going through Stavis' videos, I was once again surprised by the level of outright ignorance and denial of fact displayed by the Leftists in attendance. I'm willing to allow the possibility that there may be someone who really knows what's going on and has simply integrated that data and come out with a conclusion that I might find crazy, but that simply wasn't the case. They simply don't allow the facts to interfere with their view of how the world is supposed to work. They have a determined ideological destination and exclude inconvenient facts to arrive at it.
The Islamists are far more straightforward. They know what their goal is -- destruction of the Jewish State -- and their use of human rights language is transparently a cynical coopting of it as a weapon.
The two groups come together for a shared goal.
Here is a short video of the group marching that gives an idea of the size and nature of the crowd:
For those who have been following things around here for awhile, rest assured that all your favorite personalities were on hand: The ACLU's Nancy Murray, David Rolde, Jeff Klein, Howard Lenow, Marty Federman, PF Soto, Khury Petersen-Smith, Salma Abu Ayyash, the Somerville Divestment Project's John Spritzler (who unequivocally assured the crowd that his group supports armed resistance), etc., etc...
Here are a number of photos. Sorry for the small size of some of them:
Hamas brags about their creation of martyrs, and sends children out to kill, or using them as human shields...but when some are unintentionally killed, who gets the blame?
Jews as Nazis is a perennial favorite. Not only is it massively bizarre and inaccurate according to the facts, but the only reason that the comparison is made is that Jews are involved. They wouldn't say it otherwise. That's antisemitism.
Hard to see, but over Jeff Klein's shoulder is a large banner supporting Gaza hung from the Community Church of Boston -- one of those "churches" that use a religious title but that are really just political projects. One of the old Socialists in the first video is a member.
ISM tool Max Escobar Geller was a crowd stand-out.
Update: Mike Dao has a gallery of photos from the event here.
Jillian C. York (who also has good photos of the event) notes:
...At one point a small altercation broke out, but it was quickly quelled. Later, as some Muslims in the crowd quietly stepped aside to pray Asr, one leader of the group took it upon himself to yell "Allah Akbar." A Muslimah near me, sensing the rift his words might cause, picked up her megaphone and shouted even louder: "Hey hey ho ho, aid to Israel's gotta go!" The crowd quickly joined in and drowned out the polarizing cries...
Hey dude, don't harsh my cognitive dissonance.
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Gaza on Boylston: Massive Pro-Hamas Rally in Boston.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.solomonia.com/cgi-bin/mt4/mt-renamedtb.cgi/15923
I was fortunate last night to get an invite to appear on WRKO 680AM's Pundit Review show with Kevin Whalen. Kevin wanted to discuss Saturday's Pro-Hamas Rally here in Boston and to talk about the Gaza situation generally. I ended... Read More
Some of the more naive or deceptive attendees at some of the Pro-Hamas events that have been going on over the past days like to try to claim that they support something called Gaza, but not Hamas itself or terrorism,... Read More
If the DHS and FBI were to investigate these demonstrators, the chances of foiling an al qada plot would be pretty good.
When these Hamas cowards quit making civilians stay in war zone areas then there will not be children killed: Hamas are cowardly terriorist who will do anything to get a little attention from world. They even send their own kids in a terriorist bombers.Then sand back and holler Israe is responsible.
Its is only In America that these people can protest.
LONG LIVE ISRAEL AND THE JEWS WHO FIGHT FOR THE LAND GIVEN TO THEM MANY HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
Well it seems that the people in this rally think that Israel should just stand by while Hamas drops bombs. Are these people ignorant or racist? The women and children have to run to shelters. I can't even imagine why they think Israel shouldn't do anything. If they had to walk in their shoes then it would be a different story. Especially if it was their neighborhoods, schools,and houses getting bombed. If they had to live in fear. Then they would be yelling for justice. They would be cheering Israel on!
Don’t get persuaded by the US and international “pressure” to stop your rightful actions in eliminating the Iran supported Hamas in its attempt to eradicate Israel as a country. The Europeans, especially will do anything to avoid another oil crisis, which became evidenced in 1973 when most EU governments “all-of-a-sudden” began criticize Israel in its effort to defend itself. Do remember that the loudest voices normally do not represent the majority.
God Bless and protect you and all your citizens,
My heart goes out for the people of Israel. They have given up so much already. If they didn't make stand, who was there to take up for them? With rockets of terror coming into their homes, schools, etc., they must defend themselves against the foe. You have our prayers and support.
Will continue to pray for Israel, Jerusalem and the IDF soldiers in harm's way.
I visited Israel once and it is God's country and will remain so. I fell in love with it. I never expected to fall in love with a country and its people.
I am so sorry that there are so many confused, ignorant and hateful people in the US who are demonstrating against Israel. There are many more of us who are praying for Israel and her people.
God bless you all.
That's just one of the reasons America and Great Britian are not in the end times prophesy, but God is on Isreal's side, and says in Zephaniah 2:4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
First Isreal will defeat Hamas in Gaza, then Siera, then ultimately Iran, but THEY WILL WIN!
ANSWER
It was a REALLY stupid question.
I am so embarrassed and ashamed that the world is now judging America by this foolish display of ignorance in Boston. Our right to free speech is often used by our least informed citizens. Our media was very successful for 8 years in slandering and maligning President Bush and many Americans are like stupid sheep who follow them over the cliff. God save us from not only evil people but moronic ones as well.
Your videos show a peaceful demonstration. What is the problem? Would this demonstration been allowed in Israel?
Would an anti-hamas demonstration be allowed in Gaza?
To see for yourself that Hamas is a racist nazi organization, read the Hamas Charter of 1988 (easily found with google), the same year that Pan Am 103 was bombed.
NEVER bargain with terriorist(muslims) believe lying to a non-believer is not a sin.
All they do is use time to rebuild resupply & send in re-enforcements; these children of Abraham have been fighting since the seperation of them when Ismal& his mother was send away. Jacob was the chosen of God ; so Ismal's decendents will continue to fight till Jesus Christ comes back to judge the world.
They will not believe nor understand that God will save a small part of the Jews every time as his word depicts.
All Praise to God the father of Jesus Christ my redeemer. Amen Amen
THis is a disgrace this protest for hamas, on the streets of America. If these people would only wake up and Come to the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ our Savior, there would be NO demonstrations like these to begin with. As well if they are not happy with the way our country protects Gods Chosen People, then they should be sent over to join Hamas in there terrorism and see how they would surrvive there. Why do we allow such nonsense to go on in our streets, it could start a war here. We should stand behind our leaders here in the USA, or say nothing. Also come to Jesus Christ and live, read Jn 3v16 For God so Loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever Believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting LIFE! God have Mercy on us ALL.
Why are these protests allowed in America? American is a free country where dissent is a not only a value but a right.
First these protests were no in support of Hamas; they were for the Palestinian people. Hamas is a terrorist organization and no one would condone their actions. I thank God everyday that America is not subject to what Dee would or would not allow. Expressing support for the Palestinian people and the suffering they endure is not also being anti-Israel. Finally, I will not stand behind leaders of our Country when they are wrong and I will not be silent. I served 22 years in the US Army and I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution not political leaders.
I am in total agreement. Israel is God's chosen nation and he loves the Jews. Why would he say that he would come back and significant biblical events focused around "end times" with the Israeli nation? Israel will defeat the Hamas but rest assured, they will do it with God's blessings and not the cursings that these demonstrators seem to feel they have a right to do. Perhaps, these demonstrators should get down on their needs and pray that God's will be done, not theirs and most particularly tap into the Bible for their knowledge-based protesting of Israel and the Hamas.
what is proportionate response t 4000 missles launched from gaza after already withdrawing from gaza?