Nearly three dozen people marched and chanted outside Wendy’s on Charles St in Providence Friday afternoon to call attention to the boycott of the food chain called by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), a group that has fought for farmworker’s rights and fair treatment for two decades. Wendy’s remains the largest fast food chain that refuses to ethically source their produce from CIW supported growers. Rather than supporting the efforts of the CIW, Wendy’s began purchasing its produce from Mexico, where workers “continue to confront wage theft, sexual harassment, child labor and even slavery.”
CIW member Julia de la Cruz lead the protest, assisted by members of the Brown University Student Labor Alliance, the AFSC, Fuerza Laboral and the Fair Food Alliance.
When a coalition of five protesters approached the restaurant to deliver a message to the manager, they were loudly asked to leave the property, and did. The protest lasted 90 minutes and garnered the support and interest of many passersby.
For its 9th Annual Festival PRONK! partnered with the STEP UP Coalition to support to the Community Safety Act (CSA). The goal of the collaboration was “to use music, dance and art to bring attention to injustices and inequalities in our city and encourage people across Providence to stand behind the legislation.”
The STEP UP Coalition is made up of the Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM), Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Olneyville Neighborhood Association (ONA) and various other activist groups in Providence. The CSA is a citizen-proposed ordinance that would address racial profiling and other abuses of power by police. Mayor Jorge Elorza recently said the CSA could pass before the end of the year.
This is the ninth year for PRONK! (Providence HONK!) which takes place every Indigenous People’s Day. It is not a Columbus Day parade. Local bands, such as the Extraordinary Rendition Band, What Cheer? Brigade, and Kickin’ Brass participated, as well as bands from around the country. Organizers describe PRONK! as “a cacophonous street celebration with out of town brass bands! We are a street intervention like no other, with outfits and misfits from Rhode Island and beyond – musicians, artists, activists, makers – taking over the streets as part of the Providence HONK Parade.”
Organizers go on to say that PRONK! “spawned from the original HONK! Festival in Somerville, MA that has “grown into a new type of street band movement—throughout the country and across the globe—outrageous and inclusive, brass and brash, percussive and persuasive, reclaiming public space with a sound that is in your face and out of this world.”
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza attended an East Side forum on the Community Safety Act (CSA), saying that despite some differences, he doesn’t “think it will be a problem getting this done before the end of the year.”
East Side City Councillors Kevin Jackson and Sam Zurier were in attendance. Councillor Seth Yurdin was out of town. While Jackson is fully in support of the CSA, Zurier and Yurdin have both publicly registered doubts.
After Elorza heard the speakers below, he spoke about his own encounters with the police, due to racial profiling. Though in broad agreement with the CSA, Elorza did outline some points of disagreement, including issues around the use of canines in policing, requesting proof of ID from juveniles, a prohibition against photographing juveniles, the eradication of the gang identification database and concerns that a “community safety review board” clashes with the police officers bill of rights.
On the gang database, Elorza believes that there will be a way to make the process more open, so that people will be able to have some measure of oversight. He also feels that there may be ways to craft policies that will satisfy both sides of the issue.
“There are many more places where there is agreement than disagreement,” said Elorza, “and on the areas where there are disagreements, I still remain very hopeful.”
There was little doubt that the community members in attendance were squarely behind the CSA. Nine residents spoke passionately about the need for expanded oversight of the police. Resident Don Baier told a very personal story of when he called the police to help find his sister, who was roaming the streets, delusional. Because of the excellent work of the police, his sister was recovered unharmed and received treatment. Not everybody has such positive interactions with the police, said Baier. He wishes that “every neighborhood could get the same kind of swift, thoughtful action” from the police.
Resident Maureen Reddy is a white East Side resident with a black husband and children, and she is afraid to call the police, for fear that her family might be imperiled. “Both of my children have been hassled by police, repeatedly,” said Reddy. Her son simply assumed that when he left the house, he would be stopped by the police and asked to explain himself. Her daughter was stopped on Benefit St by officers with guns drawn. Had it been her son in that position, she fears he would be dead.
Once a man pulled into Reddy’s driveway and asked her to call the police. Before she did so, she made sure to tell her husband to wait inside the house, so he wouldn’t be a target when the police arrived. Another time, when a woman was yelling in the middle of the night, Reddy did not call the police. Her husband and other neighbors went outside to assist the woman, but before the police arrived, her husband went back into the house. Again, he did not want to be a target of police suspicion, simply because he was black.
Julia Carson is the Principal of Central High School in Providence and an East Side resident. “I am heartbroken when I am ordered, by police officers, to clear the plaza [at Central High school], ‘get the trouble out.’ I don’t know about any of you, but high school was my safe haven growing up. We used to hang out every day after school and I don’t understand why my kids can’t do the same thing.”
Criminal Justice Attorney Annie Voss-Altman cited research that shows that non-whites are more likely to experience the use of non-deadly force in their encounters with police. “Subject compliance didn’t matter,” said Voss-Altman, “across the board, you’re fifty percent more likely to experience the use of force in your encounter with the police is you are black or Hispanic than if you are white or Asian.”
East Side resident Doug Best made the financial case for the CSA. “…the cost of paying settlements for police misconduct,” said Best, is “our major contributor to poor ROI [return on investment].” In other words, when the police mess up, it costs the city money to settle cases.
East Side resident Mark Santow is an American historian provided a historical context for the CSA. Present policing policies in communities of color drive resentment towards the police, said Santow, “and resentment can prevent the type of effective policing needed to keep communities safe and officers safe.”
Libby Edgerly highlighted the positive efforts the Providence Police department has made in addressing some of the concerns presented this evening. Including Mayor Elorza’s recent announcements regarding plans to address concerns about homelessness downtown. “Other notable recent police department initiatives,” said Edgerly, “include requiring police to use department phones, not personal phones, when videoing non-violent demonstrators. Also, supporting a youth basketball group. Also, instituting additional police training on how to work with people suffering mental health disturbances and, finally, choosing not to purchase military equipment offered by the federal government to police departments nationwide.”
The last item generated appreciative applause.
Ondine Sniffin is a resident of the East Side, a Latina, “and I’ve been arrested at a traffic stop… I learned that even though I’m an educated, English speaking U.S. citizen, I can still be mistreated, solely on account of my gender and/or ethnicity.”
East Side resident Sarah Morenon said that having theses practices established as policies is not enough. Policies change and are enforced at the whims of whoever is in charge. “My concern,” said Morenon, “is codifying the desired practices, to put into writing the police behavior guidelines, and get them into law… where subjectivity will not play such a major part.”
“I would like to see the city policy about non-compliance with ICE holds codified,” said Morenon, right ow the policy is “an informal directive.”
Councillor Sam Zurier expressed some doubts about the CSA, and talked about legislation he plans to introduce as a kind of a “stop-gap” measure.
Councillor Kevin Jackson has black sons, and he’s been a stalwart supporter of the CSA.
Moderator Wendy Becker
Martha Yager of the AFSC helped organize the event.
Vanessa Flores-Maldonado is the CSA coordinator.
Elorza’s support for the CSA was clear. Zurier may need more convincing, and Seth Yurdin’s present opinion is unknown.
A subcommittee of the Providence City Council is slated to consider on September 1 the Community Safety Act – a proposed bill that would make police officers more accountable to the people they detain and reduce racial and other forms of discrimination.
A coalition of community groups called the Step Up Network have launched a campaign to promote the legislation – the group includes DARE, the American Friends Service Committee, Providence Youth Student Movement, the Olneyville Neighborhood Association and the White Noise Collective. On Thursday, a Black Lives Matter action called on the City Council to pass the CSA.
Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steve Pare does not support the Community Safety Act. RI Future has asked for an interview with Mayor Jorge Elorza about it. We will be reaching out to members of the City Council as well.
Click here to read the full text of the proposed Community Safety Act.
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Dexter Field in Providence was the site of an emotive, almost overpowering memorial to the 522 children who lost their lives in the senseless war between Israel and Gaza which began one year ago on July 7. One black pinwheel was created for all of the 521 Palestinian children and the one Israeli child who lost their lives. Each pinwheel was then labeled with the name of the child and planted in the grass near the corner of the park by Martha Yager of the American Friends Service Committee.
Passersby asked questions, explained the memorial to their children, or sat in quiet contemplation.
Today marks the one year anniversary of the death of the 4 young Palestinian cousins who were killed while playing soccer in front of a stunned international press corp.
“The story is no more horrific than any of the others,” said Yager in her release for the event, “but it put a human face on the random carnage of war.”
I wrote quite a bit about the local reaction to last year’s devastating war in Gaza. Interested readers might check out:
Emergency Solidarity Rally in support of Israel
Two communities, two rallies, one war
Rally in Providence stands with peace
As the ceasefire fizzles: A rally for peace in PVD
Forum: Understanding the Israel-Gaza Crisis
Video: Common ground found at Israel/Gaza forum
Solidarity, from Ferguson to Palestine
Here is a complete list of names and ages of all 522 children being remembered:
Ahmad Nae’l Mahdi, 16, Hussein Yousef Kawari’, 12, Basil Salem Kawari’, 9, Abdullah Mohammed Kawari’, 12, Qasim Jabr Odeh, 11, Seraj Iyad Abdel ‘Al, 8, Mohammed Ali Kawari’, 15, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Masri, 14, Aseel Ibrahim Al Masri, 15, Yasmin Mohammed Al Mutawaq, 3, Mohammed Mustafa Malaka, 2, Ameer Iyad Areef, 12, Mohammed Iyad Areef, 10, Nidal Khalaf Al Nawasra, 4, Mohammed Khalaf Al Nawasra, 2, Raneem Jawdat Abdel Ghafoor, 1, Sulaiman Saleem Al Astal, 17, Musa Mohammed Al Astal, 15, Meryam Atiyyeh Al ‘Arja, 9, Abdullah Ramadan Abu Ghazal, 4, Abdel Rahman Bassam Khattab, 6, Saad Mahmoud Al Haj, 17, Fatima Mahmoud Al Haj, 14, Ismail Hasan Abu Jame’, 17, Saher Salman Abu Namous, 2, Anas Yousef Qandeel, 17, Nour Marwan Al Najdi, 10, Safa Mustafa Malaka, 6, Anas Alaa’ Al Batsh, 7, Manar Majid Al Batsh, 13, Marwa Majid Al Batsh, 7, Amal Bahaa’ Al Batsh, 1.5, Qusai Issam Al Batsh, 12, Mohammed Issam Al Batsh, 17, Hossam Ibrahim An-Najjar, 15, Mu’ayyad Khalid Al A’raj, 2.5, Ziyad Maher An Najjar, 17, Sara Jehad Sheikh Al Eid, 4, Hamza Ra’ed Thary, 5, Ahed Attaf Bakr, 10, Zakariya ‘Ahed Bakr, 10, Mohammed Ramiz Bakr, 11, Ismail Mohammed Bakr, 10, Ibrahim Ramadan Abu Daqqa, 10, Yasmeen Mahmoud Al Astal, 5, Hosam Mahmoud Al Astal, 8, Afnan Wesam Shuheebar, 8, Jehad Issam Shuheebar, 11, Waseem Issam Shuheebar, 8, Mohammed Ibrahim Intaiz, 13, Mohammed Salem Intaiz, 13, Yamin Riyad Al Hamidi, 4, Rahaf Khalil Al Jbour, 4, Mohammed Ismail Abu Msallam, 15, Ahmad Ismail Abu Msallam, 11, Walaa’ Ismail Abu Msallam, 14, Mousa Abdel Rahman Abu Jarad, 8 months, Haniya Abdel Rahman Abu Jarad, 2, Sameeh Na’eem Abu Jarad, 1.5, Ahlam Mosa Abu Jarad, 17, Samar Na’eem Abu Jarad, 14, Qasim Hamed Ulwan, 4, Emad Hamed Ulwan, 7, Rezeq Ahmad Al Hayik, 1.5, Sara Mohammed Bostan, 10, Abdallah Jamal Al Smeeri, 17, Amjad Salim Shaath, 15, Faris Jom’a Al Tarabeen, 3 months, Omar Eed Al Mahmoum, 17, Seham Ahmad Zourob, 11, Mohammed Ziyad Al Rahl, 5, Mohammed Rafeeq Al Rahl, 17, Omar Jameel Hamouda, 10, Nagham Mahmoud Al Zweedi, 12, Ru’ya Mahmoud Al Zweedi, 6, Waseem Rida Salhiyeh, 15, Mohammed Bassam Al Sorri, 17, Mahmoud Anwar Abu Shabab, 16, Dina Omar Azeez, 5, Aya Bahjat Abu Sultan, 17, Khalil Usama Al Hayya, 5, Hamza Usama Al Hayya, 4, Amama Usama Al Hayya, 6, Marwa Suleiman Al Sirsawi, 12, Dina Adel Isleem, 3, Heba Hamed Al Shiekh Khalil, 14, Tala Ahmed Al I’tiwi, 10, Dina Rushdi Hamada, 16, Saji Hassan Al Hallaq, 4, Kenan Hasan Al Hallaq, 6, Mohammed Hani Al Hallaq, 2, Ibrahim Khalil Ammar, 13, Iman Khalil Ammar, 9, Asem Khalil Ammar, 4, Rahaf Akram Abu Jom’a, 4, Abdel Rahman Al Iskafi, 12, Marah Shakir Al Jammal, 10, Ahmed Sofyan Al Jammal, 9, Samia Ahmed Al Sheikh Khalil, 2, Shadi Ziyad Isleem, 16, Fadi Ziyad Isleem, 10, Ali Ziyad Isleem, 11, Mohammed Rami Ayyad, 3, Mohammed Ashraf Ayyad, 3, Najiyeh Jehad Al Helou, 15, Maram Ahmed Al Helou, 2, Kareem Ahmed Al Helou, 5 months, Karam Ahmed Al Helou, 5 months, Nirmeen Majid Daher, 10, Othman Raed Al Jammal, 11, Ghada Subhi Ayyad, 13, Azmi Khalid Badwan, 16, Sha’ban Jamil Ziyada, 12, Mohammed Ayman Al Sha’ir, 6, Heba Akram Al Sha’ir, 7, Razan Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 14, Jawdat Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 13, Aya Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 12, Haifaa’ Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 9, Tawfeeq Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 4, Ahmed Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 8, Nour Eddin Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 4, Ayyoub Tayseer Abu Jame’, 10, Nujoud Tayseer Abu Jame’, 6 months, Fatima Tayseer Abu Jame’, 8, Rayan Tayseer Abu Jame’, 2, Rinad Tayseer Abu Jame’, 1.5, Batoul Bassam Abu Jame’, 4, Suheila Bassam Abu Jame’, 2, Bisan Bassam Abu Jame’, 1, Sajed Yasser Abu Jame’, 7, Seraj Yasser Abu Jame’, 4, Sarraa’ Yasser Abu Jame’, 3, Hosam Hosam Abu Qeenas, 7, Anas Mahmoud Mu’ammar, 17, Abdallah Yousef Daraji – Al Moghrabi, 2, Mohammed Rajaa’ Handam, 15, Yasmin Nayif Al Yazji, 4, Hatem Nayif Al Yazji, 3, Arwa Yasser Al Qassas, 4, Samar Yasser Al Qassas, 3, Israa’ Yasser Al Qassas, 7, Yasmeen Yasser Al Qassas, 10, Nesma Iyad Al Qassas, 10, Lamya Iyad Al Qassas, 13, Yasin Ibrahim Al Kilani, 9, Yasser Ibrahim Al Kilani, 7, Sawsan Ibrahim Al Kilani, 11, Reem Ibrahim Al Kilani, 12, Ilyas Ibrahim Al Kilani, 4, Dana Mohammed Daher, 1, Abdallah Abu Hjayyir, 16, Alaa’ Abdel Majeed Abu Dahrouj, 17, Othman Salim Bree’im, 17, Fadi Azmi Bree’im, 17, Abedl Rahman Awad Al Qarra, 17, Ghaidaa’ Nabil Siyam, 7, Mustafa Nabil Siyam, 9, Abdel Rahman Nabil Siyam, 6, Dalal Nabil Siyam, 9 months, Ahmed Ayman Siyam, 15, Ameen Ayman Siyam, 17, Iyad Mohamemd Sabbah, 17, Fatima Ahmad Al Arja, 16, Mona Rami Ikhriwat, 1.5, Shahd Mu’een Qishta, 9, Mohammed Ahmad Al Baddi, 3 months, Mahmoud Ahmad Al Qassas, 10, Abdel Nasser Sa’di Meslih, 17, Nour Ra’ed Abu Hwishil, 6, Obaida Fadel Abu Hwishil, 9, Ibtihal Ibrahim Al Rmahi, 3, Iman Ibrahim Al Rmahi, 15, Wesam Alaa’ Al Najjar, 17, Mu’een Mohammed Siyam, 5, Khalaf Atiyeh Abu Snaimeh, 16, Rabee’ Qasim Abu Ras, 9, Salma Rajab Al Radee’, 6, Ayman Adham ElHaj Ahmad, 16, Hazem Na’eem Aqil, 15, Rawan Ayman Sweedan, 7, Jana Rami Al Maqat’a, 3, Mohammed Mansour Al Bashiti, 7, Zeinab Safwat Abu Teer, 4, Mohammed Akram Abu Shaqra, 17, Mohammed Na’eem Abu T’eema, 12, Adham Ahmad Abu Eeta, 4, Hadi Abdel Hameed Rab El-Nabi, 3, Abdel Rahman Mahmoud Rab El-Nabi, 1, Mohammed Jehad Matar, 12, Amna Jehad Matar, 11, Do’aa Ra’ed Abu Odeh, 17, Meryam Shayboub Al Shinbari, 11, Abed-Rabbo Shayboub Al Shinbari, 16, Ali Shayboub Al Shinbari, 9, Abed-Rabbo Jamal Al Shinbari, 17, Soha Abed-Rabbo Meslih, 2, Mohammed Akram Al Kafarneh, 15, Mahmoud Ismail Al Astal, 17, Nada Tha’ir Al Astal, 5, Ameen Tha’ir Al Astal, 4, Anas Hatim Qdeeh, 7, Mahmoud Sulaiman Al Astal, 17, Ahmad Mohammed Al Najjar, 17, Mahmoud Jehad Abdeen, 12, Nabil Mahmoud Al Astal, 13, Ameer Adel Siyam, 12, Mohammed Ahmad Siyam, 7, Ibrahim Abdel Rahman Al Sama’neh, 17, Waleed Sa’ad Al Harazeen, 8, Abdel Kareem Anwar Al Darazeen, 5, Mohammed Anwar Al Darazeen, 3, Nour Mohammed Abu Dbagh, 12, Ahmad Ramzi Abu Qadous, 13, Walaa’ Mohammed Al Qabid, 15, Ahmed Mohammed Al Qabid, 11, Ahmed Waleed Sammour, 9, Hadi Salah Abu Hasanein, 12, Abdel Azeez Salah Abu Hasanein, 14, Do’aa Sami Sa’ada, 11, Anwar Abdel Qader Younis, 2, Ameer Hamoudeh Abu Shahla, 2, Islam Hamoudeh Abu Shahla, 3, Ameera Hamoudeh Abu Shahla, 1, Samir Hussein Al Najjar, 1.5, Mutaz Hussein Al Najjar, 6, Ghaliya Mohammed Al Najjar, 1.5, Bara’a Salah Al Riqib, 11, Rawan Khalid Al Najjar, 17, Ahmad Khalid Al Najjar, 14, Hadi Suleiman Al Najjar, 7, Yousef Jamil Hamouda, 15, Fadi Salim Baraka, 14, Sameeh Jibreel Jneed, 5, Yousef Emad Qadoura, 11, Hind Emad Qadoura, 10, Mohammed Mousa Olwan, 9, Yousef Abdel Rahman Hassouna, 11, Mahmoud Hazim Shbeer, 12, Ahmed Hazim Shbeer, 10, Jamal Salih I’lyan, 8, Bara’ Akram Meqdad, 7, Mohammed Nahidh Meqdad, 13, Ahmed Jaber Washah, 10, Mohammed Mahmoud Abu Shaqfeh, 7, Mohammed Emad Baroud, 10, Mansour Rami Hajjaj, 9, Abdel Samad Mahmoud Ramadan, 16, Hanan Salem Al Far, 15, Ali Hasan Al Howari, 11, Rami Khalid Al Riqib, 16, Hussein Yasser Abu Saqer, 16, Dalia Nader Al Agha, 17, Dina Nader Al Agha, 14, Iyad Nader Al Agha, 17, Fadel Nader Al Agha, 11, Tamer Ahmed Al Najjar, 16, Israa’ Naeem Balata, 13, Alaa’ Naeem Balata, 14, Yehia Na’eem Balata, 8, Hadeel Adbel Kareem Balata, 17, Mohammed Abdel Nasser Al Ghandour, 15, Jood Yousif Abu Eedeh, 8 months, Halima Mohammed Suleiman, 1.5, Baraa’ Mohammed Suleiman, 6, Haneen Hosam Hamouda, 13, Rahaf Alaa’ Abed-Rabbo, 2, Jamal Mohammed Abed-Rabbo, 1.5, Ali Ahmed Shaheen, 16, Aya Ismail Al Batsh, 12, Mohammed Taleb Asaaf, 8, Osama Ahmed Al Helu, 5, Rahaf Mohammed Farahat, 1 month, Nada Izzo Al Ja’al, 2, Mohammed Raed Abu Jabr, 3, Sama Raed Abu Jabr, 1.5, Toqa Salah Abu Jabr, 1, Leen Anwar Abu Jabr, 2.5, Salma Anwar Abu Jabr, 1.5, Hala Ahmed Abu Jabr, 6, Reeham Taysir Abu Mashi, 14, Sara Ahmed Abdel Ghafour, 1, Samaa’ Mohammed Al Najjar, 15, Mohammed Atta Al Najjar, 1, Rafeef Atta Al Najjar, 3, Mona Jehad Al Najjar, 1, Omar Waddah Abu ‘Amer, 12, Abdel Ghani Waddah Abu ‘Amer, 11, Emad Waddah Abu ‘Amer, 10, Issa Waddah Abu ‘Amer, 8, Ez Eddin Waddah Abu ‘Amer, 4, Mohammed Ahmed Abu ‘Amer, 12, Marah Ahmed Abu ‘Amer, 10, Yasser Ahmed Abu ‘Amer, 9, Marwa Ahmed Abu ‘Amer, 5, Suleiman Ahmed Abu ‘Amer, 2, Mohammed Jamil Al Najjar, 12, Layali Wael Al Najjar, 2, Jana Fayiz Breeka, 3, Lama Fayiz Breeka, 1, Osama Fayiz Breeka, 16, ‘Hala Ahmed Mu’ammar, 2, Yazan Ahmed Mu’ammar, 3, Aya Sami Al Ramlawi, 9, Mos’ab Ahmed Islaih, 17, Mohammed Mustafa Abu Hammad, 14, Mohannad Ashraf Al Qarra, 17, Zaher Mahmoud Al Najjar, 7, Abdallah Nidal Abu Zaid, 4, Shama Wael Abu Zaid, 16, Bisan Iyad Abu Zaid, 12, Mohammed Omar Dheer, 10, Maria Omar Dheer, 12, Tasneem Mohamed Dheer, 8, Mu’min Omar Dheer, 9, Ghaidaa’ Omar Dheer, 7, Salama Mahmoud Dheer, 12, Mohammed Mahmoud Dheer, 7, Arwa Mahmoud Dheer, 16, Yamin Omar Dheer, 5, Ibrahim Ahmed Al Hashash, 15, Bilal Ahmed Al Hashash, 16, Alaa’ Bahaa’ Al Ghareeb, 16, Alaa’ Ramadan Khader Salman, 17, Osama Mohammed Sihweel, 17, Sujoid Abdel Hakim Olwan, 11, Lama Ahmed Al Khalili, 5, Deema Ashraf Al Khalili, 4, Ziyad Ashraf Al Khalili, 3, Leena Alaa’ Al Silik, 9, Omniya Mohammed Al Silik, 8, Malak Jalal Al Silik, 7, Abdel Azeez Mohammed Al Silik, 3, Abdel Haleem Mohammed Al Silik, 5, Abed Wael Al Shamali, 16, Shaimaa’ Ibrahim Al Sheikh Ali, 1 week, Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Khousa, 1, Shahd Ibrahim Abu Khousa, 10, Yazan Emad Abu Khousa, 3, Retal Basheer Abu Khousa, 1, Mohammed Mohammed Abu Shamala, 9, Ibrahim Mu’tasim Kalloub, 4, Mohammed Akram Al Smiri, 14, Ibrahim Akram Al Smiri, 10, Asmaa’ Abdel Haleem Abu Al Kas, 15, Mayar Jamal Abu Msabeh, 10, Salah Mousa Hejazi, 8, Layan Nael Al Silik, 3, Ola Jalal Al Silik, 15, Nour Ezz Al Ja’al, 5, Hosam Ra’fat N’eem, 16, Mahmoud Ashraf Al Khalili, 7, Hadeel Amer Al Bayoumi, 14, Aseel Amer Al Bayoumi, 16, Hasan Mohammed Al Bayoumi, 14, Rinad Ashraf Al Assar, 1.5, Lama Ra’fat Al Assar, 7, Malak Shakir Abu Shouqa, 2, Mohammed Ammar Shalat, 10, Faris Mohammed Siyam, 11, Othman Fawzi Abdeen, 17, Ahmed Saleem Abdeen, 17, Sama Nael Al Birrawi, 10 months, Fayiz Tareq Yaseen, 16, Mohammed Ahmed Al Neirab, 14, Mu’men Ahmed Al Neirab, 8, Mahmoud Ahmed Al Neirab, 10, Lujayn Basim Al Farra, 4, Abdel Rahman Basim Al Farra, 8, Nadeen Mahmoud Al Farra, 16, Mohammed Mahmoud Al Farra, 12, Yara Mahmoud Al Farra, 8, Maysoun Ra’fat Al Breem, 7, Haytham Ahmed Al Smeeri, 12, Raneen Ali Al Qarra, 15, Fadi Nasser Al Qawasmeh, 17, Omar Shakir Barbakh, 15, Mu’tasim Mohammed Al Najjar, 12, Nagham Shareef Al Namla, 10, Jehad Suleiman Abu Omran, 12, Khalil Ibrahim Sheikh El Eid, 4, Aya Ibrahim Sheikh El Eid, 5, Abdel Kareem Ibrahim Sheikh El Eid, 2, Hala Bassm Madi, 3, Jana Bassm Madi, 2, Yousef Ahmed Madi, 3, Ibrahim Anwar Al Sha’er, 16, Emad Ahmed Ahmed, 17, Yehia Salim Al Tarabin – Al Mahmoum, 13, Do’aa Mustafa Al Mahmoum, 4, Bisan Mustafa Al Mahmoum, 12, Heba Mustafa Al Mahmoum, 9, Obada Mustafa Al Mahmoum, 2, Asmaa’ Salim Al Tarabin – Al Mahmoum, 16, Ibrahim Suleiman Al Masri, 5, Khalid Suleiman Al Masri, 4, Mohammed Ahmed Abu Sha’ar, 17, Anas Ibrahim Hammad, 4, Mohammed Anas Arafat, 5 months, Ameer Ra’fat Zorob, 15, Odai Ra’fat Zorob, 13, Shahd Ra’fat Zorob, 10, Khalid Ra’fat Zorob, 8, Ahmed Mustafa Zorob, 15, Mohammed Musrafa Zorob, 12, Waleed Mustafa Zorob, 6, Mu’tasim Musrafa Zorob, 2, Rawan Nash’at Siyam, 8, Rami Nash’at Siyam, 15, Ameen Yousef Abu Madi, 8, Yousef Shadi abu Madi, 7, ‘Hala Shadi Abu Madi, 10 days, Aseel Sofyan Ghaith, 3, Nour Mohammed Abu ‘Assi, 1 month, Haitham Yasser Abedl Wahab, 15, Ayman Yasser Abedl Wahab, 13, Lama Yasser Abedl Wahab, 9, Mohammed Yasser Abedl Wahab, 2, Ibrahim Fathi Eeeta, 13, Ahmed Fathi Eeeta, 7, Mohammed Fathi Eeeta, 5, Ibtisam Bassam Al Neirab, 12, Doha Bassam Al Neirab, 15, Ola Bassam Al Neirab, 3, Mohammed Omar Salih, 17, Rana Raed Abu Suleiman, 10, Ahmed Rami Abu Suleiman, 2, Lama Rami Abu Suleiman, 3, Mohammed Rami Abu Suleiman, 11, Jana Rami Abu Suleiman, 3, Emad Naseem Saidam, 17, Mohammed Nidal Abu Mehsin -Al Nims, 17, Yousef Mahmoud Abu Taha, 16, Riziq Ismail Abu Taha, 1, Somoud Ahmed Al Roumi, 5, Ameen Ahmed Al Roumi, 15, Mohammed Shu’aib Al Bahabsa, 17, Rajab Abdel Rahman Al Shrafi, 9, Abdallah Abdel Hadi Al Majdalawi, 13, Rawan Ahmed Al Majdalawi, 9, Mahmoud Ahmed Al Majdalawi, 8, Ahmed Mohammed Abu Nijm-Al Masri, 17, Raghad Mohammed Nijm-Al Masri, 3, Shaimaa’ Wael Qasim, 14, Remas Salem Khattab, 5, Tareq Eid Abu Mashi, 12, Dalia Atwa Khattab, 13, Ismail Wael Al Ghoul, 14, Mustafa Wael Al Ghoul, 1 month, Malak Wael Al Ghoul, 6, Mahmoud Mohammed ‘Okal – Hejazi, 9, Mohammed As’ad ‘Okal – Hejazi, 10, Aya Mohammed Abu Rijl, 3, Monthir Mohammed Abu Rijl, 6, Saqr Bassam Al Kashif, 7, Tareq Ziyad Abu Khatleh, 15, Amr Tareq Abu Al Roos, 15, Ahmed Khalid Abu Harba, 14, Yousef Akram Al Iskafi, 16, Ismail Sameer Shallouf, 17, Muneer Khalil Abu Dbaa’, 14, Maria Mohammed Abu Jazar, 2, Firas Mohammed Abu Jazar, 2, Nour Bahjat Wahdan, 2, Ghena Younis Saqr, 2, Ahmed Hatim Wahdan, 13, Hussein Hatim Wahdan, 9, Aseel Mohammed Al Bakri, 4, Asmaa’ Mohammed Al Bakri, 4 months, Mohammed Amjad Uwaida, 13, Amal Amjad Uwaida, 5, Hammam Mohammed Abu Suheeban, 11, Kamal Ahmed Al Bakri, 4, Khalid Ziyad Al Hindi, 15, Osama Hussein Lafi, 11, Ibrahim Ahmed Al Najjar, 16, Ibrahim Zuheer Dawawsa, 10, Bilal Bassam Mish’al, 15, Mahmoud Maher Hassan, 14, Mahmoud Mohammed Abu Haddaf, 8, Mahmoud Khalid Abu Haddaf, 15, Aya Anwar Al Sha’er, 13, Ez Eddin Saleem Abu Sneima, 12, Ahmed Mohammed Al Masri, 14, Maidaa’ Mohammed Aslan, 1.5 month, Ali Mohammed Daif, 7 months, Mustafa Rabah Al Dalu, 14, Sara Mohammed Daif, 2, Nour Mahmoud Abu Haseera, 2, Maysara Ra’fat Al Louh, 10, Farah Ra’fat Al Louh, 7, Mustafa Ra’fat Al Louh, 6, Saher Mohammed Al ‘Abeet, 11, Mohammed Emad Al ‘Abeet, 15, Iman Younis Al Louh, 17, Hassan Srour Tamboura, 13, Abdallah Tareq Al Reefi, 6, Ziyad Tareq Al Reefi, 13, Omar Nasser Al Reefi, 4, Raed Ahmed Khdair, 5, Mohammed Hamdi Salim – Abu Nahl, 17, Mahmoud Tal’at Abu Shreetih, 13, Ahmed Nasser Kellab, 17, Yousef Nasser Kellab, 15, Abdallah Nasser Kellab, 9, Seba Rami Younis, 4, Abdallah Shehda Abu Dahrouj, 3, Abdel Hadi Shehda Abu Dahrouj, 2, Badr-Eddin Hashim Abu Mnee’, 17, Mohammed Wael Al Khodari, 16, Zeinab Bilal Abu Taqiya, 1, Hussein Khalid Ahmed, 8, Tasneem Issam Joudeh, 14, Raghad Issam Joudeh, 12, Mohammed Issam Joudeh, 8, Osama Issam Joudeh, 6, Ahmed Radad Tanboura, 15, Amna Radad Tanboura, 13, Lama Khader Al Nabeeh, 4, Omar Hosam Al Breem, 16, Mohammed Hosam Al Breem, 13, Daniel Tragerman, 4
The one thing that virtually everyone who attended last night’s forum, Understanding the Israel/Gaza Crisis, is that the subject is extremely difficult to talk about without extreme emotions hijacking the discourse. Many of us, said moderator Reverend Donald Anderson, executive minister for the RI Council of Churches, have family or friends living in harms way in Israel or Palestine, so this is a hard topic to not take personally.
These concerns did not stop Rabbi Jim Rosenberg, retired spiritual leader of Temple Habonim in Barrington, or Martha Yager, of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), from wading into such treacherous waters as they engaged in an open dialog exploring many sides of the complex issue. Sponsored by the East Bay Citizens for peace, over eighty people attended the event and many posed challenging and interesting questions.
Rabbi Rosenberg began the forum by reading from a piece he had written for the Jewish Voice entitled, “What happens to a dream deferred?” written when the present conflict was just getting under way and the death toll was not quite so high. Rosenberg finds hope in “human solidarity” expressed in small actions of peace between Israelis and Palestinians. “…most Palestinian Arabs and most Israeli Jews contain overflowing reservoirs of human compassion,” he said. “The current nightmare has been brought about by the failure of decent citizens and their governments to condemn and to curb the actions of the lunatic fringe of both societies.”
Martha Yager, who recently visited Gaza as part of an AFSC staff visit sees the issue through a pacifist lens. She decried the militarization of the Israeli economy and pointed out that Palestine is not technically a nation. It is difficult for what passes as government in Palestine to provide national leadership. The occupation of Palestine by Israel is pervasive, and any move towards peace, according to Yager, must begin with an understanding that the occupation is itself a form of violence. “People have a right to resistance,” she declared.
The questions from the audience were pointed. A lawyer specializing in human rights work asked Rosenberg if he believed that Israel, with its greater military and political power had an obligation to use its power to end the occupation. Rosenberg did not hold out hope for an end to this conflict in his lifetime, or in the lifetime of his children. Another audience member took issue with Yager because she had not, in the audience member’s opinion, pointedly condemned the actions of Hamas. Yager assured the audience that she is no friend to Hamas, describing the political party’s rise to power as a protest vote on the part of the Palestinian people.
What might be most surprising to those who follow the terrible and seemingly perpetual tragedy in the Middle East is how much common ground actually exists. Both sides in the conflict and everybody present at the forum last night want peace. Only the most extreme elements on both sides deny that the two state solution provides the best hope for peace.
You can watch the entire forum here:
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The ongoing state of war between Israel and Palestine that periodically erupts into catastrophic death and destruction does not easily lend itself to rational, compassionate discourse. Those who venture into this subject do so at the risk of being labeled apologists for genocide, accomplices to terrorism or some other conversation stopping label. Who are the brave souls willing to navigate these treacherous waters in Rhode Island?
Martha Yager, program coordinator for the Southeast New England office of the American Friends Service Committee, and Rabbi Jim Rosenberg, retired spiritual leader of Temple Habonim in Barrington, will discuss these views in forum on Monday, August 25, 7pm at the Barrington Public Library, 281 County Road (Rte. 114) in Barrington. The forum will be moderated by the Reverend Don Anderson, Executive Minister for the RI Council of Churches.
A time for questions and answers will follow the forum, which is sponsored by the East Bay Citizens for Peace, and the American Friends Service Committee. This forum is free and open to the public.
Any donations will be much appreciated.
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Join in celebrating AFSC- South East New England’s 10th anniversary on Friday, April 19. Buffet dinner at 6pm followed by performances and remembrances at 7:30pm.
Originally scheduled for March 8 but postponed by snow, we are fortunate to have many of the Woman’s Day performers still able to join us. They include the Raging Grannies (read an excellent story about them here), Nada Samih (story about Palestine), Judy Perry (music), Ariel Wilburn (poem), Laura Brown-Lavoie (poem), Rachel Miller (music during dinner), and Cathy Clasper-Torch.
The evening will include a participatory look back at the past decade. Tickets are $15 for dinner ($10 low income) and $20-50 for the performance. This is an important fundraiser for AFSC-SENE so we hope you will be generous but it also is a celebration of community – so come and pay what you can. The event will be at the Providence Friends Meeting House, 99 Morris Ave (on the corner with Olney St). To RSVP call 508-399-6699 and leave a message, or email sene@afsc.org.
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