Let Gaza Live!
by Cynthia McKinney
Ms. McKinney, the former Georgia congresswoman and Green
Party presidential candidate, delivers the following remarks in Washington,
D.C., January 10. She was among the passengers on the medical relief boat Dignity
that was rammed by Israeli warships while on a mission to Gaza, December 30.
We don't see the images. They are neatly censored from our view in this
country. But everywhere else around the world the carnage that is Gaza is
being seen and the people are revolted by what they see.
They see dead babies, decapitated bodies, defenseless relief workers
killed. Maimed men, makeshift morgues, mortified mothers.
They see exploding white phosphorus shells, cluster bombs, depleted uranium
munitions.
They see what is reportedly the world's fourth most powerful military using all
of its power against a defenseless people.
In fact, they are witnesses to 15 days of war crimes, crimes against humanity,
ethnic cleansing, and genocide.
They see Hugo Chavez expel Venezuela's Israeli Ambassador and they see
lawmakers in Ecuador condemn Israel's actions, calling for an investigation
into Israel's crimes against humanity.
"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid cowers before the
pro-Israel lobby."
And despite the obvious facts of an Israeli-sponsored terror campaign against
Palestinians in Gaza, a piece of territory roughly twice the size of the
District of Columbia, they see the U.S. Congress support a resolution totally
supporting Israel, even though Israel is in violation of U.S. and international
law.
They see Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, swaggering in insult to black
America by initially refusing to seat Roland Burris from Illinois in the
Senate, yet that same Reid cowers before the pro-Israel lobby, and they wonder
why.
And sadly, they see the U.S. President-elect, who roared onto the scene like a
lion, remain as quiet as a lamb in the face of the utter inhumanity of Israel's
actions, and they wonder why.
And then, they see us. Gathered here in front of the White House,
reaffirming our own humanity, and that of millions of people around the world,
including in Israel, who disagree with this death and destruction. The
tears of the Palestinians roll down our cheeks, even as we bury our own victims
of police murder.
A new day is coming in U.S. politics. We will use the power of our vote
to change U.S. policy. We will no longer check our values at the door and
support politicians and political parties that fail to deliver.
Not one more bomb to Israel.
In defense of humanity, we will not give up and we will win.
Afeni is a community organizer and writer who is co-authoring an article soon to appear in Rolling Stone about FBI surveillance of Aretha Franklin. Afeni is joining us from Washington DC.
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