Posted on 04/06/2002 9:05:38 AM PST by hellinahandcart
APRIL 06TH, 2002
As violence escalates in the Middle East, New Yorkers will hold another rally for Saturday afternoon to show their support for Palestinians.
Saturday’s rally, called the "Free Palestine March," will start at Brooklyn Borough Hall, cross the Brooklyn Bridge and end up at City Hall Park.
Nearly 2,000 Muslims prayed and protested Friday against Israel's military actions toward the Palestinians.
“We are here to show the world that the Muslims in Palestine are facing a massacre by Sharon and his terrorists and his guerillas,” said one protestor. “And the Muslims in Palestine are peaceful and they're looking for peace.”
At the United Nations Friday morning, a group of state and local lawmakers spoke out in front of the Palestinian Mission, denouncing all terrorism and calling for solidarity with Israel.
Among the lawmakers attending the rally were Democratic candidate for governor Carl McCall and Governor George Pataki.
“There's no question that when Yasser Arafat pays for people to make bombs to kill civilians in Israel, Yasser Arafat is a terrorist,” Pataki said Friday.
“We must continue to show our support for Israel, we must continue to speak out for a cessation of violence, and we must say to the Palestinians, ‘If you want peace, then send forward people who really are committed to peace, who are willing to negotiate,’” said McCall.
Another candidate for governor, Democrat Andrew Cuomo, is currently in Jerusalem on a trip meant to show support for Israel.
Meanwhile, mosques closed around Brooklyn Friday afternoon in an effort to unite the Muslim and Arab community in prayer and in protest.
In a rare public prayer, nearly 2,000 Muslims gathered in the cold on Atlantic Avenue to condemn Israel's military actions. They brought signs, American flags and Palestinian flags.
“We are living a miserable life under the Israeli tanks, and we are just looking for peace and we want the world to hear us and give us an ear,” said one protestor.
The demonstration was organized by the Muslim-American Society and the Arab-American Society.
“It's not a one-sided message, but we are trying to stop the bloodshed both ways,” said an attendee at the rally.
“The situation that's there as you know is very dire, and it's not conceivable to have innocent people being killed,” said another demonstrator.
A third added, “When I talk to my family they are always crying because they are prisoners in their own home. They can't go out.”
After prayers, the group marched down Atlantic Avenue to Brooklyn Borough Hall, calling Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon a “murderer.”
“We are here to show the world that the Muslims in Palestine are facing a massacre by Sharon by his terrorists and his guerillas,” said a protestor.
One woman born in Jerusalem said, “Get out my country, Israel. Israel is for Palestinian people.”
Many simply want Israel to withdraw from the West Bank, and one group also wants its leader, Yasser Arafat, freed.
A demonstration and march by Palestinian supporters took place in Times Square in Manhattan Friday evening. Organizers of that rally say they want to stop what they call "the war against Palestinians by George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon."
Anyway, I have to be offline for the rest of the day. Discuss amongst yourselves...
Guerillas? Someone please explain.
Meanwhile, mosques closed around Brooklyn Friday afternoon in an effort to unite the Muslim and Arab community in prayer and in protest.
I thought Bush that not all muslims support terrorism?
One woman born in Jerusalem said, “Get out my country, Israel.
Get out of USA and go to your country
... Israel is for Palestinian people.”
lololololol. I think the stupidity displayed in the above statement is self evident and doesn't need me to comment on it.
Take my word for it, NY1 adores Hillary. If she were there, they'd have shown her. With sugar on top, of course. And lots of soft-focus, too.
I think the main culprits are just hard-nosed pragmatic politicians of both parties--the Dems because thay believe recent immigrants vote Democratic; the GOP because their corporate sponsors want plenty of cheap labor.
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