Protests in Chicago, San Francisco, New Orleans, Kentucky and Arkansas greeted the recent speaking tour of former Israeli prime minister and war criminal Ehud Olmert. USPCN was proud to participate in these actions alongside many other community and solidarity groups.
In Chicago and San Francisco, protesters held Olmert’s speech at bay for substantial time periods through sustained interruptions, educating the audience about his responsibility for war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon.
The Electronic Intifada published a substantial article and released the video below of the Chicago demonstration, which took place on October 15, 2009. Hatem Abudayyeh, National Coordinating Committee member of the USPCN and one of the organizers of the Chicago protest, said that “there is real change happening, whether it’s the international response to the Lebanon war or the international response to the Gaza war. The US is the most powerful country in the world, Israel is a powerful military as well, but the Palestinians have the world on their side.”
Video of Chicago protesters shutting down Olmert:
In San Francisco, protesters presented Olmert with the People’s Arrest Warrant (below). USPCN joined with a large coalition of community organizations as over 200 activists protested outside Olmert’s speech and over 25 activists inside his speech interrupted Olmert’s talk (see video below.) “We join with people around the world who believe that Israel and its leaders must be held accountable for their actions. Israel killed 1,400 people during its attacks on Gaza last winter alone, and many more have died or suffered from the effects of siege, occupation, and apartheid on their daily lives,” said Monadel Herzallah, a member of the USPCN Coordinating Committee whose 21 year old cousin was killed in Gaza in January.
Warrant for the Arrest of Ehud Olmert
October 22, 2009
Under the authority provided under the international law principle of Universal Jurisdiction, this warrant authorizes the arrest of Ehud Olmert for high crimes against the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip, and the people of Lebanon committed during his tenure as Prime Minister of Israel.
Whereas, crimes which are liable for prosecution under universal jurisdiction include genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, torture, forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and crimes against humanity; and�
Whereas, The International Independent Fact-Finding Mission authorized by the United Nations Human Rights Council (the Goldstone Report) found evidence that Israel is guilty of “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” in its prosecution of “Operation Cast Lead” and
Whereas, under Mr. Olmert’s personal direction, involvement, planning and knowledge, the crimes perpetrated during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip include, but are not limited to the following:
1.Crimes against peace (Article VI (a) of the Nuremberg Principles):
Planning, preparing, initiating and waging a war of aggression on a civilian population in which:
*1400 Palestinians were killed, the majority of which were civilians and non-combatants including over four hundred children,
*5300 Palestinians were injured, and
*the reckless and illegal use of white phosphorous caused untold suffering.
2.War crimes(Article VI (b) of the Nuremberg Principles):
Plunder of public and private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns, and villages, and devastation not justified by military necessity, in which:
*more than 400,000 Gazans were left without running water, and
*4,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless, and
*more than 1000 buildings were bombed, including schools and mosques.
3.Crimes against humanity (Article VI (c) of the Nuremberg Principles):
Persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds, when such acts are done or such persecutions are carried on in execution of or in connection with any crime against peace or any war crime.
Whereas, six Norwegian lawyers have filed a lawsuit against Ehud Olmert and other Israeli officials over the Gaza war, citing “massive terrorist attacks” during the war which led to the killing of civilians; and
Whereas, Ehud Olmert, because he no longer has diplomatic immunity, can no longer travel to the UK, Norway, Spain, or Belgium, for fear of prosecution for war crimes via “universal jurisdiction”.
Ehud Olmert, as the Israeli Prime Minister during Operation Cast Lead, is charged with “war crimes” and possible “crimes against humanity” and is hereby authorized to be placed under arrest by and for citizens of the state of California, and for the international community in the name of justice.
Issued by San Francisco protestors against Ehud Olmert: Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), Bay Area Campaign to End Israeli Apartheid (BACEIA), CODEPINK Women for Peace, Friends of Deiribzi’a, Northern California International Solidarity Movement, Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), South Bay Mobilization, Stop AIPAC, CAL Students for Justice in Palestine, US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), Bay Area Women in Black
Photos from San Francisco Protest (by freelance photographer Ramsey el-Qare)
