USPCN is circulating a Pledge to Defend Civil and Human Rights and calls upon all of its members and supporters to both sign the petition online  and distribute the hard-copy form at your events and activities. Send the signatures you collect to defend_peoples_rights@uspcn.org! 

United States Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)

Strategic Planning Meeting

January 6^th-8^th, 2012

Santa Clara, CA

Standing Up for Our Rights!

Whereas, the USPCN’s mission statement includes the upholding of Palestinian rights around the world, including the protection of democratic rights in the U.S.;

And whereas, the FBI raids on homes and offices, and confiscation of property, in Chicago and Minneapolis, and the grand jury subpoenas served to 14 individuals in the Midwest, including one USPCN National Coordinating Committee member, in September of 2010, constituted an escalation of historical attacks on the Palestinian community, the Palestine solidarity movement, the anti-war movement, and democratic rights in the United States;

And whereas, the nine (9) grand jury subpoenas served in December 2010 were to six (6) additional Palestinians, all members and leaders of Chicago’s USPCN chapter, and 3 Palestine solidarity organizers;

And whereas, the FBI raid on Carlos Montes’ home in Los Angeles in May of 2011 constituted an additional attack on a leading immigrant rights, Chicano liberation, and Palestine solidarity organizer;

And whereas, Department of Justice and other U.S. government repression is being utilized to stifle critique of U.S. foreign policy and Israeli violations of the human, civil, and national rights of the Palestinian people, as evidenced by the cases of the Irvine 11, the Holy Land Foundation 5, Abdelhaleem Ashqar, Sami Al-Arian, and many others;

Therefore be it resolved that the USPCN calls on all Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims to sign the Pledge to Defend Civil & Human Rights at http://uspcn.org/pledge-to-defend-civil-and-human-rights/ and the petition to support Carlos Montes at http://www.stopfbi.net/petition/national;

And be it further resolved that the USPCN calls on all of its chapters and other Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and solidarity institutions across the U.S. to establish Emergency Response Plans in preparation for the possible indictments and arrests of any of the Palestinians or Palestine solidarity activists raided and/or subpoenaed;

And be it further resolved that the USPCN calls on all of its chapters and other Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and solidarity institutions across the U.S. to identify supportive U.S. Congresspeople in their respective districts, and call on these legislators to demand from Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald an end to this investigation;

And be it further resolved that the USPCN calls on its chapters to help organize a speaking tour of the U.S. for one of its Chicago members, to build support around the case;

And be it finally resolved that, even in the face of the attacks on our movement, the USPCN calls on all Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, and other people of conscience in the U.S. and around the world to continue organizing for, and demanding, self-determination, independence, full equality, and the Right of Return for the Palestinian people; and freedom for Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and Palestine solidarity political prisoners in Israeli, Palestinian Authority, U.S., and all other jails.

ON DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012, 4pm EST/1pm EST

On January 10^th 2012, Palestinian youth will be meeting in cities throughout Palestine and the shatat to discuss the next steps towards achieving genuine democracy and representation for all Palestinians through direct elections to the Palestinian National Council (PNC), the highest legislative body of the PLO.

These meetings build upon the demonstrations, assemblies, forums, rallies and sit-ins, inside and outside Palestine, which youth have been organizing since January of 2011. Again and again, it has been youth who have raised the banner for genuine unity and a re-claiming of the PLO through direct elections to the PNC. And so, one year on, young Palestinians around the world will be holding a conversation together with one aim:

How do we ensure that all Palestinians can exercise their inalienable right to participate in elections to our Palestinian National Council? What next steps can we as youth take to ensure that PNC elections actually happen?

Reflecting the Palestinian youth commitment to overcoming the geographic fragmentation imposed upon us, the meetings will take place in succession on the same day, January 10. Each conversation builds upon those before it, creating clarity and strength on the next collective steps required towards democratic enfranchisement.

In the United States, the US Palestinian Community Network will be facilitating a National Conference Call for Palestinian Youth on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 4pm EST/1pm PST.  Any and all Palestinian young people are invited to participate in this important and educational conversation. 

In order to get your own conference call-in number, and to gain access to the conversation room, you MUST register here: http://myaccount.maestroconference.com/conference/register/EK7SNHHTIHNMVPT

We will be joined by youth organizers of the international campaign, who will participate in the discussion and answer questions, as well as members of the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) branch in the US.

All throughout the day, meetings by Palestinian young people will be held in:

Ramallah, Palestine

Beirut, Lebanon

Rome, Italy

London, UK

Madrid, Spain

Stockholm, Sweden

Santiago, Chile

Other groups of youth will be meeting elsewhere around the world, before and after January 10^th, and will be sending in their suggestions and ideas to be part of the conversation. If you’re unable to make the call, follow the conversation at:

Twitter: #votepnc

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/129824823801784/

For more information, and technical help, please contact USPCN at pnccampaign@uspcn.org

US PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY NETWORK

COMMUNITY FORUM

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Hyatt Regency, 5101 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA

Reflecting the strategic need for nurturing open spaces of conversation amongst Palestinians in the US, the US Palestinian Community Network is excited to announce its first of a continuing series of Community Forums to be held across the US on Saturday, January 7, 2012 in Santa Clara, CA.  This all-day Forum, part of a weekend of strategic organizing for the National Coordinating Committee of the USPCN, will offer attendees an opportunity to hear about the work of USPCN and participate in developing its plans for 2012 to advance a strong Palestinian voice in the diaspora and within the national movement. The Forum is a new initiative aimed at strengthening communication between the national coordinating committee and local chapters in order to advance participatory democratic practices within USPCN; coordinate amongst Palestinian associations in the US; and establish and develop local chapters of USPCN in Palestinian communities.

Based upon requests from Palestinian community members across the US, the Forum will also inaugurate a series of skill-building workshops for 2012 in order to develop community organizing skills and mobilization training.  We are delighted to announce that the inaugural workshop will be on Communication Strategies and led by Salah Asad, a national coordinating committee member of USPCN and an established expert on strategic communication skills.

The Forum concludes with a conversation on Palestine Amidst the Uprisings, featuring guests As`ad Abu-Khalil, professor at California State, Stanislaus, and Omar Barghouti, a member of the Boycott National Committee and a leader in the Palestinian-led movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Against Israel.

The Forum is open to the Palestinian and Arab community. Non-USPCN members may register to become members (and attend) at the Forum. Attendees will be asked for a $25 donation to cover costs.

Register online here: http://uspcn.org/register-here-for-uspcn-community-forum-january-7-2012/

Agenda for the Forum can be found here: http://uspcn.org/uspcn-community-forum-program-january-7-2012/

We look forward to the conversation and building ahead.

Until Liberation and Return!

• Wherever in the US you are, you can get in contact with Palestinian organizers. Reach out to us at uspcn@uspcn.org.
• Join us January 6-8 in San Jose for a national meeting and public event on Palestine and the Arab Spring.
• Help to support USPCN’s important work.

2011 has been a year of struggle and we look forward to a year of struggle – and of victories – in 2012 and beyond.

Project South awarded USPCN with the U.S. South to Global South Award as part of the event on Saturday, December 3. Vanessa Faraj and Kathryn Hamoudah accepted the award on behalf of USPCN as local representatives of the Movement to End Israeli Apartheid.

Project South was founded in Epps, Alabama in 1986, when leading Civil Rights workers were federally charged with vote fraud for registering Black absentee voters in West Alabama. Several organizations came together to launch a national campaign called “I’ll Vote On” to fight the charges and ensure voting rights for Black Communities. Project South emerged from these struggles. 25 years later, Project South is a local, regional, national and sometimes international organization based in Atlanta.

The US Palestinian Community Network is committed to struggling hand in hand with oppressed communities and communities of color inside the U.S. against racism and oppression, as part and parcel of the Palestinian struggle.

Thank you to Project South and congratulations on 25 years of struggle – looking forward to struggling together until victory!

USPCN encourages all of its members and supporters to register for and attend the national Conference on Palestine, A NEW ERA OF ACTIVISM, being organized by American Muslims for Palestine, Thursday, November 24-November 27, 2011 in Chicago. Among many powerful speakers is USPCN’s Mezna Qato.

The US Palestinian Community Network salutes the incredible work of American Muslims for Palestine. AMP’s countless successes in educating the public and the Muslim community on Palestine is testament to its persistence and vigilance. USPCN’s work to bring together Palestinian communities in the US to mobilize for democratic national representation within our national movement – across boundaries and ideologies – could not succeed without AMP’s tireless efforts to strengthen our communities’ resolve to stand with justice, and to support the Palestinian struggle for freedom and liberty. We honor the convergence of our work, and look forward to the building ahead.

Onward, until liberation and return! Register online: http://conference.ampalestine.org/

Have you registered for the Palestine Conference Yet?
AMONG Confirmed Speakers SEE ALL Confirmed Speakers
FREE BREAKFAST on Friday and Saturday Food will be catered by Al-Bawadi restaurant HALAL chicken provided by Crescent Foods	Bring your children to the Palestine conference and participate in the Sanabel Al-Aqsa Childrens Program! Story time with Palestinian stories Interactive programs for children of all ages Arts & crafts with Palestinian memorabilia Much, much more join the fun! Toyor Al Jannah (pending visa approval) will be performing nasheed live for the first time in the United States! Entertainment for the whole family!
REGISTER TODAY Adult, 18 years old or above $60 Husband and wife $100 College student $20 Kids 1-17 years old $20 Register now for discounts
Contact us 888.404.4AMP (4267) conference@ampalestine.org   Get Conference Updates Subscribe to our email list RSVP on facebook RSVP now and invite your friends to attend the Conference for Palestine in the U.S.
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US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) is a grassroots community network with over twenty democratically-elected chapters. The network affirms the right of Palestinians in the Shatat (exile) to participate fully in shaping our destiny. USPCN is anchored in the following points of unity:

• Self-determination and equality for the Palestinian people;
• The right of all Palestinian refugees to return to their original homes, lands, properties and villages (an inalienable right supported by international law and UN Resolution 194);
• Ending Zionist occupation and colonization of Palestine.

USPCN is an arena and platform for Palestinian communities to come together, coordinate, refine strategies, link efforts, plan united actions, and inform one another and the community about their work for Palestine.

www.uspcn.org

Dear friends and supporters:

We are calling on folks to take a few minutes to respond to ABC 7 reporter Chuck Goudie’s inaccurate and irresponsible reportage on OccupyChicago, OWS in general, and the Palestine support movement, as well as his continued attacks on Palestinian community organizer Hatem Abudayyeh. The link to Goudie’s report: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/iteam&id=8407349

Below is a letter you can send to Goudie and others on the ABC 7 news team. Or draft your own letter. If you would, please b.c.c. defend.dissent@gmail.com so we can get an accurate estimate of the movement’s response to this alert.

Take action!

Email: chuckgoudie@gmail.com

Carleen Mosbach, assignment editor, carleen.r.mosbach@abc.com

Jeff Marchese, night-side assignment editor, jeff.a.marchese@abc.com

Assignment Desk, wls.desk@abc.com

Jennifer Graves, news director, via news desk, wls.desk@abc.com

Fax: general news assignment, 312-899-8019

general assignment, 312-750-7381

***ALSO–Call in day to WLS TV / ABC 7 Chicago Assistant News Director Joyce Fisher

Friday, October 28th, 2011

9 AM to 7 PM

312.750.7380

See the letter below and demand that she pull the piece off the web and apologize for the inaccurate statements and borderline libel against the OWS and Palestine support movements.

Thank you,

Shirien Damra (Coalition for Palestinian Rights)*

Joe Iosbaker (Committee Against Political Repression)

Maureen Murphy (Palestine Solidarity Group)

Rocky Pyskoty (OccupyChicago)

Shira Tevah (International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network)

* organizations listed for identification purposes only

____________________________________________________________________

Sample Letter:

October 27, 2011

WLS-TV / ABC 7 Chicago

190 North State Street

Chicago, Illinois 60601

To Whom It May Concern:

Last night, you broadcast an irresponsible and uninformed report by Chuck Goudie (http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/iteam&id=8407349). Goudie asserted that the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement has a “vein of anti-Semitism flowing through [it],” and used the presence of Palestine solidarity activists in the movement to “prove” his argument. The Occupy Wall Street movement has the support of tens of thousands of Americans in cities across the country, and is growing rapidly, because Americans are suffering from an economic crisis brought about by Wall Street and big banks. As the OWS movement describes it, the “99%” experience extreme economic inequality, where millions are unemployed without meaningful help, while bankers in trouble are bailed out.

While there have been unfortunate anti-Semitic statements made by individual protesters at OWS actions that should and have been challenged as dangerous and divisive, the vast majority of the movement does not espouse these opinions. Media reports, including Goudie’s, have inflated these unrepresentative views for the purpose of discrediting two movements—OWS and Palestine solidarity. Instead of substantiating his false claim that anti-Semitism is a pervasive problem in the OWS movement, Goudie uses the presence and involvement of Palestinians and Palestine solidarity activists at OccupyChicago and elsewhere to “prove” the movement anti-Semitic.

By smearing the OWS movement and Palestinian community and solidarity activists, Goudie blatantly avoids discussing the real issues that are bringing tens of thousands of Americans to the streets in cities and towns across the country.

For example, some OWS protestors, including American Jews, have brought to the protests Palestinian flags and signs condemning US military aid to Israel. The US gives $3 billion a year in aid to Israel, which is used to carry out its policies of military occupation, inequality and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people.

And in an ad hominem attack, Goudie also falsely accused Palestinian-American community organizer Hatem Abudayyeh of advocating for the destruction of Israel because he spoke in support of Palestinian freedom and self-determination at a Chicago anti-war rally earlier this month.

Holding a Palestinian flag and advocating for Palestinian human rights, civil rights and equality should never be equated with anti-Semitism. By doing so, Goudie attempts to smear a just movement and evade discussing the real issues: unequal economic policies in the US and unrestricted military and diplomatic support to the human rights-abusing state of Israel.

Finally, Goudie also claimed last night that OccupyChicago did not provide a response to his emailed questions, but as an example of how disingenuous and unprincipled his whole process behind this piece has been, the questions were not sent to OccupyChicago’s spokespeople until after 8 PM, less than 2 hours before the broadcast. OccupyChicago did eventually respond, and WLS-TV posted the statement on the page linked above.

We call on Goudie and WLS-TV/ABC 7 Chicago to immediately apologize for the story’s false statements about Hatem Abudayyeh and mis-characterization of the Palestinian flag and struggle for freedom as symbols of anti-Semitism.

Sincerely,

Your Name
City, State

Be assured that if you already purchased tickets for any performance on the cancelled portion of the tour, please contact uspcn@uspcn.org for a prompt refund.

We apologize to the community and supporters for any inconveniences caused by this unfortunate cancellation, and hope to see you at our events in the future.

We send our love to our Palestinian prisoners in Israel’s dungeons, those who were released and those who remain. You are the torch that lights the path to our liberation and return. Our gratitude to you is immeasurable.

Executive Committee, US Palestinian Community Network

For more information: Andrew Dalack 734-645-6860

Chicago, IL: Israeli Consulate, 111 East Wacker Dr.  8:30am

San Francisco, CA:  Montgomery St. BART Station, 456 Montgomery St.  8:30am

New York City, NY: Liberty Park Square.  6:00pm

(Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA; NY, NY) Palestinians, Jews, and prisoner solidarity activists of all backgrounds are responding to calls from Palestine to support the nearly 6,000 political prisoners and people across California State prisons who are on hunger strike to change humiliating and demeaning conditions.  The International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network has specifically called on Jews of conscience to fast for 48 hours, from Thursday sundown October 6^th to Saturday October 8^th, as part of their Yom Kippur observance.  Yom Kippur is traditionally a time to acknowledge injustices and speak out against them.

The International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN), and the US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) are holding rallies to protest the conditions that Palestinian prisoners face, and connecting those injustices to the situation of US prisoners.  The message from their call-to-action states: “We stand with people all over the world whose daily lives are terrorized and unjustly controlled by policing and incarceration.”

The demands of the activists are these:

1)      End isolation of Ahmad Sa’adat – General Secretary, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine;

2)      End solidarity confinement of all prisoners;

3)      Meet demands of the civil disobedience and hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons and of prisoners at California state prisons;

4)      End the death penalty in the US and all places it remains a State practice; and

5)      End the Israeli blockade on Gaza and a permanent opening of the Rafah crossing.

For more information contact:

Sara Kershnar, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network

skershna@earthlink.net

(510) 685-5347

Monadel Herzallah, US Palestinian Community Network

mmonadel@hotmail.com

(408) 849-7977

This project aims to bring DC’s various communities closer together through art, and catalyze invigorating discussions about film and culture using the lens of Palestinian filmmakers as an entry point.

This festival is a tribute to the tremendous work produced by Palestinian artists living under occupation and/or throughout a global diaspora.

2011 Program