Lamont - No Deals with Apartheid!
Connecticut Governor on Business Trip to Israel
CT Governor Ned Lamont is in Israel making business deals. He doesn't care one bit about the recent Amnesty International report finding Israel guilty of the international crime of apartheid. [It follows many others that have drawn the same conclusion.]
He says, "“Israel is a perfect fit because they are the leading innovators in life sciences, and biotech and the defense industry..."
"Innovators in defense", sure, their amazing innovations are made because they test their weapons on Palestinians [or in their vocabulary "terrorists".
Protest Thurs. February 24, starting a 1 p.m. at the Old State House, 5 Market St. Hartford (see map below)
Of course, like every boss Lamont says he's not doing this for his corporate pals. No, no it's all for Connecticut workers who will supposedly win as Lamont brings new jobs to his state. That's why his delegation is only made up of bosses. NBC reports, "The Democrat will be part of a delegation that will include representatives from Raytheon, Hartford HealthCare, Digital Currency Group, the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut, the University of Connecticut, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and Connecticut Innovations Inc., the state’s quasi-public venture capital agency."
Raytheon is a huge weapons builder. In 2020 residents in Massachusetts protested its weapons sales as they were being used to massacre Yemenis. Lamont evidently wants Connecticut to get some of the blood money.
Bloomberg news reports, "Raytheon Technologies Corp. is a target of a criminal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department into alleged agreements to limit hiring between its jet-engine unit and some of its suppliers."
For more on the protest scroll down and look at the next three panels
We'll Walk a few blocks down Prospect St. to UCONN, Too
UCONN President with Lamont's Blood Money Trip
The President of the University of Connecticut, Randenka Maric, went along on Lamont's trip to the Apartheid State of Israel. UCONN has forged extensive partnerships with weapons manufacturers like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies and Pratt & Whitney. Once a year, UConn observes “Lockheed Martin Day,” Pratt & Whitney has been supplying the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with engines for their military aircraft since 1947. In 2015, they renewed their partnership for an additional 15 years. Raytheon Technologies manufactures guided missiles and bombs which are routinely dropped on Palestinian civilians. Last November UCONN students held a protest, but it apparently made no impression on UCONN's administration.
As the students say, "Not Our Campus".
Cosponsors - Slogans
Connecticut Governor on Business Trip to Israel
Cosponsoring groups (list in formation): Jewish Voice for Peace (New Haven), Middle East Crisis Committee, Tree of Life Education Fund, Poetic Release UConn, Middle Eastern Students Association UConn, African Student Association UConn, Black Muslim Association UConn, American Muslims for Palestine, American Muslims for Palestine CT, Students for Justice in Palestine UConn, Muslim Student Association UConn Storrs, Muslim Student Association UConn Hartford, Arab Student Association UConn, Doctors Without Borders UConn, Socialist Resurgence
Slogans for Signs or Chants:
No Deals with Apartheid Israel
Human Rights Not Israeli Apartheid
Palestinian/Jewish Equality Not Israeli Apartheid
Freedom Not Israeli Apartheid
Humanity Not Israeli Apartheid
Connecticut Opposes Apartheid
Connecticut Supports Equality
Peace, and Freedom Boycott Apartheid
Support Equal Rights - No Business With Israeli Apartheid
Governor Lamont Ignores Israeli Human Rights Violations
Free, Free Palestine
Shame on Congresswoman Jahana Hayes
After the killing of Palestinian-American Omar As’ad
“Jahanna Hayes, You Vote Israel Money and are Blind to Its Abuses”
Rally Thurs. February 3
2:00 p.m.
If you can’t make it, Call Hayes’ Office
After years of fruitless attempts to get Member of Congress Jahanna Hayes to speak out against Israeli violations against Palestinian rights, the Middle East Crisis Committee will be holding a protest in front of her campaign office on 108 Bank St. in Waterbury and later along Grand St. near the Municipal Building at 235 Grand Street.
The particular reason for a rally in mid-winter is the death of 80-year-old Palestinian-American Omar Abdalmajeed As’ad at the hands of Israeli soldiers on January 12. He was stopped by Israeli soldiers in a Palestinian town on the West Bank, taken from his car, handcuffed, blindfolded, and gagged on a near freezing night and then put on the ground and abandoned by Israeli soldiers. He was found at 4 a.m. by a Palestinian, dead. He died of a heart attack almost surely brought on by the stress of his detention.
Member of Congress Hayes was told about it within a few days and has been kept informed of it by email from residents in her voting district. She has not said anything about the incident. Apparently, she will be happy to take whatever explanation the Israeli government eventually gives. The Jerusalem Post wrote on January 24 that "Charges are not expected to be brought against” the soldiers involved. Outrageous.
Last September Congresswoman Hayes voted Israel an extra billion dollars to go with the $3.8 billion it gets yearly from U.S. taxpayers. She has not shown any evidence that she expects Israel to respect the rights of Palestinians under Israeli control.
She has been asked repeatedly to co-sponsor HR 2590 the "Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living under Israeli Military Occupation Act" (authored by Member of Congress Betty McCollum). Hayes won’t support the bill even though 78 Connecticut unions and faith-based groups urge its passage. The legislation would prohibit Israel from using U.S. taxpayer dollars for the military detention and abuse of Palestinian children.
Join the rally on Thursday. We will start at her campaign office which is on 108 Bank Street in Waterbury. It’s between Waterbury’s Post University and a Western Union office. Now the sidewalk curbs are filled with snow and cars are parked bumper so it’s not a great place to rally. After 15 or 20 minutes we’ll move over two blocks to the sidewalk in front of the Municipal Buildings on 235 Grand Street.
Parking along Bank Street will probably be taken and the snow has reduced the number of spaces. We recommend you use the Buckingham Municipal Garage which is on 210 Bank St. near the corner of Grand. Parking is $2.00 an hour.
Join Us. Bring signs and banners.
Justice 4 Omar As’ad.
Hayes, Sponsor the Bill to Protect Palestinian Children!
Cut the Military Aid to Israel - Spend the Billions in the U.S.
Support Boycotts of Israel to Pressure its Vicious Government
#FreePalestine
If you can’t make the event call Jahanna Hayes Congressional office in Waterbury (860)-223-8412 or in Washington D.C. (202) 225-4476. Tell whoever answers that you support the rally and that we want her to speak out against the killing of Omar As’ad and we expect her to cosponsor H.B. 2590.
Region wide
Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, Director of the Palestinian Natural History Museum (Bethlehem, West Bank), will be speaking on Zoom Tuesday, January 11 at 7 pm (ET). The event is hosted by the Community Church of Boston and is co-sponsored by Muslims for Progressive Values and Jewish Voice for Peace. Dr. Qumsiyeh has a long history of activism, is a frequent speech maker and has written several books (see "Sharing the Land of Canaan" and "Popular Resistance in Palestine"). His work had a major influence in getting activists in the West to understand and support the Palestinian Right to Return. He's written 150 peer-reviewed scientific articles.
Click here for the link to the zoom event.
No Support for Ultra-Nationalist Extremism
7 p.m. on zoom, Sat. December 11
Several Jewish Federations and the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) are sponsoring a movie that praises a mass killer of Palestinians
By showing “Upheaval” about the life of Menachem Begin, they try to pretty up the life of one of the most violent leaders of Israel
Learn the facts about Begin, Israel and the ADL at this important Zoom panel
Hear:
Shelly Altman, New Haven Jewish Voice for Peace
Dr. Emmaia Gelman - Her forthcoming book is based on her dissertation “Empire against Race: a critical history of the Anti-Defamation League, 1913-1990”,
Stanley Heller, Executive Director of the Middle East Crisis Committee
sponsored by: Middle East Crisis Committee, Promoting Enduring Peace
Region wide
Monday, November 29
New England Network for Justice in Palestine is calling for statewide events on the 29th, the day the United Nations has set aside for a day of Solidarity with the People of Palestine.
"Imperialism, Zionism and Palestine"
Online Forum, Saturday, November 13
5 p.m. Eastern, 2 p.m. Pacific
There has been a strong surge in support for Palestinian workers and people during the past year. From CWA UPTE at UC, UESF and CUNY AFT PSC in New York, union locals have voted to oppose US military and economic aid and supported a boycott of Israel.
This panel will look at this history and the efforts of the supporters of Israel to shut down debate, free speech and to intimidate trade unionists and workers to remain silent about apartheid Israel and support for it by the US government, and the AFL-CIO leadership which receives funding from the US government through the National Endowment of Democracy
Speakers:
Lisa Milos, UPTE UCSF Delegate to SF Labor Council & CWA 2021 Convention
Rabab Abdulhadi, SFSU Professor & Chair of Arab & Muslim Ethnicities & Diasporas Department
Carol Lang, AFT PSC CUNY College Faculty Member
Stanley Heller, Retired Connecticut teacher, former AFT local president (West Haven, CT) and state union Vice-President
click here to Register
For further information: labormedia1@gmail.com
Sponsored by United Front Committee For A Labor Party UFCLP
https://www.facebook.com/masslaborpartyusa/
Register in advance for this meeting:.