Billboard Against Israel's Apartheid & Occupation
- Details
- Published on Friday, 15 May 2015 11:30
- Written by editor
Again we ask that if any of us write any letters or make any calls to please let us know so we can keep track of what kind of support we are getting.
The only reason our billboard has not been removed is because of all the great tremendous support we have been receiving. Our fight to keep it up is still not over. So we must continue to raise our voices in support of it.
Our many thanks to all of us who are contributing to this issue.
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid &Victoria Friends of Cuba----------------------------------
Dear Editor,
On Sunday, May... 3, our Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) and Victoria Friends of Cuba (VFOA) committees erected a billboard near the intersection of the Pat Bay highway and Mt. Newton Cross Rd. It faces traffic coming into Victoria on the Pat Bay highway from Sidney, the ferries and airport.
Our billboard says "End Israel's Apartheid and Occupation of Palestine - Boycott Israeli Goods www.bdsmovement.com" with CAIA'S name "Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid" and our email contact "This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.".
Two days later we received a phone call from the contractor who rented us the billboard. He told us he had a call from an unidentified person stating he was a racist, hateful and other derogatory names for renting us the billboard. He let us know that a MLA from a different constituency from the billboard site had sent him an official letter stating that the billboard "is offensive as it promotes hatred of a people. The accusation of apartheid is a very serious allegation. It suggests the existence of a systemic policy of segregation and/or discrimination on grounds of race. It further promotes the disdain and hatred towards those accused of supposedly practicing apartheid." This was followed with "consider--- the removal of this offensive advertising."
Our billboard clearly calls on Israel to end the apartheid system and illegal occupation of Palestine. This is supported by thousands of people worldwide: organizations, churches, universities, politicians, institutions, private individuals. There is nothing hateful or racist in our billboard. Until social justice, human rights and equality exist in Israel/Palestine for all people and the apartheid system and occupation ends, we will continue demanding in unison with voices from all races and religious backgrounds (including many Jews) around the globe to boycott, divest and sanction (BDS) Israel.
WE BELIEVE THAT - ethnic cleansing of more than 700,000 Palestinians in 1948/9, a 400+ mile illegal separation wall, the oppression under military law of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the illegal imposition of 600,000 Israeli "settlers" on Palestinian land, the fact that Palestinians - unlike Israelis - have to carry and show ID cards when they pass through endless check points, ongoing destruction of thousands of Palestinian homes and villages, Israeli Jews only highways, tanks in the streets of the West Bank, the illegal blockade of Gaza starving nearly 2 million people, the repeated attacks on Gaza with massacres of thousands including women and children, the breaking of over 70 UN resolutions, and many more violations - MUST STOP. Until this happens, we will continue our BDS campaign in a peaceful and non-violent manner. This recalls the successful boycott campaign against apartheid South Africa, which many of us participated in.
Our committees feel a responsibility to demand an end to the injustice in Palestine. Like the many before us who stood up to stop the crimes committed under Hitler, Mussolini, Pinochet and others, we now stand up against the crimes of Israel. Israel, we must remember, is a country with all of the warts and contradictions of any country. It is not a people, a religion or a place of retribution for the crimes perpetrated on the Jews throughout history. It is the 4th largest military in the world committing crimes of injustice on the indigenous people of Palestine.
People may or may not agree with our billboard, but we will fight to keep the right to freedom of speech, even if the Harper government tries to deny it. Open debate allows truth to come out. We need more, not less debate and our billboard will contribute to it.
Sincerely,Edwin E, DanielVictoria Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid778-433-3535#601 - 2910 Cook St.Victoria, BC V8T 3S7
Randy CaravaggioVictoria Friends of Cuba250-743-29941584 Strathcona HeightsShawnigan Lake, BC V0R 2W2
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