Spring comes and the grass grows by itself... - Alice Walker
The Event: Overview
PeaceWorks 2011: Solidarity in Action, embodied every aspect of the Rachel Corrie Foundation’s mission, “We conduct and support programs that foster connections between people that build understanding, respect, and appreciation for differences, and that promote cooperation within and between local and global communities…” The conference was just that, people from local, national, and international communities gathered to share strategies, network, and learn from the many experienced organizers in the struggle for justice in Palestine. This is evident by the critical questions and connections conference attendees were asking and creating.
There was hope, action, and inescapable solidarity during the weekend conference held at the Evergreen State College, April 8th-10th. The conference commenced with a vivid report of the recent Egyptian Revolution with former Democracy Now! producer, Sharif Abdel Kouddous who reported on the ground in Tahrir Square during the 19 day protest. Kouddous addressed not only Egypt, but also the budding revolutions occurring across the Middle East and North Africa and how that affects the political unrest in Palestine.
The conference continued with two days of networking, panels, and workshops. A diverse host of panelists addressed the current struggle in Palestine. They provided strategies for peace and justice, cross movement building, the growing international campaigns for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and more. Local and international organizers facilitated the workshops and with over 20 unique workshops to educate, motivate and provide tools for community organizing; there was a workshop for every level of activism.
The evening events began with keynote speaker, Alice Walker, who packed the house at the Washington Center with an interview conducted by Therese Saliba (Watch a video fo the event here or below). The following night, Rachel Corrie Foundation’s sister organization, The Olympia Rafah Mural Project, held a beautiful leaf dedication and installation ceremony for the new BDS leaf. After the dedication conference attendees closed out the conference with a night of cultural performances and celebrations at the Capitol Theater. The event featured spoken word poets from Brooklyn, a series of traditional Aztec dances from an Olympia dance troop, and Olympia folk band, and a set by a Seattle hip hop artist. These captivating evening celebrations concluded both busy days of intense community organizing, learning, and connecting, leaving attendees vibrant and inspired.
Panels: BDS, Cross-Movement Building, & Justice
The first panel followed Sharif Kouddous opening talk about Egypt and took place on the first day of PeaceWorks. The panel covered the roots of conflict, the Palestinians ongoing struggle against human rights violations, strategies of resistance and forms of global/local solidarity. Human Rights and Strategies for Justice and Peace in Palestine/Israel, like the other panels had three panelist of diverse educational and cultural backgrounds. The first panelist was Ron Smith, a doctoral candidate in the department of geography at the U of W, who has spent the past 5 years in Gaza and the West Bank doing qualitative research. The second panelist Ziad Abbas is currently the associate director of the Middle East Children’s Alliance in Berkley. He is a Palestinian refugee originally from the refugee camp Dheisheh where he co-founded a cultural center and served as co-director for 14 years, he recently received his masters of Arts in Social Justice in Intercultural Relations. The last panelist Amal Eqeiq is a native Palestinian currently studying at the U of W as a Ph.D candidate in comparative literature, she painted a powerful picture of the reality facing millions of Palestinians by explaining recently drafted Israeli policies and explained, in the face of all this, what solidarity means to her, “to me it means directly fighting with, not fighting for because the people are capable of fighting themselves.” From history, to present conflict and future action, this panel gave a comprehensive look at what’s happening in Israel Palestine and what we can do about it.
The remaining two panels were dedicated to BDS and focused on the growth, opportunities for cross movement building, and the future trajectory of the BDS movement. Moving Forward featured Israeli teacher and activist Dr. Dalit Baum, a member of the Coalition of Women for Peace in Israel, she is also a founder of Who Profits from the Occupation, the organizations website has been a key resource for other campaigns around the world in educating themselves about corporate complicity. The panel also featured Dalia Marina who has been an organizer for Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP – Wikipedia) and the UC Berkley divestment initiative. The final panelist, Noura Erakat is a Palestinian activist and attorney who has been heavily involved with the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation as a national grassroots organizer and a legal advocate, she also helped initiate the divestment campaign at UC Berkley through SJP.
The final panel, aptly named BDS and Opportunities for Cross-Movement Building, further showcased the diversity and strength within the movement. The panel featured Melissa Franklin, organizer of an indigenous youth delegation to Palestine, Mahdi, with Palestinian Queers for BDS (PQBDS) and Al Qaws, and Nancy Hernandez, an artist and activist who’s currently a mural project member with the Estria Foundation. These organizers have been shoring up the potential for cross movement building by bringing solidarity into their respective struggles for Native American, queer, and immigrants’ rights. Mahdi explained why PQBS has taken a stand for solidarity, “Human rights should not be compartmentalized, and the human rights of a certain group should not be more important than others’. We, as Palestinian queers, cannot ignore the struggle and the right of the Palestinian people. To us, the two struggles go side by side.” Activists like these have set an example for people trying to foster solidarity locally and globally across struggles.
Workshops
“We have to be un-doing the things that prevent us from living with each other and treating each other with dignity and respect.” –Getting to the Root of the Matter: Unlearning
“We get to choose to get involved. This is privilege,”one workshop facilitator stated concisely. For those who have chosen the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement as a means to action, the Peace Works 2011: Solidarity in Action workshops were a treasure trove of advice from a diverse spectrum of experienced BDS organizers and activists.
Workshop topics included:
- New Media for BDS
- Selecting your Target
- Beating the Backlash
- Getting to the Root of the Matter
- Combating Misused Charges of Antisemitism
- Co-op Boycott Step by Step
- Rock Star Organizing
- College Divestment Strategies
- Faith in Action
- Food as a Weapon and a Solution
- No to Sabra, No to Hasbara! Understanding Academic and Cultural Boycotts
In sharing their experiences, many facilitators provided the blueprints for their respective campaigns in order to aid and inspire others who are interested in starting similar endeavors. In compiling and condensing notes from this wide spectrum of workshops, below are key themes that arose in creating an ideal yet manageable campaign.
The success of any campaign is dependent upon its supporters. Throughout the workshops, four themes emerged as the main ingredients for gaining success and support:
- continual research
- strategic targeting
- outreach and networking
- celebrating success
Research is key. Any strong campaign must be backed byfirm irrefutable facts, for example: “U.S. tax payer dollars and consumer dollars support the Israeli occupation.” Tailoring a campaign for a strategically selected target, such as a church or college campus, is equally as important as highlighting the facts that will back that campaign. Depending upon the audience and target, the campaign will differ. For example a college campus divestment campaign could utilize the student government or student newspapers in reaching its goals, while a church group may hold teach-ins or rallies. In today’s world, networking and outreach can be done in a plethora of ways, but should always be tailored to the target audience. Twitter, Facebook, online videos, tabling, and E-newsletters are just a few helpful avenues for sharing information. Simply tabling outside a grocery store, for example, can be extremely productive. This approach can inform shoppers about the conflict and how to avoid supporting Israeli atrocities when they choose items to purchase, and how they can make informed decisions to join in the BDS movement.
Lastly, in successful campaigning we must celebrate even small victories within our movement, and recognize our achievements if we expect others to follow suit. And above all else, throughout our campaigns, we must remember why we are doing this. As one workshop facilitator reminded attendees, “We have to be undoing the things that prevent us from living with each other and treating each other with dignity and respect.”
Videos
Human Rights & Strategies for Justice in Palestine/Israel
BDS Leaf Dedication
Gabriel Teodros
Climbing Poetree
Photos