Israel escalates demolitions in occupied Palestine - Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine
Chicago, Copenhagen actions in solidarity with East Jerusalem Palestinian residents facing evictions and demolition
Monday, July 13th 2009, 5am: In perhaps the largest campaign of its kind in Chicagoן¿½s history, over a dozen activists dropped 88 banners across Chicagoland this morning, decrying Israelן¿½s policies of evicting or destroying Palestinian homes. Each banner represents one of 88 Palestinian homes in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan that have received demolition orders from Israeli authorities.
Todayן¿½s banners were dropped as part of an international day of action on July 13th in solidarity with Palestinian families facing house evictions or demolition in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem. In addition to Chicago, demonstrations and actions are planned for San Francisco, New York City, London, Paris, Copenhagen, Glasgow, and Jerusalem.
Chicagoן¿½s action saw banners being hung from highway overpasses, bridges, and from the roofs of buildings. Some of the banners read, ן¿½End the occupation of Palestine,ן¿½ or ן¿½From Chicago to Palestine, communities are facing eviction,ן¿½ and call for onlookers to ן¿½Support. Resist. Fight.ן¿½
Under an illegal occupation, Israeli policies of evicting Palestinians or destroying their homes are often used as acts of collective punishment, contrary to international law.
As refugees and people living under occupation, we are asking people to help us with our struggle for our rights. It is unbelievable that in the 21st century, Israelן¿½s authorities can get away with demolishing the homes of Palestinians in order to build settlements or national parks. The price we and our neighbours have to pay is too high, we are faced with two impossible choices ן¿½ either we throw our kids out on the street or we go to prison. If we lose our homes, there is nowhere else for us to go, the only option we have is to live in tents
In Chicago, the activists also tied their message of solidarity with Palestinians facing eviction to solidarity with Chicago communities that are being displaced as part of the cityן¿½s plans for the 2016 Olympic bid.
Copenhagen demonstrates in solidarity with East Jerusalem residents facing evictions and demolitions
International day of solidarity with East Jerusalem residents facing eviction or demolition of their homes. Demonstration in front of the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen.
At 8.30 in the morning on Monday 13th of July Scandinavian activists showed their solidarity with the Palestinians in East Jerusalem facing eviction or demolition of their houses by putting up 6 tents in front of the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen.
The Danish police showed up after less than ten minutes, took the details of the activists, and ordered the manifestation to move to the opposite side of a busy street away from the Israeli embassy. The police moved the manifestation a second time further away from the Israeli embassy on demand from the employees of the embassy.
The 6 tents raised in front of the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen symbolize Palestinians in East Jerusalem threatened with eviction or demolition of their houses.