Palestine Tent at the US Social Forum
The Palestine Tent at the US Social Forum will be a gathering space for Palestine activists, a vending space for merchandise, a tabling space for organizations, as well as a space for activities, organizing, cultural events and more!
Note: As of June 23, 2010, the Palestine Tent has been relocated to Cobo Hall due to severe weather in Detroit. Tables are throughout Cobo Hall; towards the wall on the right is a series of Palestine Tent tables. The Tent entertainment program will take place here as well! Updates to follow.
Color photos from Skip Schiel’s recent journey to Gaza in August 2009, and earlier visits, featuring ordinary life lived under extraordinary conditions.
Working in Gaza since 2004, Skip volunteers photography and photography training courses for Palestinians. During his four journeys of discovery, he’s made a series of photos that attempt to portray the reality of life in Gaza—and grapple with a question: how are people able to maintain their lives under such oppression? His photos reveal the answer: with resilience, hope, faith, determination, and sumud, or steadfastness.
This exhibit will be at the Palestine Tent.
Al-Nakba: A Visual History of Catastrophe & Creation in Palestine/Israel
Featuring approximately 120 historic photographs, maps, and images, video, plus narrative signs and captions, this exhibit documents and explores more than six decades of disaster for the Palestinian people. Assembled by Friends of Sabeel-North America (FOSNA) and Jewish Voice for Peace-Detroit (JVP), it includes an archival collection of photographs from FOSNA’s George Khoury and current photos from JVP‘s Barbara Barefield and Barbara Harvey. Other contributors are Michigan Peace Team, Nakba refugee Yusif Barakat and other Palestinians, and Jewish filmmaker, author, doctor Alice Rothchild, and archivists and journalists.
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TENT TALKS
Being young in Gaza: Salma and Laila
Salma Shawa, 13, and Laila Samahadana, 12, were students at Gaza’s American International School. On Jan. 2, 2009, an Israeli air strike destroyed most of the buildings on the campus of the AIS and killed the night watchman. Today, Salma is still attending AIS, but in smaller, more crowded temporary quarters, and under a crippling siege by Israel. Laila managed to flee with her family to Cairo. Bright young women, they’re still best friends, and have big plans. Salma says, “I want to build Gaza to be the best place in the world. I will build homes for all the poor, and each single person in Gaza will have work. If I win the people’s hearts this way, some day I want to be elected president of Palestine!”
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2pm-3pm
Building a Transnational Institution for Palestinian Education and Empowerment
with Osamah Khalil
with Yasmin Snounu and others returning from Gaza and the Freedom Flotilla.
In August 2008, Halper was one of 44 activists from 17 nations who successfully sailed from Cyprus to Gaza aboard two fishing boats in defiance of Israel’s blockade. Met by 40,000 cheering Gazans, the passengers brought a small supply of medical equipment. The main aim of the symbolic action was to publicize the plight of the people living under siege in an open-air prison. As the only Israeli Jewish passenger, upon his return to Israel, Halper was arrested.
Jeff Halper is the Director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD), an organization dedicated to nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience as methods of resistance to Israeli occupation, a published author, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
“Abeer is not the only Palestinian Israeli female rapper, but she’s without a doubt the most talented. Her voice sounds as if it’s been through a life of pain and joy far longer than her twenty-three years should have given her.” Marc Levine, Heavy Metal Islam
During the US Social Forum, space will be provided in the Palestine Tent for meetings, informal discussions, and relaxation.
You may sign up onsite to reserve a meeting space.
CAMPAIGNS AND ORGANIZATION DISPLAYS