Sisters and brothers,

Israel’s savage attack on Gaza in December and January shocked the world.  It also, as an unintended consequence, brought people around the world together in solidarity with the people of Gaza.  We were heartened and proud to be part of the greatest outpouring of solidarity with Palestinians in Boston in recent memory.  We met together, marched together, organized together, and raised our voices together.

Building solidarity with Palestine, of course, predates the most recent assault on Gaza, and it continues after the bombing.  One of the most inspiring and urgent efforts in that vein is the Viva Palestina U.S. relief mission to Gaza.  The delegation of hundreds of people from the U.S., led by British Member of Parliament George Galloway, leaves on July 4 bringing urgently needed humanitarian aid.  We are excited and humbled to have been invited on the mission.

We would like to invite you to join us in a dinner on Wednesday at 9pm at Andala Cafe in Cambridge (address/link below) following Mazin Quimsyeh’s talk at the Senior Center to celebrate and discuss the convoy, and how it can be connected to the movement in Boston.  We are also asking for your help–in supporting the convoy and our ability to participate in it–financially. The dinner will act as a fundraiser for which all contributions are deeply appreciated.
Your contributions are vital to the success of the Viva Palestina convoy, and our ability to bring this aid directly to the hands of the people of Gaza, an experience which we would then proactively use to help build the movement here with writing and speaking.  We will not be able to join this historic effort without your help.  Please read the attached letter by George Galloway, which explains the purpose of Viva Palestina, and appeals for your support.  We are trying to raise $10,000.  With everyone’s help this is entirely possible.  If you can’t join us on Wednesday, please contact us directly as soon as possible and we can arrange a means to collect your contribution from you.  We hope to see you Wednesday and we look forward to drawing upon our experience in Gaza to contribute to all of our work in Boston.

in gratitude and solidarity,
Tom Arabia and Khury Petersen-Smith

http://www.vivapalestina-us.org/

Tom: 617-970-2701
398 Centre Street #3
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Khury: 617-910-6604

Andala Coffee House www.andalacafe.com 286 Franklin Street Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 945-2212 Get directions