WHAT: Candlelight Vigil and March Led by Women and Children in Solidarity with the People of Gaza
 
WHEN: Monday, January 19, 2009 at 5:30 PM
 
WHERE: Gathering at Israeli Consulate (1880 JFK Blvd) and Marching to City Hall (15th and Market)

 
On January 19th, 2009, people throughout the United States will celebrate the life, legacy, and birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who was assassinated on April 4th, 1968.  Dr. King was one of the foremost leaders of the Black civil rights movement in this country, an organizer extraordinaire for peace and justice, and an eloquent orator who challenged racism, injustice, and oppression everywhere.  Exactly one year before he was killed, in a speech entitled "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence," Dr. King called the U.S. government and military the "greatest purveyor of violence in the world today."  These words are especially significant today, as the United States government continues its unequivocal support of Israel's criminal bombardment and massacre of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
 
As people of conscience we call for solidarity with the people of Gaza who are suffering at the hands of the one of the most advanced militaries in the world today.  Supported by the United States, Israel has imposed a near total blockade on Gaza since June 2007 which has led to a breakdown in basic services including water and sanitation, electricity, fuel and medical supplies.  Two-thirds of Gaza’s 1.5 million people are currently without electricity and the remaining one-third are limited to just a few hours each day.  As a result of these illegal sanctions 30% of children under 5 years suffer from stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition and 75% of the population now rely on food aid.
 
Some 1100 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli assault on Gaza began 20 days ago, with close to 5000 injured, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz and the International Red Cross.  Many of the victims are women as well as children, who make up more than half of the population.
 
Join together with the peace and justice communities of greater Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Detroit, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Washington, DC and elsewhere, as we do justice to Dr. King's memory, and the memories of others like him, by demanding an end to Israel's war on the Palestinian people and the support it receives from the United States government.

 
LET THE PEOPLE OF GAZA LIVE!
END THE ECONOMIC BLOCKADE OF GAZA!
STOP ALL U.S. AID TO ISRAEL!
END THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE!
 
 
Sponsored by the Philly Gaza Action Ad-Hoc Coalition