Vigils For Rachel Corrie and Tristan Anderson

Everyday, there is more sad and terrible news of people injured or killed in the
occupied territories of Palestine. On Friday, just days before the anniversary of
the killing of Rachel Corrie by Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza, we heard of the
serious injury inflicted by the IDF on Tristan Anderson during a protest in the West
Bank. Just like Rachel, Tristan is a young person from the U.S. working to end the
Israeli Occupation.

Please join the vigils being organized by -- or plan your own vigil as part of --
the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation's solidarity actions.

Take care,

Judith LeBlanc
UFPJ Organizing Coordinator

* * *

Below is the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation's email to its members this
morning:

On March 13, 2009, Tristan Anderson, a U.S. citizen from Oakland, CA, was critically
injured when he was shot in the head by a high-velocity tear gas canister fired by
the Israeli army.

Tristan was shot while photographing a weekly demonstration against the building of
the Apartheid Wall in the West Bank village of Ni'lin. The Wall, which was declared
to be illegal by the International Court of Justice in 2004, cuts off Ni'lin from
much of its agricultural lands. Since 2008, Israel has killed four unarmed
Palestinians during these weekly protests: Yousef Amira (17), Ahmed Mousa (10),
Arafat Rateb Khawaje (22), and Mohammed Khawaje (20).

This incident comes almost exactly six years after the death of U.S. peaceactivist
Rachel Corrie. Rachel was killed by the Israeli military with a Caterpillar
bulldozer as she was nonviolently trying to protect a Palestinian home from being
destroyed on March 16, 2003.

Tristan's family has released a statement informing supporters that Tristan's
condition has stabilized and that he has been moved from emergency care to
specialized neurological intensive care unit in the Tel Hashomer hospital outside of
Tel Aviv. The family is "deeply hopeful that Tristan will recover" and is "looking
forward to when he is stable enough that he can return home to the care and comfort
of his family and community."


"In the meantime, we are deeply appreciative of the excellent care he's receiving,
the amazing support that Gaby [his girlfriend] and his friends are providing, and
the thoughts and prayers of those around the world who are holding him in their
hearts and minds. It matters tremendously as we all hold faith for Tristan to
recover and return home. Again, we are so very grateful for the outpouring of love
and support for Tristan and our family."
Cindy and Craig Corrie, the parents of Rachel Corrie, have released a statement on
the 6th anniversary of their daughter's death: "On this anniversary, Rachel would
want us all to hold Tristan Anderson and his family and these Palestinians [killed
in Ni'lin] and their families in our thoughts and prayers, and we ask everyone to do
so?.[The] attacks on all the people of Gaza and the recent one on Tristan Anderson
in Ni'lin cry out for investigation and accountability."


TAKE ACTION

Across the country, organizations and individuals have planned vigils and actions
today to commemorate Rachel Corrie. We call on supporters to join these events and
to call for justice and accountability for all innocent victims of Israeli
occupation.

Find out if there is a Rachel Corrie Remembrance Day event near you by clicking
here. If not, plan an emergency vigil and let others know by posting your event
here (please also post to Indybay). A flyer for use at your vigil can be found here.
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=wWPR6SBiQZx3qbTxYhj0lA7xTCA4xcSe

For more information about Tristan's shooting and updates on his condition,
including links to news articles, see the website of the International Solidarity
Movement. Please note that the video on this website is graphic and disturbing.
http://www.endtheoccupation.org/(http://palsolidarity.org/2009/03/5324