Stand With Israel Rally Report - 300 people show their support for Israel!
The Stand With Israel rallies in Washington DC, and in London UK were both resounding successes!
First, the Stand With Israel Rally, Washington, DC
When we started, just 10 days before the rally, we expected 30 people, maybe.
Not 30, but 300 people came to Washington, DC with almost no notice - 300 supporters of Israel from all over the country - California, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, so many states - to join together to counter the lies of the so-called "End the Occupation" rally.
The 300 gathered to stand with Israel and America on the National Mall, to counter the extremist groups who drew less than 1,000 people to the Capitol - far fewer than the 10,000 they had advertised - in spite of A YEAR of planning. A fitting description of the anti-Israel rally here, with video ("Lamest Protest Rally.... Ever")
On our side, our many speakers were eloquent and showed the widest range of groups supporting Israel - copies of many of the speeches are provided below.
After the rallies, our supporters for Israel lined both sides of Maryland avenue to counter the march of the anti-Israel protestors. We stood on the sidewalk, proudly waving the flags of Israel and America.
More You-Tube videos coming all the time - check back...
From Stand With Us:
Photo Gallery:
http://www.standwithus.com/gallery_dc2007.asp
Videos:
From the David Project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QMwghE4P0M
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=David75248
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=David198107
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=David040407
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=David396843
From Pamela Hall, United American Committee:
A great set of photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41423273@N00/sets/72157600342630148
And videos:
http://www.motionbox.com/video/list_user_videos/pakayhall
Speeches (links to speech pdf texts)
Christine Brim, Center for Vigilant Freedom
Kristinn Taylor, Free Republic
James Hutchens,
Pamela Hall, United American Committee
Andrew Summey, The David Project
Mort Klein, Zionist Organization of America (statement)
Brigitte Gabriel, American Congress for Truth (statement read by Stephanie Reis)
Frank Gaffney, Center for Security Policy (statement)
Herbert Zweibon, Americans for a Safe Israel (statement)
David Yerushalmi, Society of Americans for a National Existence (statement)
Lisa Ramaci Vincent (statement)
Desiree Bernstein, 9-11 Families
Harry Baumgarten, Student
Kevin Martin, Project 21
Second - THE UK "DAYENU - STAND WITH ISRAEL" RALLY HELD June 9 in Trafalgar Square, London
Photos here: http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa260/imperator_bucket/
From the "Jewish Chronicle," June 15:
"A 150-strong Jewish counter-demonstration was staged nearby by Jews and Christians, stressing Israel’s desire for peace and protesting against anti-Zionism, antisemitism and rocket attacks.Report from "The Jewish News," June 14th:
Organiser Jonathan Hoffman said: “We are also saying enough. Enough lies, enough Kassams and enough blinkered attacks on Israel regardless of what is happening elsewhere in the world.”
There was an angry response from one pro-Palestinian demonstrator who was pulled away by police after he gave a Nazi salute....."
"A prominent liberal rabbi has called for a mass rally to mark Israel's 60th anniversary next year after the success of a counter demonstration against Saturday's Enough coalition protest in Trafalgar square....Report from Jerusalem Post, June 10:
Despite the protest being held on Shabbat, around 150 Jews [and Christians] turned up to hold up a counter demonstrtion on the Strand. Participants claim they saw people the Enough rally performing Nazi salutes and brandishing the flag of the terrorist group Hezbollah.
Rabbi Sidney Brichto, who joined the Dayenu counter-demo, said: "When my friend and I went to the square, we found it relatively empty, totally unlike the numbers we had at the Israel Solidarity Demonstration in 2002, when the Square was packed.
"The marchers seemed rather pathetic and apathetic and appeared only to be moved by our own protests against them. I felt enormous relief that after a year of preparation, our opponents could only muster a few thousand.
"My immediate thought was that the community should immediately plan a march at Trafalgar square to celebrate Israel's 60th birthday...
Dayenu organizer Jonathan Hoffman said: "The Six Day War showed that the Jewish people are no pushover. The Dayenu counter demonstration was created in that tradition."
"Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh addressed around 2,000 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square in central London via satellite on Saturday, who were using the 40th anniversary of the Six Day War to demonstrate against Israel and call for the end of the occupation.
The protest, which had been in the planning stages since the beginning of the year, had hoped to attract some 10,000, however.....
A counter-protest by a group called 'Dayenu!' demonstrated in support of Israel.Organizer Jonathan Hoffman said: "Our group includes Jews, Christians, people of other faiths and indeed of no faith. The one thing we have in common is that we cannot bear the thought of thousands of misinformed and misled marchers on the streets of our capital city with free rein to attack Israel."Our name 'Dayenu!' is in response to 'Enough!'. We also say 'Enough!': enough lies, enough Kassams, enough anti-Zionism, enough anti-Semitism, enough boycotts, enough blinkered attacks on Israel regardless of what is happening elsewhere in the world. Israel is prepared to exchange land for a secure peace but also how Israel gave back Gaza, only to be rewarded with Kassam rockets raining down on Sderot."
You CAN make a difference.
Come to Washington DC on June 10, and join us in a rally to support Israel's right to peace, security and defensible borders!
View this powerful new video for the June 10 Stand With Israel Rally!
UPDATE 6/07/07 4:00 p.m. : Great news! We have a permit for the rally so we will have a stage and sound system for all our speakers. We'll post the tentative list of speakers shortly - check back daily for updates, because so many groups are gathering from around the country to show their support.
UPDATE 6/08/07 9:00 p.m.: We have a good sturdy stage for speakers, loaned by the wonderful folks at Capital Church in Sterling and a truck to bring it to the rally. The sound systems are being donated by various groups coming from other states - thank you all - Bring your signs and flags - let's send the message loud and clear of our support for Israel and against extremist groups!
Israel's opponents are on the move: On June 10, 2007, to mark the 40th anniversary of Israel's 1967 war of survival, the extremist groups "United for Peace and Justice" and "Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation" will hold what even the liberal magazine Tikkun called a rally for the "dissolution of the State of Israel." The "United for Peace and Justice" coalition includes such radical organizations as the Socialist Party USA, the Young Communists League, Communist Party USA, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
Israel's supporters depend on you: We will gather on the West side of 3rd Street on the Mall, between Madison and Jefferson Drives. This Counter-Rally truly is the product of a few citizens who are deeply outraged that Israel's opponents might have demonstrated in our nation's capitol without any patriotic opposing voices who will tell truth to counter these lies. We must stand up to lies and distortions.
We will have a sound system and a speakers' platform, so we can show our support with our great speakers from so many organizations, our signs, flags, patriotic songs and our own strong voices as individual citizens exercising our right to assemble. We are bringing some signs and flags for you to hold, sponsored by Stand With Us. We encourage you also to make your own signs, but please use the messages listed below or similar ones.
Date: Sunday, June 10
Place: Begin assembling on the west side of 3rd Street on the Mall, between Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive at 1:00 PM. Look for our American and Israeli flags on June 10.
Time:
- The Counter-Rally: The Stand with Israel Counter-Rally begins at 2:00 PM and lasts until 4:00 PM
- UPDATE: The March: The Anti-Israel March, from the Capitol to the Ellipse, begins at 4:00 PM. The Anti-Israel March route is southwest on Maryland Avenue, then west on Independence Avenue, then north on 15th street, about 1.5 miles.
- We have a permit for a rally BUT NOT for a march, so here is our plan. We can stand as individuals, along the path of the Anti-Israel March, with our signs and banners to make a powerful visual statement supporting Israel. We plan to stand along the North side of Independence Avenue, and the East side of 15th Street (off the sidewalk so pedestrians can pass). People who want to make this powerful statement supporting Israel will given specific times to start walking, to get in place in advance of the Anti-Israel March. They will stand along these blocks as individuals with our signs and flags:
- 4th &
- 7th &
- 9th &
- 12th &
- 14th & independence
- 15th &
- 15th &
- 15th &
- 4th &
What to bring: Bring a cell phone, food, water, a hat, and sunscreen. Good weather is forecast, but bring an umbrella if it looks like rain....
Transportation: Don't drive--there is limited public parking on Capitol Hill. Take the metro to either Union Station on the red line or [corrected metro station] Federal Center SW on the orange/blue lines
Stand With
Speakers Agenda
Opening – Desiree Bernstein
Christine Brim, Center for Vigilant Freedom
Kristinn Taylor, Free Republic
James Hutchens,
Pamela Hall, United American Committee
Roz Rothstein, Stand With Us
Michelle Rojas, Stand With Us
Andrew Summey, The David Project
Mort Klein, Zionist Organization of America (statement)
Brigitte Gabriel, American Congress for Truth (statement read by Stephanie Reis)
Frank Gaffney, Center for Security Policy (statement)
Herbert Zweibon, Americans for a Safe Israel (statement)
David Yerushalmi, Society of Americans for a National Existence (statement)
Lisa Ramali Vincent (statement)
Desiree Bernstein, 9-11 Families
Harry Baumgarten, Student
Kevin Martin, Project 21
Closing – Roz Rothstein, Stand With Us
Bus From New York City: We have confirmed that we will be able to charter a bus from New York to D.C. this Sunday, June 10th. The cost of the bus is $10 for students and $20 for non-students. The pick-up will be in front of the Empire state building at the corner of 34th and 5th at 9:00 a.m. WE WILL LEAVE BY 9:15 THE LATEST SO PLEASE BE ON TIME. The bus has limited seating so please rsvp to Michelle at mrojas@standwithus.com, to let us know that you will be using the bus as your mode of transportation down to D.C. Furthermore, if you plan on driving please inform Michelle as well if you have any extra room for passengers and/or materials. Don't forget to bring lunch with you...we will most likely be stopping at a mini-mart but in any case, everyone should have something to hold them over. As well as water, a hat, Israeli and American flags if you have them, and most importantly, your love for Israel!
Messages for signs:
- Suicide Bombing is mass murder
- Hamas and Hezbollah: Allow the Red Cross to visit the abducted Israeli soldiers
- Palestinian Terrorists Terrorize Israelis and Palestinians
- Free the Palestinians from Hamas
- HAMAS Stop the Aggression
- Stop the Qassam Rockets
- Hamas stop terrorizing the children
- Pick a side: Hamas and Hezbollah or Peace and Freedom
- Israel seeks a partner for peace
- Stand for Freedom, Stand for Israel
- Teaching Children to Hate Will NEVER Lead to Peace!
For more information, please email our volunteer coordinators.
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KNOW THESE POINTS ABOUT ISRAEL.
Use them in your conversations about the Arab-I sraeli conflict.
POINT : Israel’s size is 1/6 of 1% of the Arab World.
POINT : Israel has 1,300,000 Israeli -Arab citizens, who are 20% of its population. Israel also officially recognizes and gives privileges to 15 different religions.
POINT : Palestinian Arabs living in the territories are not citizens of Israel.
POINT : There was no Security Fence along the West Bank prior to the relentless violence in 2002, and since it was built, terrorism has dropped by 85%
POINT : Israel wants peace and is willing to make painful compromises by giving away land as it did for peace with Egypt and Jordan. Today it is unilaterally withdrawing from Gaza.
POINT : Where is the money? Arafat was given billions of dollars to improve living conditions for the Palestinians. He did not build schools, roads or hospitals. He did not improve housing or sewage systems. Those billions are missing. Hamas and other terrorist groups continue to misappropriate funds sent by well-meaning organizations like the U.N. and the E.U. Instead of building a Palestinian state these funds are being used to attack Israel. Why?
POINT : Peace Must Be Taught The PA must immediately change the message being taught by its clerics who call for the murder of Jews and by its teachers who deny Israel’s right to exist. PA schoolbooks must promote peace, not hatred.
POINT : The PA Charter Must be Changed. It still calls for the destruction of Israel, just as the Hamas Charter does.
POINT : Israel is a reestablishment of the Jewish State Jews have lived in and identified with this land for thousands of years. The Old Testament, New Testament and Koran all refer to this area as the land of the Jews. Even if one is not religious, these old documents are another way to show that Jews are indigenous to Israel and the surrounding area.
POINT : The Definition of Zionism: If you believe that Jews have a right to self-determination and to their own country in the area that is ancient Israel where they have maintained a presence for thousands of years, then you are a Zionist. Most Jews are Zionists, as are many non-Jews.
Produced by StandWithUs
