Viva Palestina faced with 2,000 riot police in the port of Al-Arish! PROTEST AT ROCHESTER FEDERAL BUILDING IN RESPONSE!
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Rochester Activists will congregate in front of the downtown Federal Building on Wednesday, January 6th at 4:30pm to demand the US government pressure the Egyptian government to let the Viva Palestina humanitarian convoy deliver its aid into the Gaza Strip and release any convoy members currently being detained.
Local Rochester Student Adriano Contreras is among a 500 strong humanitarian aid convoy destined for the Gaza Strip that is being confronted by Egyptian authorities. Reports claim 2,000 riot police have moved towards the Viva Palestina convoy's camp in the Egyptian Port city of Al-Arish. There are conflicting reports of why, but the police fired tear gas and there were confrontations between police and convoy members.
NBC affiliate video of the incident: http://video.ntvmsnbc.com/?407472#v0521680630840552411010570641180662101...
Crisis in Egypt
Viva Palestina faced with 2,000 riot police in the port of Al-Arish!
To all friends of Palestine,
Our situation is now at a crisis point! Riot has broken out in the port of Al- Arish.
This late afternoon we were negotiating with a senior official from Cairo who left negotiations some two hours ago and did not return. Our negotiations with the official was regarding taking our aid vehicles into Gaza.
He left two hours ago and did not come back. Egyptian authorities called over 2,000 riot police who then moved towards our camp at the port.
We have now blocked the entrance to the port and we are now faced with riot police and water cannons and are determined to defend our vehicles and aid.
The Egyptian authorities have by their stubbornness and hostility towards the convoy, brought us to a crisis point.
We are now calling upon all friends of palestine to mount protests in person where possible, but by any means available to Egyptian representatives, consulates and Embassy's and demand that the convoy are allowed a safe passage into Gaza tomorrow!
Kevin Ovenden Viva Palestina Convoy Leader
http://www.vivapalestina.org/home.htm
The "Viva Palestina" convoy originated in London, England, with a convoy of ambulances, buses, trucks and cars full of supplies and people. The convoy traveled through Europe, into Greece, into Turkey and is not traveling through Syria on its way to Jordan, Egypt and eventually the Rafah Border Crossing into Gaza. Adriano Contreras joined the convoy from the launch in London and has been reporting on their journey through Europe and the Middle East.
Convoy member Adriano has been posting about his travels on a popular blog called "The Sitch", http://www.theSitch.com
Local Contact:
Tom Middleton
Viva Palestina Convoy Member
585.739.5578
thomas.g.middleton@gmail.com
Brian Lenzo, organizer and press liason
International Socialist Organization and Rochester Against War
585.208.2772
truthtob@yahoo.com
The Sitch: http://www.thesitch.com/gaza-dispatches/
Viva Palestina Website: http://www.vivapalestina.org/home.htm
UN Goldstone Report on Gaza War: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/FactFind...
