Al-Awda/PRRC Recommendations For Effective Protest Actions to Stop Israeli Violations of Palestinian Human Rights
DEMONSTRATIONS:
Please announce any demonstration around the world on al-awda@egroups.com
or send to PRRC@mail.com to get it included on the UPDATES we have sent out
to a huge outreach. Send pictures and reports (including links to
audio/video files) of past demonstrations to PRRC@mail.com (for reports
and pictures/video/audio see http://hanthala.virtualave.net). This site is
also linked to Addameer's and vice versa.
TIPS:
Our primary audience is the public in the cities in which these events are held. We do this by working with the Media (TV, Radio, and newspaper), writing to politicians and making the public aware of these contacts, protests (e.g. at the Israeli embassies and consulates, in front of city hall, the white house etc.).
Every action aimed at altering public opinion must have a dedicated media coordinator, whose job is to ensure that the activists' point of view reaches the wider world.
In your comments at rallies and to the press, please be cordial and tell the truth. There is no need to exaggerate as there are an abundance of documented injustices, the human rights abuses, murders and other violations taking place.
Please stress that even if the leaders reach a cease-fire, the apartheid remains, and the Palestinian people are still being oppressed and ethnically cleansed. Any agreement to come out of the current diplomatic activities cannot change the reality on the ground until refugees are allowed to return, and Israel implements democracy, equal rights, and ending the occupation.
Have good public speakers; read the list of martyrs; include a two-minute silence; don't be provoked by police or bystanders (negative media might be the result); try to hold your event at times that include as much as possible people; preferably after office hours around 5 pm; make sure you have people who know the chants with megaphones.
If you have relatives in the area who are in danger, do share their stories with the media (making it more personal).
Make sure that you have a statement including demands for civilian protection etc and appropriate links (Addameer's site) handy for media persons. Assign someone to pass these demands out to journalists. Assign eloquent speakers as spokespersons to the press. The presence of a lawyer or two at the rally will be a big plus to insure that the police do not try to violate our rights and try to confine the protest.
Make signs with short, powerful slogans. Do not write too many things on them, for you will lose the effect. See list of slogans included in this list. Be firm, loud, proud, but not arrogant or disruptive. Don't let your protest be run by an emotional mob. Make sure that it is organized and under control at all time so that your goals are achieved.
Along with timing your rallies for optimal coverage, get in touch with the media to bring about coverage. Determine the key media contacts in your area and send press releases, (preferably by fax, followed by a telephone call). For contact addresses check the major media-sites listed below. Ask supporters to call including during the demonstration to ask why the media is not there.
For a list of media contacts see: http://emedia1.mediainfo.com/emedia/
Talking points:
The international community (US, Europe) must take up political, moral, and legal obligation by the US, Europe under international law and human rights conventions to condemn Israeli violations of human rights and international law. The International community condemns Israel for indiscriminately killing Palestinian civilians including children. We need international protection to Palestinian civilians and to enforce UN resolutions, in particular, UNSC 242, 338 and UNGA 194. Israel should be suspended from participation in United Nations System until it complies with its conditions to admission and until it complies with basic principles the UN has set forth, in particular the right to self-determination, the prohibition against acquiring territory by force, and allowing refugees to return to their homes and lands. Europe must suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, until Israel complies with the human rights clause (article 2) of the agreement. The US should suspend military and economic aid to Israel until it respects the Fourth Geneva Convention on Human Rights.
SLOGANS:
* Hey, hey, ho, ho, the occupation must go
* Sharon MURDERER; Barak MURDERER
* Stop Israeli Massacres of Palestinians
* Stop Israeli murders of children
* Stop the ethnic cleansing
* Muhammad al-Durrah, why were you killed?
* Palestinians have the right to life
* NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE
* Sharon, war criminal; Barak, war criminal
* Protect Palestinian civilians NOW!
* Israel must obey international law!
* Stop killing in Palestine
* Sharon & Barak = Child killers
* Stop Israeli State Terrorism
* Israel, Stop Killing the children
* What do you want - Stop the killing - When do you wan it - Now
* No more war, No more war
* Clinton, Clinton you must act, Israel apartheid is a fact
* Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Apartheid has got to go
* No Aid to Apartheid Israel
* No Return, No peace
* Hey Hey, Ho Ho , Back to Haifa we will go
MEMORIAL SITE:
Set up memorial sites in capitals for all Palestinian martyrs. Pictures can be taken from Addameer's website (use US-mirror for quick download) at http://nigelparry.com/september2000/ click on "martyrs" to get the pictures (not all are available but most).
Call the media and tell them to cover it. Tell the media why you have set up the memorial. Calls could be made to every mosque and church about the site. You can organize a silent march; or hold candle vigils at the site. Publicize the place of the site and we can post it around. Send the exactplace to PRRC@mail.com (or post it on al-awda@egroups.com) and we can mass distribute it and have the list of sites added to Addameer's website..
Please add the following at the memorial: 1. A big sign that says "in memory of the more than 80 Palestinians who have been killed by Israelis this week"; 2. flowers (many many flowers) each person coming should bring a flower; 3. candles; 4. notes of support and acknowledgment- prayers and notes; 5. pictures of the victims, especially the 12-year-old boy shot in his dad's arms; 6. volunteers who are ready to talk to the media about the memorial.
PICKETING:
You can picket in front of every Israeli embassy or consulate. For the right address check: http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/israel1.htm
TIPS FOR NON-VIOLENT ACTIONS:
This deals with tips for non-violent actions such as sit-ins in front of UN-buildings; government buildings; Israeli embassies.
Be clear about the objectives, to attract attention to the demands (see above), it must be clearly understood by participants and clearly articulated to passerby, media, police etc. It must be clear who is responsible for what (coordination of action, communication with media, with police, etc.) Provide written guidelines such as: not to provoke police; no violent actions; etc.
Make a sign-up sheet, it should be distributed including name, etc., phone (preferably take your mobile with you), someone to notify (family, friends, lawyer), special needs (medical care). A buddy system is recommended, in particular in a "crowd scene". If intent is to challenge an order to leave an area (in front of an Israeli embassy) the possible legal, financial, and physical implications should be known (e.g. lawyer should be consulted beforehand and preferably "on call") and if possible, thoroughly discussed and considered by participants at a pre-action preparation session; Reason(s) for challenge must be clear: e.g.. "we intend to stay until X is done or Y stops being done". Those without preparation for being dragged, should walk with arresting person.
Affinity groups should be formed beforehand - at preparation sessions, with one or two members of each not risking arrest; these should be responsible for follow up if arrests occur (contact family, lawyer, media, visiting prison, etc.) Importance of these roles should be stressed.
SIGN THE PETITION:
Send a request to hold A Special Session to Mary Robinson (UNHCR):
UN Human Rights Commission, Mrs. Mary Robinson, High Commissioner, Representatives of Member States, Fax: 0041-22-917 9018, Email: webadmin.hchr@unog.ch
Sign also the online petition for protection of the Palestinian citizens in 1948-Palestine. This petition will be sent to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to Demand International Protection for Palestinian Citizens of Israel. The URL is http://www.petitionpetition.com/cgi/petition.cgi?id=862
CONTACT THE MEDIA:
For good tips on media see http://www.fair.org/activism/activismkit.html
Monitor the media. For good sites on the media check:
http://www.journalismnet.com
US Editorials: http://www.opinion-pages.org/united_states.htm
International Editorials: http://www.opinion-pages.org/international.htm
Search US News: http://www.journalismnet.com/searchnewsus.htm
UK media: http://directory.mediauk.com
Europe news searches: http://www.journalismnet.com/searchnewseurope.htm
World news searches: http://www.journalismnet.com/searchnewsworld.htm
Write letters to the editor: http://www.mrsmith.com/
Media contacts: http://emedia1.mediainfo.com/emedia/
For best news source on latest developments in Palestine check http://www.addameer.org/september2000/ or its US-mirror http://nigelparry.com/september2000
CONTACT POLITICIANS/CONGRESSMEN:
Write to your government; representatives; party members etc.
Government addresses: http://www.trytel.com/~aberdeen/#a2
US Congress, see http://congress.org/congdir.html
US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm
US Representatives: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Good source: http://www.e-thepeople.com
Parliaments on the Web: http://www.ipu.org/english/parlweb.htm
Foreign Affairs Ministries: http://www.trytel.com/~aberdeen/foreign.html
Heads of State: http://www.trytel.com/~aberdeen/#a2
European Union: http://www.politicalresources.net/eu.htm
Political Parties: http://www.artsci.lsu.edu/poli/polpart.html
Political Parties (Australia, US, UK):
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/pol/polparti.htm
Embassies around the world: http://www.embassyworld.com/
BOYCOTT:
If you're working for an import-company refuse to import Israeli goods and tell your seniors why. Consumer boycotts can also be done, for an overview of Israeli products exported to Europe and the US check http://www.export.org.il/iei/company_search_tree.php3?NewNameMade=0&InitialEntry=1&from=112
OTHER POSSIBLE ACTIONS:
Teach-ins, public lectures, silence, strike, fast, hunger strike, sit-in, stand-in, pray-in.
