International

From the organizers:

On International Day of Action, Vermonters to join flood of protests around the country calling for Israel-Hamas ceasefire, stop to Israeli military aid. Adding to the spate of anti-war and pro-peace demonstrations around the country, hundreds of Vermonters led by Jewish Voice for Peace will rally to demand that our congressional delegation:

• publicly call for a lasting ceasefire between the Israeli government and Hamas,
• stop military aid to the Israeli government,
• and give humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza

In the past weeks, thousands of activists have demonstrated in cities, held sit-ins outside of congressional offices, and shut down businesses demanding an end to the Israeli government’s indiscriminate bombing campaign, contributing to the largest anti-war protests since the Iraq War of 2003. 

The U.S. government is supporting the Israeli government in its open threats to commit war crimes and genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza, with our tax dollars. But more weapons will only bring more harm to everyone. As Jews and allies, we know what happens when people are called animals — and we will not be silent. We must address the root causes of violence in the region: Israeli military occupation and apartheid, and our own government’s role in funding this oppression. When we do so, we will affirm that each and every life is precious, and help ensure the safety of Palestinian, Jewish, and all people everywhere.

Convened by Jewish Voice for Peace-Vermont, hundreds of Vermonters of diverse backgrounds will gather to say, “Never again, for anyone.” Speakers include Jewish faith leaders and people with personal experience of the Rwandan genocide. Sponsoring organizations include: Cooperation Vermont, Education Justice Coalition of Vermont, FreeHer, If Not Now, Migrant Justice, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Rural Vermont, Tempest Collective, UVM Students for Justice in Palestine, Vermonters for Justice in Palestine, Vermont Peace and AntiWar Coalition, and Veterans for Peace.

From the community producer, Stephen Kastner:

Where was the Vermont mainstream media? Shame on WCAX-TV 3, VTDigger, Seven Days, Burlington Free Press, Vermont Public; all crickets when approximately a thousand people gathered in Battery Park in Burlington, Vermont on November 4th to march through the city in support of the Palestinian people caught in the crossfire of a brutal war.

With John Killacky, Former Vermont State Representative and Executive Director, Flynn Center and Sean Clute, Professor of Fine and Performing Arts, Vermont State University.

For more information visit: eeevermont.org

From the organizers:

The hospitals in Gaza have no electricity and already hundreds of people every day are dying – and it does not stop without a ceasefire. Becca Balint has not co-sponsored the "Immediate Ceasefire" House Resolution, unlike 18 of her fellow representatives.

We held a demonstration outside of Becca Balint's office in Burlington calling for her to back the Resolution introduced by Rep. Cori Bush.

Only 45-60 trucks, for a population of 2 million, have been allowed to enter Gaza in the last two weeks, 5% of the bare minimum necessary for survival according to the UN.

Even as the Israeli Army has held two expeditionary excursions into Gaza in the last 3 days, in preparation for a devastating ground invasion that will look like the urban warfare of Mosul and Grozny, and even as Bernie Sanders has called from the Senate Floor yesterday for an immediate humanitarian pause, Becca Balint has chosen to spend her time introducing a resolution censuring Marjorie Taylor Green for antisemitism.

We have no problem with that idea, but already 7000 people have died, and the Biden Administration has made clear its inclination to sweep that number under the rug as it questions the accuracy of the Palestinian Health Authority figures–while all the most trusted humanitarian organizations in the world say that the Authority has always provided accurate figures. And humanitarian organizations all over the world including the UNHRC call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire as aid workers, dozens of UN personnel, and dozens of journalists have been killed in just the last two weeks.

Organized by Vermont Peace/Antiwar Coalition (VPAC), Green Mountain Veterans for Peace (VFP), Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).