Idea:
Fifty-four (54) days
of non-violent, direct actions by Palestinians and Internationals
to promote freedom and justice for Palestine - one day to symbolize
each year that Palestinians have lived under occupation.
- This project will:
1. Coordinate in numerous areas throughout the West Bank and
Gaza.
2. Coordinate with public awareness, media and promotional work.
3. Document and report daily, with press conferences held as
necessary.
4. Include local training by internationals for Palestinians
in using technology to promote and document their struggle,
and includes the donation of tools (cameras, computers) to local
areas for such purposes.
5. Develop international support through lobbying, educational
and public awareness campaigns in US and Europe.
Freedom summer is based
on the notion that International Civilians are a resource for
Palestinians in their struggle against occupation and for freedom
and justice. As such, teams of International Civilians will be
stationed for the entire period of Freedom Summer in various regions
(Nablus, Salfit, Ramallah, Jerusalem, Bethlehem/Beit Jala/Beit
Sahour, Hebron, Gaza and Rafah). They will be hosted by Palestinians
and will work with local community leadership to protest and take
direct action against occupation forces. They will also document
and report on their actions and the various criminal actions of
the Israeli occupation forces - incursions, home demolitions,
arrests, etc.
At the local level, Palestinians
will organize, train and coordinate a summer program of activities
and actions to involve all elements of Palestinian society. Obviously
not everyone is comfortable taking the same risks or participating
in direct confrontations with soldiers, police and settlers. As
such, local committees will determine various roles and levels
of participation for all, so that there is "something for everyone."
Freedom summer is a mobilization of the Palestinian people for
justice, for rights and for freedom. Like the Civil Rights Movement
in the United States, India's National Liberation Movement and
the Anti-Apartheid Movement in South Africa, Freedom Summer will
utilize nonviolent direct action strategies and tactics to overcome
oppression. This is not a cause of Palestinian against Israeli
or Arab against Jew - rather it is a cause of humanity against
injustice, against oppression and for freedom.
