Green Party’s 2009 nat’l meeting in Durham, NC, July 23-26 to feature Cynthia McKinney, forum on health care reform

July 14, 2009

The Green Party’s 2009 Annual National Meeting in Durham, North Carolina, will feature a visit from former US Representative and 2008 Green presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney and a forum on health care reform.  The meeting will take place Thursday, July 23, through Sunday, July 26, on the campus of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham.

On Friday afternoon, 3:30-4:30 pm, the Green Party will present a public forum on health care reform and the need for a Single-Payer national health care program (http://www.ncgreenparty.org/2009-ANM%20FORUM.html).  Reporters will have the opportunity to meet and interview the forum speakers.

On Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm, Cynthia McKinney will speak in the Miller-Morgan Building’s main auditorium at NCCU about her recent efforts, with the Free Gaza Movement and Viva Palestina, to bring medical and other supplies to Gaza in the wake of Israel’s brutal invasion.  Ms. McKinney and other Free Gaza human rights activists were aboard the Spirit of Humanity when it was seized by Israeli gunboats.  The ‘Free Gaza 21,’ including Ms. McKinney, were held in a prison in Ramla, Israel, until their release last week.

Ms. McKinney is currently in Egypt on a Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza, which has been held up by the government of Egypt.  According to Viva Palestina’s July 12 update, “The Viva Palestina members who spent the night in their buses at the Suez Crossing after being stopped by Egyptian authorities on July 11 have now rendezvoused in Cairo with British Member of Parliament George Galloway and former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who has rushed to join the convoy following her deportation from Israel on Wednesday.”

NCCU, the nation’s first public liberal arts institution founded for African-Americans (http://www.nccu.edu / map: http://www.nccu.edu/formsdocs/proxy.cfm?file_id=393), is celebrating its 100 year anniversary.  For information about Durham, visit the city’s online Visitors’ Guide and Information Center (http://www.durham-nc.com).


Cynthia McKinney requests your presence in DC…

July 13, 2009

From a 7/13/09 e-mail from a Cynthia McKinney supporter:

We just received word that the Viva Palestina convoy is still being held in Egypt despite negotiations. Convoy organizers Cynthia McKinney [former Congresswoman, and 2008 Green Party presidential candidate] and George Galloway are calling for protests tomorrow. Those of us who are in Washington, DC will be gathering tomorrow (Tuesday, July 14) outside the Egyptian embassy at noon to demand that Egyptian authorities allow the aid through! Please come out and spread the message!

*Please Forward Far and Wide*

Emergency Protest! Demand that Egyptian Authorities allow humanitarian aid into Gaza!

When: Tuesday, July 14th at 12 noon

Where: Egyptian Embassy, Washington, DC (Van Ness metro – red line) (3521 International Court, NW)

For updates on the Washington, DC protest or to endorse, please contact:
703.231.7553.
Read the rest of this entry »


Cynthia McKinney: I’m back home; Thanks to all of you!

July 7, 2009
Hello,

Well, all I can say is “Thank you!” Your calls, faxes, protests, and prayers all made a huge difference and helped to secure our protection and our release.  I would also like to thank those at the Tel Aviv Embassy for their work on behalf of the three U.S. citizens held by the Israelis.  For those of you who missed it, here is the statement I put out from the Israeli prison.  Please forgive the undone, but needed edits.  I have tried twice, now, to get into Gaza.  I just got off the phone with George Galloway who extended a personal invitation to me to join him and the US convoy in Viva Palestina!  I’m certainly excited about that.  Maybe I will finally make it to Gaza.

Here’s my “Letter from an Israeli Prison:”

Letter from an Israeli Prison by Cynthia McKinney

Original audio message available here: http://freegaza.org/it/home/56-news/984-a-message-from-cynthia-from-a-cell-block-in-israel

A funny thing happened to me on my way to Gaza.  Before I left for Gaza, I was giddy with excitement.  The children needed school supplies.  It was a last-minute, but urgent request.  Please bring crayons for the children.  And so I accpeted congtributions of crayola crayons, #2 pencils, pencil sharpeners, paint brushes, and crayola watercolors.  Read the rest of this entry »


July 5: Cynthia McKinney being deported from Israel

July 5, 2009

A report from the popular Green Party site Green Party Watch, and a story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, affirm that Cynthia McKinney was brought from jail to the airport, and is currently being deported by Israel. Supporters wait and worry until she arrives home in the US safely. Former Congresswoman and former Green Party candidate for President Cynthia McKinney was on a boat trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, when the boat — with 21 activists — was taken by Israel.

(excerpt from) Green Party Watch
BREAKING NEWS: Israeli authorities deporting Cynthia McKinney
July 5th, 2009 by Gregg Jocoy · 8 Comments

This breaking news comes via David Josue, a close associate and supporter of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney: Editor’s notes in parenthesis. Read the rest of this entry »


Petition for the release of Cynthia McKinney…captured by Israel

July 1, 2009

Former Congresswoman and 2008 Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, has been captured by the Israeli Navy, as she and others went on a humanitarian mission to Gaza.

It is the afternoon of Wed. July 1, 2009 and no word that she is back safe, yet. People just put up a petition for her release: here. Please do sign up in support.


Call White House for Cynthia McKinney please

June 30, 2009

Former Congresswoman and 2008 Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, has been captured by the Israeli Navy…oh, my. Unbelievable, but I have gotten many reliable reports via phone and e-mail.

It is the afternoon of Wed. July 1, 2009 and no word that she is back safe, yet. People just put up a petition for her release: here.

Also, Marian from the Green Party of the United States Diversity Committee said that we are trying to get calls to the White House. Please call now:

Ask people to contact the White House – 202-456-1111

I just left a detailed message with a White House comment line operator. He was very courteous, even supportive.

Marian


Women leaders rise up: “Peace Mom” Cindy Sheehan demands Cynthia McKinney’s release…

June 30, 2009

Call the White House and ask them to get Cynthia McKinney and the others back. White House 202-456-1111 . More action items and links at read more…

Hot Indie News
[Peace Mom] Cindy Sheehan demands the immediate release by Israel of 2008 Green Party Presidential Candidate Cynthia McKinney and other kidnapped aid workers on the boat: The Spirit of Humanity

By James Lane / Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Human Rights’ Activist and Gold Star Mother, Cindy Sheehan, calls on the Israeli government to immediately release the members and crew of the boat The Spirit of Humanity that was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the devastated peoples of Gaza. Read the rest of this entry »


McKinney leaves Cyprus with Gaza supplies

June 29, 2009

The Free Gaza boat the “Spirit of Humanity” departed Cyprus at 7:30am on Monday, 29 July. Twenty-one human rights and solidarity workers representing eleven different countries were aboard.  The passengers include Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. The ship also carries three tons of medical aid, children’s toys, and rehabilitation and reconstruction kits for twenty family homes.

Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney: “[T]he U.S. should send a message to Israel reiterating the reported White House position that the blockade of Gaza should be eased, and that medical supplies and building materials, including cement, should be allowed in … Will [President Obama] stand by his own words and allow us to provide relief for Gaza or will he back down?”  Read the rest of this entry »


Poem video: A Close Shave

June 27, 2009

This poem was read as the introduction to a talk on “A Green Party View of Obama’s First 100 Days” given at the May 2009 Babylon Green Party gathering. A 30 minute version of the talk can be found at http://wilderside.wordpress.com/2009/… The Babylon Green Party gathers the first Wednesday of every month at 7pm at Pisces Cafe, Babylon. More information can be found at http://www.babylongreens.org


Free Gaza Speaks about the Delayed Departure of the Hope Fleet

June 25, 2009

This is not the statement we in the Free Gaza Movement intended to release today. We had hoped to announce that our two ships, the Free Gaza and the Spirit of Humanity, departed from Larnaca Port on a 30-hour voyage to besieged Gaza, carrying human rights activists who have travelled to Cyprus from all across the world for this journey, 3 tons of medical supplies, and 15 tons of badly needed concrete and reconstruction supplies.

In addition to the concerns expressed by our Cypriot friends today, the American consulate in Nicosia warned us not to go to Gaza, stating that:

“…[T]he Israeli Foreign Ministry informed U.S. officials at the American Embassy in Tel Aviv that Israel still considers Gaza an area of conflict and that any Free Gaza boats attempting to sail to the Gaza Strip will “not be permitted” to reach its destination.”

Former U.S. Congresswoman & [Green Party] presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney responded to this warning by pointing out that, “The White House says that cement and medical supplies should get into Gaza and that’s exactly what we are attempting to take to Gaza.”

“Instead of quoting Israel policy to us,” McKinney continued, “…the U.S. should send a message to Israel reiterating the reported White House position that the blockade of Gaza should be eased, that medical supplies and building materials, including cement, should be allowed in. The Free Gaza boats should be allowed to reach their destination, traveling from Cyprus territorial waters, through international waters, and straight into Gaza territorial waters.”

“The State Department has chosen to advise us to take the Israeli notification seriously.  Our question is, ‘Can we take President Obama seriously?’  Will he stand by his own words and allow us to provide relief for Gaza or will he back down?” Read the rest of this entry »


Cynthia McKinney: They Denied Us So They Wouldn’t Have to Ram Us

June 25, 2009

The Israelis are hopping mad.  And they’re flexing their muscles in all the ugly places.  They can’t ram us again without sparking an international uproar, so they’re trying to stop us from leaving the port at all.  The Limasol, Cyprus Port Authority which controls the port of Larnaca also, sent their inspector to Larnaca with a letter saying that the boat failed inspection, only thing, the letter was written BEFORE he even arrived in Larnaca to do the inspection!  {emphasis added} Reuters is doing the story at this very moment saying that we were prevented from leaving due to Cypriot authorities.  We just learned from a Cyprus government source that pressure is being applied by Israel to deny us departure credentials. It appears, then, that Israel is putting us into contortions because they don’t want us to take cement into Gaza.  After white phosphorus, depleted uranium, DIME, cluster bombs, F16s, death, destruction, and mayhem.  All of *this* over a few bags of cement.  Can you believe???

1.  Read the Haaretz article here, showing Israeli concern about us taking cement to Gaza
2.  Hear the interview with Don Debar on the contortions we’re being put through by Cyprus Port Authority
3.  Read the Reuters article here (interesting that the story broke in Israel and not Cyprus!!)
4.  Individuals have already started to contact the Cyprus UN Mission and their DC Embassy to inquire why they are arbitrarily not allowing the Spirit of Humanity and the Free Gaza to set sail.

1.  Here is the Ha’aretz article: Read the rest of this entry »


From Cynthia McKinney: We Leave for Gaza Tomorrow; I’ve Asked the White House to Intervene for our Safety

June 24, 2009
I just sent the following message to President Obama:

“Mr. President, Please ask the Israelis to not harm our boats and to let us proceed to Gaza.  The Israelis are paying attention and have printed stories about our boats in both the Jerusalem Post and Ha’aretz.  We are doing nothing more than what you have already requested the Israelis to do:  ease up on the Gaza blockade.  Please ask the Israelis to allow us to proceed to Gaza without harm.  Sincerely, Cynthia McKinney”

You, too, can contact the White House (http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/) and ask them to send a message to Israel requesting our safe passage to Gaza.  We pose no threat to Israel and represent real hope for change in US policy for the people of Gaza.  I also contacted the State Department and the Justice Department with similar messages. Read the rest of this entry »