Action against Military Aid at Barbara Lee Fundraiser. September 4th, 2014
On the evening of September 4th, 2014, Barbara Lee hosted a fundraising event at Jack London Square in Oakland. About 40-50 of us showed up to tell Barbara Lee that her support of military aid to Israel is unacceptable. Barbara Lee's special guest was Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota. We also had a presence at Barbara Lee's previous public fundraiser in late July (see write-up). Lee must be getting used to seeing us by now.
We held up signs against Israeli crimes and US military aid to Israel. We passed out a leaflet that told attendees of the event about Lee's continued support of "robust military aid to Israel". Some declined the leaflet, while others, including Rev. Dorsey Blake, showed strong support for our action. I suspect it was one of the topics of conversation during the event.
Also attending the event was Molly Freeman of "J Street", an anti-Palestinian lobby. J Street PAC gives modest campaign contributions to both Lee and Ellison. Every politician that accepts such donations pledges to support military aid to Israel and oppose the nonviolent Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement of Palestinians. J Street gives lip-service to opposing settlements, even going so far as saying that expanding the settlements are not just a bad idea, but illegal under international law. It then opposes ANY real consequence for Israel for violating what it concedes to be international law on the matter. Rather than supporting real change, J Street acts as merely cover for liberal politicians who wish to pretend to be offering something different on the issue, while in reality it is just more of the same, including sending Hellfire missiles and assorted weaponry that has been, and will be used, to kill and maim Palestinians. The weaponry that is sent to Israel with J Street's blessing are actually the very same weapons supported by AIPAC.
Barbara Lee arrived with a car right in front of the entrance. She waved to us, but did not speak with us. Later, as the evening wore on and most of the guests had already arrived, we moved from the front entrance to a side window, in full view of the guests. We held our signs high so that they could see them. Keith Ellison responding by giving us a "thumbs up" sign. Ellison voted against further funding of Iron Dome in a vote that was held during the slaughter in Gaza. He later put out a statement that he fully supports US aid for Iron Dome, but did not agree with the timing "in the midst of a hot war with so many casualties, the US government needs to be prioritizing a ceasefire between the two sides." Sadly, though it seems that while both Lee and Ellison have some qualms about sending weapons during a "hot war", they have no problem doing so during the routine occupation and dispossession of Palestinians from their land and homes. The weapons sent during those times will surely be there for Israel to use the next time it chooses to esclate its war against Palestinians and their struggle for liberation and justice.
More on Barbara Lee and her statements on Palestine/Israel here. Sind the petition urging Lee to oppose military aid here.
Photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.
We were gathered here at the side window to make our signs visible to attendees of the event.