Subject: MASS RALLY FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEE RIGHTS ON APRIL 7
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 18:29:38 -0500


(Please forward to your contacts)

11 January 2001

MASS RALLY FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEE RIGHTS ON APRIL 7

CALL FOR GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION, ORGANIZATIONAL CO-SPONSORSHIP AND
DONATIONS

On April 7, 2001 thousands will march and rally in New York City and in
other cities around the world to reaffirm the right of Palestinian refugees
to return to homes and lands from which they were expelled in 1948 and
thereafter. Spear-headed by The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, known
by its Arabic name Al-Awda, these rallies will coincide with the fifty-third
anniversary of the massacre of Palestinians in the village of Deir Yassin.
This massacre is one of many atrocities committed in 1948 and thereafter,
and which forced Palestinians to leave their homeland.

The rallies and marches on April 7 are intended to draw the public's
attention to the plight of the refugees, human rights abuses and suffering
inflicted on the Palestinian people.  They are also intended to send a
strong signal of support to Palestinian Christians and Muslims who continue
to suffer human rights abuses under Israeli occupation.  More than three
hundred and fifty Palestinian civilians have been killed and over 11,000
injured by Israeli forces in the past few months.  A majority of these
injuries and deaths have been of refugees.

Palestinian refugees represent the oldest and largest refugee population in
the world. Today, there are more than 5 million dispossessed Palestinians, a
number equivalent to the population of the state of Maryland. The suffering
of refugees is magnified by Israel's continued denial of their legal,
historical and legitimate rights to repatriation and restitution as required
by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions and
United Nations Resolution 194.

In September 2000, thousands rallied in Washington D.C., London, and in the
refugee camps in Palestine and Lebanon to demand the right to return. Those
activities were organized by Al-Awda and co-sponsored and endorsed by over
one hundred and fifty solidarity organizations as well as thousands of
individuals.   Invited speakers for the forthcoming rallies include
Palestinian refugees, and national and international figures.

CALL FOR ORGANIZATIONAL CO-SPONSORSHIP

Groups wishing to co-sponsor the 7 April 2001 rally in New York City, or to
inquire about rallies in other countries, can contact us at
prrc-events-AT-mail.com or as indicated below.

CALL FOR GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION

To join an Al-Awda/PRRC grassroots action committee currently mobilizing for
April 7 in your area visit http://www.al-awda.org/committees.htm. To help
establish Al-Awda/PRRC action committees in your area, please send a message
to prrc-events-AT-mail.com indicating your location.

CALL FOR DONATIONS

To send a donation to help defray the cost of the rally, please address
checks to:

PRRC, The Palestine Right To Return Coalition
PO Box 401
Hummelstown, Pa 17036
e-mail: prrc-AT-mail.com
Web: http://al-awda.org
Fax:717-832-1123

For electronic transfers, the PRRC account is with Commerce Bank in
Hummelstown, Pa.  Bank Transit # 031301846. The account #
is 513176388.





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