US Greens endorse Sept. 15 rally at UN demanding self-determination for Palestinians‏

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614,
mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org


The Green Party of the United States endorses the Sept. 15 rally at
the UN demanding self-determination for Palestinians

• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on
foreign policy: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-foreign-policy.php


WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States has endorsed
the Thursday, September 15 Palestine Rally at the United Nations, in
support of the right of self-determination for Palestinians.

The march and rally
(http://al-awdany.org/2011/07/sept-15-palestine-rally-at-the-united-nations),
scheduled to take place in advance of a UN vote on recognition of
Palestinian statehood, are sponsored by the Palestine UN Solidarity
Coalition.

Participants will call for the US to cut off aid for Israel, for
Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories, and for
national and international boycott, divestment, and sanctions against
Israel until it complies with numerous resolutions promising
Palestinians their basic rights.  The Green Party has consistently
supported these goals and spoken out publicly for sovereignty,
equality, and the right of return for Palestinians, including an end
to apartheid inside Israel.

"For too many decades, Palestinian rights have been delayed.  The
protests that are taking place in various cities this week will
communicate an important message: delaying rights is effectively
denying rights.  The time to recognize and implement rights is now,"
said Muhammed Malik, member of the Green Party's International
Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl) and co-chair of
Miami-Dade Green Party.  Mr. Malik will be speaking at the South
Florida Palestinian Self-Determination Rally on September 15
(http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=217314961638622).

Marchers in New York City will gather at Times Square at 4:30 pm and
march to Grand Central and then continue on to the UN at 5:30 pm.
Greens plan to participate and march under the party's banner.  For
events in Washington, DC and other cities, visit "September 15: Real
Democracy, Not Hypocrisy" (http://www.september15.org and
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=219805248070924).

"The UN vote alone won't solve the Middle East conflict and ensure
Palestinians their human rights," said Justine McCabe, co-chair of the
International Committee.  "That's why the demands of the September 15
rally remain important.  We must place pressure on Israel and push the
US to reverse its policy of unquestioning support for Israel's
criminal actions, such as the 2009 invasion of Gaza, occupation of the
West Bank and Gaza, and internal apartheid."

The Green Party has called for a negotiated, peaceful resolution to
the conflict that establishes full rights and security for all
Israelis and Palestinians, with an immediate end to all violence
directed at unarmed civilians.

Green Party leaders view the two-state solution as a half-measure,
intended at best to end Israel's military occupation in some parts of
the West Bank, while not addressing the heart of the conflict -- the
dispossession since 1948 of the majority native population of historic
Palestine and Israel's refusal to allow Palestinian refugees to return
home.  Greens have advocated the one-state solution, in which all
citizens enjoy full citizenship and rights regardless of ethnicity or
religion, and have warned that the two-state solution will result in
ongoing conflict and violence, while the formation of a single
democratic state would bring greater possibility for sustainable
peace.

Greens supported the Gaza-bound flotillas that faced blockades and
assaults by the Israeli Navy when they carried food and humanitarian
aid to besieged Palestinians
(http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=431).


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