Despite official complicity, many Americans are condemning Israeli atrocities Zionism is Nazism. Stop the Holocaust. We are All Gaza. Free Palestine. These were the words carried on signs by tens of thousands of protesters in nationwide demonstrations on 10 January against Israel's assault on Gaza. Some of the largest protests, observes Anayat Durrani, were held in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC. Under the slogan "Let Gaza Live" demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and signs questioning unyielding US support for Israel amidst the slaughter of nearly 1,000 Palestinians, the vast majority civilians. While the Bush administration remains silent on the atrocities in Gaza and media pundits brazenly defend Israel's "right to self-defence", death and destruction have become a daily reality for Palestinian civilians living in Gaza. Women, children and entire families have been murdered, many of their bodies still beneath the rubble of bombed mosques, schools and homes as Israel prevents journalists from entering Gaza. Thousands of Americans took to the streets to protest against the human catastrophe unfolding daily in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli government and a complacent US. Organisers said 10,000 people came out to the Los Angeles protest, which had a children's contingent organised by the Palestinian American Women's Association to represent the hundreds of children who have been killed by Israeli bombs. A gigantic hand- made Palestinian flag and coffins symbolised the death and destruction in Gaza brought by what organisers called the US- Israel war machine. The sound of air-raid sirens, bombs and gunfire eerily rang through the air in Los Angeles to simulate what life is like in Gaza. Americans of all backgrounds and religions carried red and green Palestinian flags in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Demonstrators chanted "Free, free Palestine!" and "Gaza, Gaza don't you cry -- Palestine will never die!" A series of protests were organised by the ANSWER coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), Al-Awda, the Free Palestine Alliance since Israel began the bombing and invasion of Gaza almost three weeks ago. The Los Angeles protests took place in front of the Federal Building, the seat of the federal government, which organisers emphasised supplies $15 million per day of military and economic aid to Israel. "We are demonstrating to demand an immediate end to the ground assault and indiscriminate bombardment by air, sea and land of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip," said Zahi Damuni, a founder of Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition. "Israel has attacked and destroyed hospitals, mosques, apartment buildings, police stations, schools and other civilian buildings." Protests were held in other US cities to coincide with the national day of protest and solidarity with Palestine. In Washington DC more than 20,000 people marched in protests and gathered in Lafayette Park, across from the White House, chanting "Free Palestine!" as protest leaders and activists spoke from a podium. Featured speakers included Ralph Nader and former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who recently returned from a humanitarian relief mission attempting to bring supplies to Gaza which was aborted when her boat was rammed by an Israeli military vessel. The march then led to the offices of The Washington Post, where demonstrators criticised the paper for its biased pro-Israeli coverage of the massacre. Organisers said the Washington Post enforced a "complete blackout of protest activities in the United States." American media that did cover the pro-Palestinian protests reported smaller numbers of attendees than actually participated. The Saturday Los Angeles protests were widely reported as attracting only 1,500 participants, whereas organisers said 10,000 people attended the protest. Youssef Abudayyeh, a long time activist and founding member of the National Council of Arab Americans, said he noticed a sharp change in media coverage since the beginning of the war in Iraq. He said the media has "lost its independence and has become an arm of the US government" as was evident in its coverage of the war. "This coupled with the US media outlets being pretty much owned by corporations and individuals that are either Zionists and/or pro-Zionists is a reason why the media is not telling facts about our struggle," he said. Abudayyeh said that is why many more Americans are turning to other sources for their news. He said people have access to international news sources and alternative national sources on the Internet and are becoming more aware of the US media's one-sided approach. This may explain the larger numbers of participants and increasing involvement by other groups in pro-Palestinian protests. "I believe that the US media is doing a disservice to the American population, losing a lot of its credibility here and abroad, and that we need to keep on exposing it," said Abudayyeh. At the protest in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jacob Dayan, consul- general for Israel for the southwest United States, told The Los Angeles Times that those involved in the protest were pro- Hamas. "They are not demonstrating for the chance at peace or for moderate Palestinians," he told the paper in a phone interview. "They are strengthening the radicals in the region." Demonstrators said that what is occurring in Gaza is a human rights issue. They said Israel is committing war crimes against the Palestinian people funded by the US government. "We are demanding that the US stop providing political, economic and military support for Israel while it carries out its carnage on the civilian population of Gaza," said Damuni. "We also demand that the rights of 1.1 million Palestinian refugees living in the Gaza Strip be implemented including their inalienable, fundamental, legal and historical right to return to their homes and lands that were stolen and occupied since 1948." Meanwhile, as the Israeli government maintains its ban on journalists from entering in and reporting on the atrocities in Gaza, "Joe the Plumber" has been welcomed with open arms by the Israelis. Now, "Joe the War Reporter" files reports from the Israeli side along the Gaza border for a right-wing website. Joe Wurzelbacher became famous during the US presidential campaign for asking Barack about his tax plan. Joe will make a 10-day trip to the area to talk to "regular people" about the conflict. Wurzelbacher said Israel's side of the story is not being heard on mainstream news outlets. He said Israel is being blamed despite being the victim of Hamas rockets over the past eight years. "It's asinine when someone is firing upon you and the world is coming down on you," he said. "Common sense has gone out the window."
