2:00pm Saturday, June 25 beside the Tourist Information Centre at Wharf and Government Streets

by CAIA

Sometime this week several ships with hundreds of people from around the world and thousands of tonnes of humanitarian aid will set sail to the blockaded people of Gaza. Last year a smaller flotilla ventured out to do the same thing.

 

They were violently attacked by Israel resulting in nine deaths, many serious casualties, the ships and cargo seized, and the passengers - subjected to harsh indignities and brutal repression - were transferred to an Israeli prison. Israel has been internationally condemned for this cruel, barbaric action.

 

This year, Kevin Neish is once again Victoria's representative on the flotilla.  We want to ensure that all the aid and people on the flotilla reach Gaza without Israeli interference. Then the aid will be distributed which will deliver a message of international solidarity to the Palestinian people of Gaza.

 

Let's all join together to show our support for the flotilla and our disgust at the illegal, genocidal Israeli blockade against the people of Gaza.

 

We hope to see you all there.

 

Sponsored by the Victoria Free Gaza Coalition which our Friends of Cuba group is part of.

 

We are asking everyone to send emails, faxes or make telephone calls to our Prime Minister and MPs demanding their support of the International Humanitarian Flotilla to Gaza.  We ask them to insist that Israel not impede the flotilla from reaching Gaza in any way, shape, or form.

 

Hello all; Great work on the banner hang this morning!

 

Kevin sent this message today and I posted it on his blog at http://kevinneish.ca. Meribeth from A-News interviewed him by Skype
and spoke to me at the Tourist Centre about the Victoria  Free Gaza Coalition and the rally Saturday. Meribeth was disappointed the
cameraman missed the banner drop, but Larry came through and brought the banner over so it could be filmed. Big cheers!

A-News segment on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FCqDWilo0k

Here is Kevin's message. Thank you all!
---------------------------
It's starting.

The Canada Boat to Gaza project (CBG) has now really begun. The delegates have arrived from around the world.  It no longer feels
like a nationalistic Canadian Boat but more of a collective international peace boat.  Danes, Belgians, a New Zealander, the US,
Turks, Germans, Aussies and of course mostly Canadians with their wonderful Quebecois partners. All represented by fine, committed individual activists, who are now willing to work together for a common purpose, to break the illegal Israeli blockade and get our
humanitarian aid and witnesses to Gaza.  

 

We are all going to be Palestinians for a short but honourable time.

The non-violent resistance training has begun.  We are being coached by very experienced Christian Peacemakers Team (CPT) veterans who have worked in Latin America, Africa and of course the Middle East. The experience of the delegates ranges from CPTer Harmet Singh Sooden who was kidnapped and held for ransom for 118 days in Iraq, to a highly skilled nurse with critical child psychology skills but with little background in hands-on activism.

Our first hurdle will be to recognize the stresses involved, when all of us, egos and foibles included, are packed into a relatively small
boat, possibly for several days, while under constant threat of attack by the Israeli military.  We will have to concentrate on the over
riding goal to free Gaza and always remember all the trust and support riding with us from friends from around the world, like you.

Remember, you are our best protection.  If needed, please respond and speak up for us in the media and with your MPs.  Be a part of this flotilla.

Thank you,
Kevin