Free Gaza Boats Skipper in Limerick

limerick | anti-war / imperialism | event notice Thursday February 05, 2009 19:46 by Zoe Lawlor - Limerick branch Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Absolute Hotel Limerick, Sunday 8th Feb, 7.30pm

Derek Graham, skipper of the Free Gaza boats breaking the siege on Gaza since last August, speaks at a public meeting in Limerick.#

Derek Graham, Irish skipper of the Free Gaza boats, will speak at a public meeting in the Absolute Hotel, Limerick on Sunday 8th February, 7.30pm.

Since August 2008, the Free Gaza Movement has sailed from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip on several successful voyages, bringing in international witnesses to see first hand the devastating effects of Israeli violence against the Palestinian people. They are the first international boats to journey to Gaza since 1967.

The Free Gaza boats have had crews of human rights activists, doctors, journalists, parliamentarians and others. Crew members have included Irish Nobel Peace laureate Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and Irish peace activist, Caoimhe Butterly. Their mission was to break the siege of Gaza, bring humanitarian aid to the people there and bear witness to reality for the people of Gaza under military and economic siege.
On 30th December last, an Israeli warship rammed the SS Dignity, an 18m yacht carrying three doctors, three tonnes of medical aid and peace activists from Cyprus to embattled Gaza damaging the hull on the port side and smashing the wheelhouse. Cynthia McKinney, Caoimhe Butterly and a CNN reporter were among those on board.
Derek Graham will speak about the situation in Gaza under the siege and after the Israeli military attack, the Free Gaza movement and how we can help the people of Gaza now.
The talk is co-hosted by the Limerick branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign. All welcome.