[pjw] REPORT BACK: Melvin Bell presente: Friday rally #197 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hello Iraq Affinity Group supporters

First I'll start off explaining the subject line for today. Melvin Bell, 
who was a stalwart at the Friday rally for years and years, died this past 
week. As I said in my mini-tribute to him last night, Melvin was very well 
read, and I didn't always understand him, and I didn't always agree with 
him, but he was always there.

Here's a picture of Melvin carrying the PPRC banner that we used to 
celebrate the 800th Friday rally in 2017:

https://www.pjw.info/pprc800.pdf

Melvin Bell presente!

(I remembered eulogizing another rally regular, Marilyn Pike, who I 
thought died in 2022 but it was in January of 2020, four years ago... time 
flies.)

OK, so last night we had 7 people at the rally and six on the march. One 
of the people was the person who missed us last week due to transit 
issues, glad to have them there!

We had a lot of support from cars driving by and pedestrians. In fact, 
there was such a cacophony of horns as I was starting the news reports 
that I had to keep interrupting myself to yell "Thank you!" One pedestrian 
passed by and said "I love you guys you are awesome." So a lot of 
positivity.

It was drizzling a bit but not enough to affect the desk lamp attached to 
the wagon, or to keep us from handing out a number of flyers for the 
January 12 Guantanamo event.

  https://pjw.info/guantanamo22yl.html

So, what was in the news this week? Here's a peek:

--There are now over 20,000 dead in Gaza. Stop and think about that, two 
and a half months of bombardment and ground assaults killing 20,000 
people. Or maybe, try not to think about it too much as it can overwhelm 
you with grief.

  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/20/gaza-death-toll-surpasses-20000-as-un-security-council-delays-vote-on-aid

---The UN Security Council was able to pass a resolution for a 
"sustainable cessation of hostilities" on a vote of 13-0-2 because they 
watered it down for the US to avoid a veto. The US abstained, continuing 
to complain there's no condemnation of Hamas. Hey, why don't you do TWO 
SEPARATE RESOLUTIONS then and see if you can pass the condemnation one 
AFTER YOU MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T DIE OF STARVATION. Russia abstained too 
because the resolution was too weak (and probably would veto the 
condemnation one.)

  https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/12/22/israel-war-hamas-gaza-death-toll-live-updates/72004759007/

---One quarter of Palestinians are now in famine-like starvation in Gaza 
according to the UN.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2023/12/21/un-report-says-over-570000-people-are-starving-in-gaza/

---Defense secretary and probably still working for defense contractors 
Lloyd Austin visited Israel and told them the US supports their war 100%, 
just asked nicely if they might possibly let in some more aid.

  https://www.timesofisrael.com/visiting-israel-us-defense-chief-says-he-wont-dictate-timelines-or-terms-of-war/

---A little to late, Israeli soldiers were told this wee not to shoot 
people who are surrendering, after they killed three Israeli hostages late 
last week who were waving white flags. This is the result of a "shoot 
first ask questions later" mindset.

  https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-soldiers-told-not-shoot-surrendering-people

In semi-related news:

--Oil companies are not upset about Houthi attacks on ships in the Red 
Sea, because only 9% of the oil supply comes through there and it will 
only cause a small price increase.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/why-oil-market-isnt-freaking-out-about-houthis-red-sea-attacks

---and yet, the US has launched an official military operation off the 
coast of Yemen, called "Operation Prosperity Garden." Sure sounds like 
what an imperialist would call a country rich in oil that they want to 
control.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2023/12/18/us-formally-launches-red-sea-military-operation-in-response-to-houthi-attacks/

And in Ukraine/Russia/NATO news:

--Denmark has opened its military bases to US (like Sweden just did a few 
weeks ago).

  https://archive.is/luEcW
  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-19/denmark-opens-military-bases-to-us-troops-under-new-defense-deal

---and actually a few days earlier Finland did the same thing.

  https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2023/12/finland-invites-american-troops-far-northern-bases

---Ukraine put forward a 10 point peace plan which seemed like the demands 
of a country winning a war, not one locked in a stalemate, so Russia 
rejected it. However, there seems to be room for talks to start.

  https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-says-there-is-no-basis-negotiations-with-ukraine-2023-12-20/

Elsewhere:

--The US reported its first airstrike in Somalia since August.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2023/12/18/us-airstrike-reported-in-somalia-for-first-time-in-months/

--In signs of thawing relations, the US and Venezuela engaged in a 
prisoner swap.

  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-12887177/US-Venezuela-swap-prisoners-tensions-ease.html

--The total number of attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria since 10/7 is 
now 102, 47 in Iraq and 55 in Syria. And still no explanation why the US 
insists on keeping its troops in those countries (though you may wish to 
cross reference this comment to the one about controlling Yemen's oil).

  https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2023/12/21/us-troops-in-iraq-and-syria-have-faced-over-100-attacks-since-october/

In local news, there's no real update on the Police Accountability 
Commission's plan for the new oversight system, BUT the Portland Mercury 
did publish the results of its poll asking of the Police Association hates 
Portland (spoiler: multiple times more people took this poll than the 
Police Association's poll, and answered "yes"). Warning, this is a 
profanity laced post.

  https://www.portlandmercury.com/pop-quiz-pdx/2023/12/21/46936459/the-results-of-the-mercurys-the-police-union-hates-portland-readers-poll

Also, on Wednesday Portland City Council agreed to pay $350,000 to a woman 
who was a passenger in a vehicle that got crashed into by an off-duty 
cop in Sherwood... who happened to be a training instructor for how to 
drive cop cars. The Oregonian revealed that the _driver_ of the van has a 
separate suit going that could cost the City up to another $1 million.

  https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2023/12/woman-injured-by-portland-cop-in-rear-end-crash-settles-with-city-for-350k.html

Along the march route, adding to the copious Israel/Palestine news above, 
I relayed this horrific story about Palestinians who have died in 
detention in Israel with their eyes covered and their hands cuffed.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-war-detainees-die-custody-gaza-report

And, after months of hoping they'd decide to spend more on housing, health 
care, education and other human needs, now that congress passed their 
bloated $886 billion defense bill, war-happy President Biden signed it 
into law. ("It's not just a bad idea, it's the law," I noted.)

  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/biden-signs-886-billion-us-defense-policy-bill-into-law/ar-AA1lV1um

The Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign made it past the Gucci store, froze 
up halfway between Morrison and Yamhill, and went out across from the 
Apple Store after we turned the corner. So, improved performance but still 
not ideal.

Feel free to join us any Friday at 5 PM (or 4:30 on Jan. 12). We
continue to suggest masking up and distancing with the new COVID surge 
bringing things back to levels similar to 2022.

  https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/12/21/covid-levels-surge-as-millions-of-americans-plan-holiday-travel-heres-where-its-spreading/

thanks
--dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group