[pjw] REPORT BACK: what security?: Friday rally #192 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Iraq Affinity Group supporters

Last night at the Friday Rally for Peace and Justice, we had nine people 
who rallied and marched. There was also a much larger gathering just a few 
dozen yards away, teachers and their supporters in the "bowl" at Pioneer 
Courthouse Square supporting the strike. When we first started we got 
people driving by and gesturing positively, but then when one rallier 
showed up with a "honk for peace" sign the drivers were very happy to 
oblige!

Last week I mentioned the response from people at the Royal Sonesta Hotel 
when we shouted into their parking garage. This week the other parking 
garage (further up Washington Street) opened up just in time for us to 
shout "NO WAR" into its echoing concrete cavern. Then a woman outside the 
Royal Sonesta thanked us for what we were doing.

Before we got to the news, I acknowledged the teachers and their 
democratic struggle for fair wages and working conditions. And I urged 
the parents who are having a hard time making things work to realize this 
is a sacrifice nothing like having water, food, electricity and medicine 
cut off by an occupying power.

Sadly, as the war by Israel (and the US) drags on, this was again the #1 
issue we talked about among other news items:

--The UN Security Council voted 12-0 to call for humanitarian pauses and 
corridors for the people of Gaza. The US and UK abstained because it 
didn't condemn Hamas; Russia because it did not go far enough. Israel
announced they will ignore the resolution because it's "meaningless."

  https://news.antiwar.com/2023/11/16/israel-will-ignore-un-security-council-resolution-calling-for-pause-in-fighting-in-gaza/

\\I should add though that this is a rare instance where they US didn't 
veto a resolution about Israel, so there's some fraying in the 
relationship...

---Also, the UN can't deliver aid to Gaza because of the fuel shortage.

  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gaza-israel-un-aid-deliveries-lack-of-fuel/

---Israel ordered people in Southern Gaza to evacuate... wait, wasn't that 
where people from Northern Gaza were supposed to flee when they were 
evacuated? Where do they go now?

  https://news.antiwar.com/2023/11/16/israel-tells-palestinians-to-evacuate-city-in-southern-gaza/

---In a letter to President Biden, two dozen democrats called for a 
ceasefire. None of them are from Oregon.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-war-two-dozen-us-lawmakers-urge-biden-call-ceasefire-gaza

\\but today a PJW member got an email from Earl Blumenauer saying he 
thinks things have gone to far and he called for a ceasefire.

---400 officials criticized US' Israel policy, telling Biden that his 
stance is costing the US credibility in the world.

  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/14/us/politics/israel-biden-letter-gaza-cease-fire.html

--Meanwhile, in the third airstrike in Syria since October 7, the US 
killed at least seven people. And... why is the US in Syria again???

  https://news.yahoo.com/us-airstrikes-target-more-iran-162951167.html
  https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/up-seven-killed-us-air-strikes-syria-us-official-2023-11-14/

--The US shot down a drone that headed from Yemen toward a US warship. 
This same article reports that there have been 55 attacks on US bases in 
Iraq (27) and Syria (28) since the Israel/Gaza war starter.

  https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4311410-us-shoots-down-drone-launched-yemen-navy-ship/

--After a nice meeting with President Xi, promising more communication to 
avoid conflict, President Biden called Xi a "dictator." Anthony Blinken 
can be seen visibly expressing "what the heck is wrong with you???" and 
Biden tried to clarify saying Xi heads a communist country, so there.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2023/11/16/biden-has-productive-discussion-with-xi-then-slams-chinese-leader-as-dictator/
  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/video-captures-antony-blinkens-reaction-to-biden-calling-xi-a-dictator/ar-AA1k1jCD

In local news, I reported on the City Council hearing I let you know about 
on Thursday, where the City Attorney is supposed to meet with former 
Police Accountability Commissioners to explain why they gutted PAC's plan 
for a strong oversight board and maybe discuss things that can be changed 
before the City's plan is finalized.

The Oregonian's story quotes the Police Association President:

  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/portland-police-oversight-proposal-advances-over-advocates-objections-that-city-leaders-weakened-it/ar-AA1k3dWD

Along the march route, I updated the situation in the West Bank, were 190 
people have been killed since October 7 by Israeli forces. The total for 
the nine months before that was 208.

  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-12748585/Surge-Israeli-forces-killing-West-Bank-Palestinians.html

And wouldn't you know, the Pentagon failed its 6th audit in a row, unable 
to account for where all the money it gets has ended up. Rep. Barbara Lee 
proposed that the money for war should get redirected to human needs... 
sounds like a familiar refrain!

  https://responsiblestatecraft.org/pentagon-audit/


For the second week in a row, the Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign froze 
up on the "US Out" message by the Gucci store and went out around the 
corner across from the Apple Store.

We always welcome more people at the corner. We do suggest masking up... 
this week yet another PJW member (the third since July) got COVID (not at 
one of our events). We're there every Friday at 4 PM.

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