[pjw] REPORT BACK: peace prize: Friday rally #239 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Iraq Affinity Group supporters

While the world's self-proclaimed democracies and people who believe in 
the rule of law prepare for more violence, we once again had an uplifting 
time at the Friday Rally for Peace and Justice last night. A total of 11 
people took part, including one person who wandered by, engaged in 
conversation and ended up walking the march, a regular who'd been absent 
for about two months, and a part-time Portland resident who is back in 
town for the winter. We had a lot of people thanking us, saying things 
like "I agree with your message," honking horns and otherwise appreciating 
our being there. We were able to hand out fact sheets and leaflets 
inviting people to join the rally. Of the 11, 9 of us were on the march.

In the midst of all the election and hurricane coverage, here is what we 
talked about that you may have missed in the news.

--President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu are reportedly ready to 
agree on attack plans against Iran. It sounds as if that plan is not 
"de-escalation with a side of humility."

  https://www.axios.com/2024/10/10/biden-netanyahu-call-israel-attack-iran

---A new US-backed Israeli Defense Forces assault on Gaza took place last 
Saturday, the day before the one year anniversary of when this effort to 
ethnically cleanse Gaza of Palestinians was triggered. At least 30 people 
were killed.

  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/israel-launches-new-offensive-in-northern-gaza-orders-mass-evacuation/ar-AA1rMjhv

---In Lebanon, Israel bombed an apartment building in Beirut, killing 22. 
Remember when they said they would not conduct any military operations in 
Beirut? I guess they don't either.

  https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-lebanon-hezbollah-10-10-2024-a5e53cdd4fca30be1909506b5c777922

---When word came from Lebanon that they were ready to discuss a cease 
fire, the US said they are opposed to it now. Even though they tried to 
negotiate a deal to avoid a broader conflict just a few weeks ago. Short 
term memory loss continues.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2024/10/08/us-says-it-doesnt-want-a-ceasefire-in-lebanon-supports-israeli-offensive/#gsc.tab=0

---Oh, and not to be too focused on Gaza and Lebanon, Israel bombed Syria 
again, this time killing 7 civilians.

  https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241008-syria-says-seven-civilians-killed-in-israel-damascus-strike

--With the will they/won't they discussion of Israel bombing Iran's 
nuclear facilities, it's a relief that of all entities the Central 
Intelligence Agency put out a new report saying there is no evidence Iran 
is trying to build nuclear weapons.

  https://www.nbcnews.com/investigations/no-evidence-iran-rushing-build-nuclear-weapon-cia-director-says-rcna174004

--If you didn't hear the news referred to in this week's subject line,
a group of Hiroshima / Nagasaki survivors (hibakusha) won the Nobel 
Peace Prize for their work to eliminate nuclear weapons. The audio 
version of this article included two of the recipients saying they 
thought people working for peace in Gaza would have won. Still, very cool.

  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5y23qgx0qo

--In Iraq, leaders expressed deep concern that Israel called to target 
prominent Shia cleric Ali Al Sistani. In a surprise twist, the US 
expressed concerns about this too.

  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/10/us-slams-suggestion-of-targeting-muslim-scholar-al-sistani-by-israeli-tv

In local news, I had the mixed pleasure/displeasure of testifying to City 
Council Wednesday about a $500,000 settlement for a Happy Valley couple 
who were attacked by an off-duty Portland Police dog in 2021. The dog 
attacked the wife first, biting her arm and dragging her to the ground. 
When the husband intervened, the dog bit his leg and tried dragging him 
too. The dog is living in a rehab facility in Texas. Her handler, from 
whose yard she escaped, has retired. And I wondered out loud while this is 
a reasonable settlement for what happened to these people why, for 
instance, did the City earlier this year only give $100,000 to a family 
who lost a loved one to a police shooting?

  https://www.koin.com/news/portland/lawsuit-escaped-police-k9-attacked-couple/

Also, while it's confusing because the PPB has shot three people in the 
last 7 weeks, the one that happened on September 26 where the suspect 
lived produced news when they released the body camera footage on 
Thursday. Officers fired THIRTY BULLETS and somehow the person lived. The 
image on the TV news shows he appears to be white. Maybe that's why.

  https://www.kgw.com/article/news/crime/body-cam-footage-suspect-police-portland-woodlawn-neighborhood/283-9a153d6b-fd56-4797-9323-0f6d0e87b889

Along the march route I noted that while Israel often bombs refugee camps 
in the West Bank, this week they bombed a cafe in a West Bank city, 
killing a family of 4 and causing other damage/injury. And the US keeps 
sending Israel weapons and money.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/west-bank-israeli-strike-cafe-wipes-out-family

On that note, the Cost of War project, which calculated the over $3 
trillion cost of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, says the US has spent at 
least $22 billion since last October 7 on war in the Middle East... $18 
billion for Israel. That's why there's not enough money to build housing, 
support education and generally improve lives here. Gotta keep those 
weapons manufacturers profitable.

  https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4919349-us-government-spending-middle-east-war/

This week I stopped on the way to the Square and the Ann Huntwork Peace 
Memorial Sign had frozen with only the word "Gaza" on it. (The rest of the 
message is "ceasefire now"-- the sign doesn't have an exclamation point.) 
So I stopped and got it rolling again (for about 10 feet). I don't think 
many people noticed it. Then when we passed back by across the street 
toward the end of the march it went out in the same mystery spot, 50 feet 
due north.

Remember you can join us any Friday at 5 PM at SW Yamhill and Broadway, 
rain or shine, cold or hot, we'll be there.

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