[pjw] REPORT BACK: crime and no punishment: Friday rally #234 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hello peaceful people

Between hazy skies and somewhat dampened heat, only three of us were at 
the Friday Rally for Peace and Justice last night, though we did have a 
fourth person rally for a few minutes. Things looked promising when I 
arrived early and was the only person there but received two signs of 
support ("I agree" and a person who actually wanted a flyer). But it felt 
as if there was not a lot of horn honking or pedestrian support, maybe the 
moderate air quality and lingering effects of Thursday's 102 degree record 
breaking heat were dampening enthusiasm. One other person did ask for a 
flyer after the other folks showed up, so, there's that.

As usual we tied together news of local, national and international 
significance to those who want peace, since they're all interconnected. 
Here are some of the stories of the week.

--The UK suspended some arms shipments to Israel- but not parts for F-35 
aircraft, which I guess can keep bombing Palestinians with impunity.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2024/09/02/uk-suspends-some-arms-exports-to-israel-over-gaza-war-crimes/

---Amnesty International called the buffer zone that Israel set up between 
itself and Gaza a war crime, noting that houses, trees and everything has 
been razed to the ground. Remember, this zone is not on the Israeli side 
of the 1967 border, but rather all in Palestinian territory.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2024/09/05/amnesty-international-calls-for-war-crimes-probe-into-israels-buffer-zone/

---More war crimes news: the International Criminal Court prosecutor who 
suggested putting out warrants for the arrest of Israeli leaders (and 
Hamas leaders too it's important to note) says he received threats, 
including from at least one US congressperson.

  https://thecradle.co/articles/icc-prosecutor-says-world-leaders-threatened-him-over-israel-arrest-warrants

---In unnoticed war crime news this week, Israel bombed Lebanon at least 
twice, the second time killing a woman and wounding five others.

  https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/09/04/israel-hits-targets-in-lebanon-after-missile-barrage

---A militia in Iraq took responsibility for sending drones to attack a 
port in Israel, but they were intercepted. Just noting how the war is 
involving Iraq even though not their government...

  https://www.newarab.com/news/iraqi-militants-claim-drone-strike-haifa-port

--In other world news, the US seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's 
airplane, saying it was bought with ill-gotten (ie violating US sanctions) 
gains. Imagine what we'd do if someone seized Air Force One...

  https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/02/politics/us-seizes-venezuela-president-maduros-airplane/index.html

--Also signs of broadening regional tensions, Turkey has brought in 
mercenaries from Syria to help them fight Kurdish independence fighters in 
Northern Iraq. Yes, you may have read that sentence twice to take it in.

  https://thecradle.co/articles/syrian-mercenaries-fighting-alongside-turkish-army-against-pkk-in-iraq-report

---Also in Syria news, the US worked with Kurdish forces there to 
recapture an Islamic State leader who'd escaped from detention. Is this 
time to ask again why is the US in Syria anyway?

  https://news.antiwar.com/2024/09/03/us-says-it-captured-isis-facilitator-in-syria-with-kurdish-forces/

--And on that note, as Oregon National Guard members are heading to Syria 
and Iraq, it's telling that seven US troops were injured in a raid on 
supposed terrorists in Western Iraq. Hey, I thought the 2500 troops were 
only there as advisors. Did they get attacked while they were telling the 
Iraqis how to conduct the raid? Hmm. I don't THINK so.

  https://apnews.com/article/iraq-us-islamic-state-group-raid-4215a262b3e0bf7a2afb896c84ed6b55

In local news, following up on the two items I noted were coming up at 
City Council:

1-- the Council came surprisingly close to not authorizing an appeal of 
the $1 million jury verdict for the family of Michael Townsend, who was 
shot while in mental health crisis in 2021. The family attorney, 
Townsend's sister, a de-escalation expert and a juror were among those 
telling Council to just let the family have some peace. It was a 3-2 vote 
with Mayor Wheeler casting the deciding "yes" and parroting the City 
Attorney's line that the City needs a court to interpret a 2020 Oregon law 
saying officers have to consider non-lethal options before using deadly 
force. What compassion.

2-- the Council also did NOT pass their watered down version of the 
police oversight system, but not because they wanted time to fix it. 
Rather, Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, who just hates the idea of civilian 
oversight, could not bear to vote for it, and because it was an "emergency 
ordinance" it needed unanimity. So it'll be voted on this coming Wednesday 
the 11th, and might not take effect for 30 days if it remains a 
non-emergency ordinance. Written testimony is still being accepted at:

  https://www.portland.gov/council-clerk/writtentestimony?agenda_item=44728

Along the march route I talked about how a Turkish American woman who was 
participating in a protest in the West Bank (name: Ayesnur Eygi) was 
killed by US-back Israeli forces. The State Department said they will 
investigate, but they also said that about Palestinian-American journalist 
Shireen Abu Akleh, and... that kind of led to a shrug.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/american-shot-dead-west-bank-during-settlement-protest

Later on I talked about how the US is ramping up its missile production, 
which already cost $7 Billion this year, by somehow finding an extra $1.3 
billion to replace missiles sent to Ukraine and Taiwan. How many people 
could have health care or housing if we'd stop squandering money on war?

  https://news.yahoo.com/news/us-ramping-spending-anti-tank-153708098.html

The Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign made it 10 feet past the old Mystery 
Spot again before going out. On the Apple Store side of the street where I 
walk to get to the protest, I stopped to tie my shoe and was hoping to 
educate the customers for a few minutes, but the sign was stuck with only 
the word "Gaza" on it. Oh well. Maybe my shoe will accidentally be untied 
again next week and things will go better.

Another person with ties to PJW reports immediate family members got COVID 
this week. The feds are going to start collecting hospitalization data on 
COVID again in November. 1000 people died last week. So, please be careful 
and we encourage masking and distancing if you come to Friday rally or any 
of our events, but we always welcome you.

  https://bnonews.com/index.php/2024/09/u-s-to-resume-mandatory-reporting-of-covid-hospitalizations/

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