If you are in Madison, please join Cassandra Dixon, April 23, from 2-4 pm, at the incredible Taza restaurant in Middleton, 1900 Cayuga St, on her return from several months in Palestine.
“For my friends in the Madison area, I'd love to thank you in person with delicious Palestinian tea and snacks. One of the joys of visiting Palestine is the delicious food, and I would love the chance to give you a small taste!! I was able to bring back some beautiful new jewelry, hand embroidery and leather bags and wallets made and designed by my friend Laila at Women in Hebron Fair Trade Cooperative and we’ll have those, along with Palestinian olive oil & soap from Playgrounds for Palestine available for sale. Plus information on a Madison-Rafah Sister City fundraiser to help Masafer Yatta residents resist forced removal from their lands, and easy post cards and online links to contact congress. Please bring a friend!”
Please click HERE to RSVP so that we will have enough food!
Action Alert #1: Ask your representatives to take a stand on human rights in Palestine and US funding to Israel by signing this congressional letter to the Biden Administration. The sign-on window closes on Friday April 7th, so please don't delay!
Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Senator Bernie Sanders have authored a congressional letter stating: At this inflection point, we ask your administration to undertake a shift in U.S. policy in recognition of the worsening violence, further annexation of land, and denial of Palestinian rights. Only by protecting democracy, human rights, and self-determination for all Palestinians and Israelis can we achieve a lasting peace.
The letter asks the Biden administration to “ensure US taxpayer funds do not support projects in illegal settlements” and to “determine whether US-origin defense articles have been used in violation of existing US laws.” Also asking that the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act, which says that US weapons can only be used for purposes of self-defense and cannot be used to commit human rights abuses, finally be applied to Israel. Israel is historically the largest recipient of US aid. You can use this link to send a message to your senator and representative.
The letter has so far been signed by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Summer Lee, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, Ilhan Omar, Betty McCollum, André Carson, and Ayanna Pressley.
Action Alert #2: Please use this link to ask WI Senator Tammy Baldwin to continue to press for a trial and legal consequences for the settler through the US State Department and the Israeli Police and Prosecution. (Click here for more information about the attack on Cassandra Dixon last month)
· Thank them for their attention to the attack. · Ask that they continue to monitor the complaint in Israel and let the Israeli police know that we expect legal consequences for the settlers involved in the attack. · Request that the US Consulate visit Tuba in order to understand the threat of violence and human rights abuses caused by expansion of the illegal Israeli outpost of Havat Ma’on · Ask them to continue to request updates and a written report from the state dependent. · Express your appreciation for her attention to this matter, ask that she sign on to the Bowman Sanders letter, and add that you hope this will lead to greater attention by the Senator in the future to the reality of life on the ground under what is increasingly becoming an Apartheid regime that the US needs to start holding accountable.
Contacts to the state department from other congressional representatives would also be very helpful, however with Tammy Baldwin you can mention that Cassandra Dixon is a constituent of hers. Here is a link to contact your senator and representative
And Action Alert #3 - the WNPJ Sign on Letter..... There are moments in time when horrible acts of violence can be turned into nonviolent actions towards justice. This is such a moment. As WNPJ learned of the Israeli settler attack on our WNPJ member and friend, Cassandra Dixon, we were also made aware of the mistreatment of the Palestinians, mostly children, living in Masafer Yatta, the South Hebron Hills region of the occupied West Bank. Senator Tammy Baldwin took swift action and contacted the State Department urging investigation and consequences to the settler who harmed Cassandra. We applaud her efforts, and with this sign on letter, we thank her and ask her to continue to seek justice. It is our hope that our united voices will demonstrate that eyes are on what is happening there and that we are weary of United States dollars being used in support of an apartheid system. Please sign on to this letter to Senator Baldwin and urge your members and friends to do the same. We would like to send this to her by April 17th. Please make your best effort to reach as many people a possible. From the WNPJ Board - info@wnpj.org