Interfaith Vigil for Gaza finds inspiration in
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s call to action for justice
Monday, January 19, 2009 | 4:00-5:00 PM | Oak Park, Illinois
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Despite freezing temperatures, approximately 70 Chicago-area Jews, Muslims, Christians, and others gathered at the intersection of Scoville Avenue and Lake Street in Oak Park for a silent vigil marking the catastrophic effects of Israel's 22-day bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Spectators passing the busy intersection witnessed a dramatic display of large, colorful banners, many featuring inspiring messages by Dr. King calling on individuals to act for justice.
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| The vigil was initiated by the Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine. Six other organizations were co-sponsors: American Friends Service Committee (www.afsc.org); Arab Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East (www.arabjewishpartnership.org); Chicago Faith Coalition on Middle East Policy (www.chicagofaith.org); Council on American-Islamic Relations-Chicago (www.cairchicago.org); Jewish Voice for Peace - Chicago (www.jvp.org); Middle East Task Force of the Chicago Presbytery; and South Austin Coalition. |
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Lynn Pollack, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace-Chicago, explained, "We are here to mourn the conflict-related deaths--13 Israelis and 1,300 Palestinians--as well as the grave physical and psychological injuries sustained by thousands of Palestinians.”
Vigil organizer Rebekah Levin of the Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine said "We welcome the cease-fire declared by the Israeli government and Hamas yesterday, but the cessation of hostilities doesn't erase the enormous physical destruction in Gaza resulting from 22 days of bombardment by Israel."
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Pauline Coffman, a member of the Chicago Faith Coalition on Middle East Policy, warned, "The cease-fire is extremely fragile and will not hold unless Israel moves speedily to address the root causes of the violence: occupation, inequality, and dispossession."
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| Jennifer Bing-Canar, director for the Regional Middle East program of the American Friends Service Committee, joined with many vigil attendees in expressing strong disapproval of Senator Richard Durbin and Representative Danny Davis for their support of recent resolutions S. Res. 10 and H. Res. 34. Bing-Canar notes: "The one-sided resolutions routinely generated by Congress when the conflict spikes hold one side entirely accountable and the other side entirely blameless. Taking sides does serious damage to the prospects for a just and lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis." |