Tucson ISO: Update from Rochester activists on the Viva Palestina US Convoy

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Update from Rochester activists on the Viva Palestina US Convoy

One of our fellow comrades in the Rochester Branch of the ISO sent out an update after entering Gaza. After days of being held up by the Egyptian authorities for nothing more than fear of publicity the convoy was able to get in with a sizable portion of the medical supplies. Below is copied Brian Lenzo's email.

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hey everyone,

Ream and I are in Gaza with all of our delegation and all the medical supplies. Our trucks are still in Alexandria, so we came with about half the aid, but we will deal with that later.

We have 24 hours to see what we can and get out by 9:30pm our time tomorrow night. The Egyptian authorities delayed us till 9pm, even though we had everything in order for hours before that. The people of Gaza had been waiting, by the thousands on the streets for our arrival, and by 10pm tonight, many had indeed given up hope for us getting in and went home.

Its disgusting that the Egyptian government would delay desperately needed medical supplies to Gaza in order to ruin a photo op that might make the Palestinian cause look good and catch media attention.

my anger about this has been replaced with tremendous joy to watch families embrace for the first time in years, mothers hugging their sons, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, grand parents and grand children. Many broke into tears, including me.

So much to tell, but we need to be up early. But spread the news far and wide, WE HAVE BROKEN THE SEIGE AND WE WILL DELIVER OUR AID TOMORROW, AS PLANNED!!!!

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Our thoughts are with you and the families in Gaza, comrades! Great work!

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Where We Stand

Socialism, Not Capitalism

War, poverty, exploitation and oppression are products of the capitalist system, a system in which a minority ruling class profits from the labor of the majority. The alternative is socialism, a society based on workers collectively owning and controlling the wealth their labor creates.

Workers’ Power

Socialism is working-class self-emancipation. Only mass struggles of the workers themselves can put an end to the capitalist system of oppression and exploitation.

Revolution

We actively support the struggle of workers and all oppressed

people for economic, political and social reforms, both as a means to improve their conditions and to advance their confidence and fighting strength. But reforms within the capitalist system cannot put an end to oppression and exploitation. Capitalism must be replaced.

Internationalism

Capitalism is an international system, so the struggle for socialism must be international, uniting workers of all countries. Socialists oppose imperialism--the division of the globe based on the subjugation of weaker nations by stronger ones—and support the self-determination of oppressed nations. We oppose all immigration controls.

Full Equality and Liberation

Capitalism divides the working class, based on sexual, gender, racial, national and other distinctions. The specially oppressed groups within the working class suffer the most under capitalism. The liberation of the oppressed is essential to socialist revolution and impossible without it.

The Revolutionary Party

To achieve socialism, the most militant workers must be organized into a revolutionary socialist party. The ISO is committed to playing a role in laying the foundations for such a party. We aim to build an independent socialist organization, rooted in workplaces, schools and neighborhoods that, in fighting today’s struggles, also wins larger numbers to socialism.

*The ISO’s Where We Stand was first adopted at its founding convention in March, 1977. It has been amended on several occasions since, but remains a basic summary of the organization’s political outlook.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Update from Rochester activists on the Viva Palestina US Convoy

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