In Senator Leahy's office, Vietnam veteran Dave Ross, from the Will Miller Green Mountain Veterans For Peace, expresses his outrage to the violent killings of the solidarity activists. Green Mountains Vets for Peace officially added Will Miller's name to their group after Will left this Earth in 2005. Will was an original board member of Global Justice Ecology Project. He always will remain on the GJEP Board. Photo: Langelle/GJEP
Burlington, VT– An emergency response action at U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy’s office in Burlington, VT took place yesterday protesting the Israeli government’s violent attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Over 50 people went into Sen. Leahy’s office and spoke to Leahy’s VT Director, Chuck Ross. They demanded that all Israeli aid from the U.S. ends until Israel: -releases the 6 ships and frees the passengers; ends the blockade of Gaza; ends violent acts against civilians and ends the occupation of the Palestinian territories and the Golan Heights. At least five peace organizations organized the protest including Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel, International Socialist Organization, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Pax Christi Burlington and the Peace and Justice Center.
Protesters also told Leahy’s spokesperson that the solidarity ship, The Rachel Corrie, is headed toward Israel and strongly demanded that Leahy makes sure no action is taken against that ship. The Rachel Corrie is owned and operated by the Irish arm of the Free Gaza Movement named for Rachel Corrie. Rachel was an American member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) who was killed in the Gaza Strip by an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) bulldozer on March 16, 2003 while attempting to prevent IDF forces from demolishing the home of a local Palestinian.
Senator Leahy's Vermont Director, Chuck Ross (right), tells demonstrators that he is not Leahy so there is nothing he can do but pass the protesters wishes to the Senator. Chuck Ross then congratulated the protesters for their "good" behavior in the office and that is the way voices are heard. (Note: In all fairness it should be pointed out that in other parts of the world there have been clashes with police, etc. over the killings, and those voices evidently have been heard and have made major international media.) Photo: Langelle/GJEP
