The OSU Committee for Justice in Palestine is putting on events under the rubric of "Palestine: 54 Years Under Occupation" from May 14 through May 16, to commemorate Al-Nakba (the Catastrophe) that the creation of the state of Israel meant for the Palestinian people, to raise awareness about the current plight of the Palestinians, and to launch a campaign to divest from Israel. For three days, we will be inhabiting a "refugee camp" on the Oval (the center of the Ohio State University main campus) as well as hosting a number of cultural and political events.
Here's the schedule:
Tuesday, May 14
* 11 AM -3 PM Street Theatre on the Oval Breakdown: -11:15 AM Satirical Lecture by Sharon (with a giant papier-mache head of Sharon) -12:15 PM Tank Tag (including a 6 X 12 ft. Israeli tank and Uncle Sam as props) -1:15 PM Mock Checkpoint (4-6 individuals in Israeli Defense Force costumes will be enforcing a checkpoint on the oval, while the rest of us play Palestinians detained by the IDF) -2:15 PM House Demolitions
* 5 PM Seth Tobocman, revolutionary artist, a slideshow presentation of his work concerning Palestine and Israel (for examples of Tobocman's work available on-line, please go to <http://mediafilter.org/MFF/Seth.html> & <http://www.softskull.com/catalog/tobocman/you_dont_have_to.html>) 130 Drinko Hall, 55 W 12th Ave.
* 7 PM Screening of _Bethlehem Diary_, 264 MacQuigg Laboratory, 105 W Woodruff Ave.
_Bethlehem Diary_ is a compelling personal account of the current Intifada -- an opportunity to witness the lives of Palestinian families living in Bethlehem during this arduous period. The film focuses on two Palestinian families and an Israeli human rights lawyer. We witness their lives amidst extraordinary events -- through moments of despair and anger. The intimate, surreal, and humorous stories they tell help us to understand how violence and uncertainty affect both their public and private lives.
Wednesday, May 15
* 11 AM -3 AM Street Theatre on the Oval
* 12 noon - 2 PM Panel Discussion with Palestinian Refugees 101a Oxley Hall
* 6:30 PM Open mic night featuring Palestinian poet Suheir Hammad The Frank W. Hale Jr., Black Cultural Center, 153 W. 12th Ave About the Poet: Twenty-six-year-old Palestinian-American poet and political activist Suheir Hammad has published a book of poems, _Born Palestinian, Born Black_, and a memoir, _Drops Of This Story_, and is prominently featured in _Listen Up! An Anthology Of Spoken Work Poetry_. Recipient of the Audre Lourde Writing Award from Hunter College, the Morris Center for Healing Poetry Award, and a New York Mills Artist Residency in Minnesota, Hammad is a frequent reader at New York reading venues, including numerous radio appearances, and has performed with The All That Band and Rhythms of Aqua. She has produced a documentary film, _Half A Lifetime_, and is writing a film entitled From _Beirut To Brooklyn_, based on her memoir. Naomi Shihab Nye has called Hammad's work "a brave flag over the dispossessed." In addition to her work as a creative artist, Hammad has written and spoken out about issues such as the defense of Mumia Abu-Jamal, domestic violence, sexual abuse, racism, and homophobia. Currently a college student, Hammad also edits the literary journal _Butter Phoenix_ and writes a literary column for "Stress" magazine. (This is a joint effort of the CJP and the African Heritage Festival. Three winners from the AHF poetry slam will perform with Suheir Hammad. The stage will be opened up to the audience after the performances of Hammad and the AHF poetry slam winners. The African Heritage Festival is also sponsoring a Soul Night at Hitchcock Hall at 8:30 PM.)
Thursday, May 16
* 11 AM -3 PM Street Theatre on the Oval
*3:30 PM Die-in This will be a big action. There need to be at least 100 people in the oval lying down covered by shrouds representing the vast number of Palestinians massacred by the Israeli government. Please come and join us! Also, we will have speakers giving 5-10 minute speeches and banners explaining the meaning of the action.
In addition:
Wednesday, May 22 7:30 PM, "Israel & Palestine, Images & Reality" Speaker: Norman G. Finkelstein About the Speaker: Norman G. Finkelstein received his doctorate from the Department of Politics, Princeton University, for a thesis on the theory of Zionism. He is widely credited with exposing the Joan Peters book _From Time Immemorial_ (a book heavily promoted by Zionists) as a hoax. He is the author of four books: _Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict_ (Verso, 1995), _The Rise and Fall of Palestine_ (University of Minnesota, 1996), with Ruth Bettina Birn, _A Nation on Trial: The Goldhagen Thesis and Historical Truth_ (Henry Holt,1998), and _The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering_ (Verso, 2000). His writings have appeared in the _London Review of Books_, _Index on Censorship_, _Journal of Palestine Studies_, _New Left Review_, _Middle East Report_, _Christian Science Monitor_ and _Al-Ahram Weekly_ among others. He currently teaches political science at DePaul University in Chicago. Norman Finkelstein was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1953. He is the son of Maryla Husyt Finkelstein, survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto, Maidanek concentration camp, and Zacharias Finkelstein, survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto, Auschwitz concentration camp. He dedicated his first book to his parents in which he wrote: "May I never forgive or forget what was done to them." Location: the OSU College of Law Auditorium, 55 West 12th Avenue (subject to change) Sponsors: the Committee for Justice in Palestine, the OSU Dept. of History, & the Student International Forum
-- Yoshie
* Calendar of Events in Columbus: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/calendar.html> * Anti-War Activist Resources: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/activist.html> * Student International Forum: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/> * Committee for Justice in Palestine: <http://www.osu.edu/students/CJP/>