aussie world politics: Rachel Corrie Appeal-By Cindy Corrie-Olive Club Appeal

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Rachel Corrie Appeal-By Cindy Corrie-Olive Club Appeal

August 30, 2011

When We Struggled,
All of You Were There
for Us

Dear teddybear

I'm writing to you as one person in a movement of hundreds of thousands of people across
the United States -- and around the
world -- that is seeking justice for the
Palestinian people, justice that is blocked by
our government's policies.

I came to this cause because of the passion of
my daughter Rachel, who was crushed to
death at the age of 23 by an Israel Defense
Force (IDF) Caterpillar D9R bulldozer when
she tried to nonviolently protect a Palestinian
family in Gaza whose home was threatened
with demolition.

Since her death, my husband, Craig, and I have
pursued accountability for Rachel while also
challenging the military occupation that claimed
her life. The verdict in our civil suit against the
government of Israel -- which has taken years
-- is due in Haifa District Court in 2012.

When Rachel was killed, Craig and I struggled
to find our way in a far-reaching human rights
movement about which we knew little. We
were fortunate that the US Campaign to End
the Israeli Occupation was there for us.
Because of its networks, we were able to
move faster in our pursuit of justice for Rachel
and in contributing to the work we're all doing
to stop our government from blocking justice
for the Palestinian people.

That's why, I'm asking you today

to sustain the

pursuit of justice and give to the U.S. Campaign

on a monthly basis as a member of the Olive Branch Club.

I can't emphasize enough the importance to our movement
of the US Campaign coalition. Here's just some of what it's
done for Craig and me.

Member groups have been able to expand successful actionsto the national level, like the campaign
against CAT bulldozer sales to Israel built up by the
Rachel Corrie Foundation, Jewish Voice for Peace,
CODEPINK, and others.

The US Campaign's resources help keep us abreast
of the latest developments and provide analysis and
insights. For example, that terrific FAQ on the UN
membership bid followed by the great conference
call for member groups.

We're able to meet people and groups in a way
that would have been much harder without the US
Campaign --
I think of the strategizing conferences and tools
like the biweekly newsletter.

I've watched the US Campaign grow from a handful of
member groups to more than 375 organizations today
providing us all with a channel to amplify our call for U.S.
policies that uphold international law and human rights
as the basis for resolving this conflict.

None of this work can be done without our support --
yours and mine. As a member of the Olive Branch Club,
you help the US Campaign plan sustained and effective
challenges to our government's support for Israeli human
rights abuses. If you're not able to join the Olive Branch
Club, please consider a generous one-time donation.
Your support will go a long way.
Thank you to each of you for all you do for justice.

Cindy Corrie