March in Mpls downtown skyways in support of Gaza march 12/30 11:30am to 1pm (5 MN detaineed )

[annm4peace]

The skyway march begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Hennepin County Government Plaza.
It should be done by 1 p.m.

Carpoolers from Northfield will meet at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, 420 West Eighth Street, Northfield. We ought to be back in Northfield around 2 p.m. Children are welcome.

Another Reason to Rally - 5 Minnesotans Detained at US Embassy in Cairo
http://www.mnprogressiveproject.com/tag/Gaza%20Freedom%20Solidarity%20March%20in%20Minneapolis
by: Coleen Rowley
Tue Dec 29, 2009 at 12:08:27 PM CST
One of the Minnesotans in Cairo for the "Gaza Freedom March", David Tilsen, just furnished this report:
All we wanted to do was speak to a representative at the consulate in Cairo to ask for assistance in getting across the border to Gaza. When we got to the security gate a couple of blocks before the US embassy in Cairo, and showed our US passports and said that we wanted to go to the embassy, we were first asked to wait a while.
As we waited the group grew in size, eventually a banner for the Gaza Freedom March was unfurled and the police got nervous. We repeatedly asked to be allowed to go to the embassy, or to have a representative from the embassy come and talk to us.

Myself, David Tilsen, my nephew Mark Tilsen, Sylvia Schwarz and the Chalbis were with a group of about 20 people. Eventually riot police with helmets, batons etc, appeared and locked arms. They brought in metal gates and corralled us in in the middle of the street. For five hours people were not allowed to leave, use a bathroom, or have any food or water brought in.

We were told by the Egyptian police that we were being detained at the request of the Embassy. Later, after much negotiation, some pushing and shoving, and tempers flaring, we were told that any citizen had a right to talk to a member of the consulate's office. We knew this.

Finally they let people go, but many people were, at this time in need of bathrooms, or food but the five Minnesotans stayed and did finally see someone from the consulate's office. We made a formal request that the Egyptian government be asked to allow us to enter Gaza. We were told that Egypt was a sovereign government and their decision to not allow us in was their decision. We made the request anyway.

We did not raise the issue at the time of our detention because we did not want to cloud the request to get into Gaza with another request at that time.

We do intend to seek, somehow a review or response from the American Government on this issue.

Please call Senator Klobuchar's office at: 612-727-5220 and/or Senator Franken's at 651 221-1016 and ask them to help the MN delegation to the Gaza Freedom March get access to Gaza and avoid further harm or harassment from the Egyptian Gov't and US State Dept.

And then rally with us tomorrow at 11:30 AM in the skyway level of the Hennepin Co. Gov't Center!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMyWM5MQAg&feature=player_embedded

by: Coleen Rowley
Mon Dec 28, 2009 at 13:52:24 PM CST

( - promoted by Grace Kelly)

My friend, Sylvia Schwarz, in Cairo as part of the Minnesota delegation, told me in a telephone conversation this morning that despite the great disappointment she and others are feeling with regard to the Egyptian government's continuing intransigence on allowing the international human rights activists to travel to Gaza and the state of flux and uncertainty they all face, they are making the best of the situation. Sylvia said that the number of activists assembled in various hotels in Cairo now far outnumbers the 1400 that was initially projected and that the thousands assembled include seven Minnesotans. Sylvia reported that various peaceful vigils have been held around the city and at the international participants' respective embassies.
Coleen Rowley :: Gaza Freedom March: Disappointment, Flux and Vigils on the Nile
lot was happening across the world in Cairo yesterday as I and a friend painted faces on our "I am Gaza" signs in preparation for our upcoming "Gaza Freedom Solidarity" march in Minneapolis on Wednesday, December 30 (see my prior post with details here: http://www.mnprogressiveprojec...
As of this writing, the Egyptian police have apparently reacted in a respectful, non-violent manner at the various peaceful gatherings in Cairo which have been occurring. I have personally just called staffers in both Minnesota Senators' offices (Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken) asking that the Senators contact our U.S. Embassy to ensure the safety of the Minnesotans and other human rights activists in Cairo who are attempting to participate in the "Gaza Freedom March" and to do what they can in terms of asking for the impasse with Egypt to be resolved with diplomacy.


Which brings me finally to the reminder to those in the Twin Cities area who wish to show their support for those in Cairo and in Gaza. Please demonstrate your concern for Human Rights in Gaza by peacefully marching with us in the Minneapolis Skyways this Wednesday, Dec. 30th! We will be meeting at 11:30 a.m. on the 2nd level of the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis. People are encouraged to wear pink and also we will have copies available of the "I am Gaza" image below to pin onto clothing as well as extra signs (no sticks allowed). We are especially hoping some children might come, on whose shirts we can pin on the "I am Gaza" image.

* there will be Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Pagans, and others walking together in support of those bringing humanitarian aid and Hope to the people of Gaza ***

[annm4peace]

1. Corporate News continues to censor this story

All Local news outlets have received Press Releases yet the continue to censor the news and not report that 5 MN are being detaineed and harassed by Egyptian Police at the request of the US Embassy.

Give them a call and tell them shame on them.