A peaceful but angry “Day of Rage” protest decrying a surge in violence by Israelis against Palestinians is set for Sunday afternoon in Anaheim's Little Arabia neighborhood. Organizers promise a vocal turnout of community members, activists and academics calling on an end of US aid to Israel in light of the recent bloodshed.
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With rumblings of a possible third intifada, Israeli forces have killed 25 Palestinians since October 3, according to Palestinian Health Ministry statistics on Wednesday. Among the dead are eight children and more than 1,300 wounded. At least eight Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks, with dozens of additional injuries.
The uptick in violence has caught the attention of prominent human rights organizations. Amnesty International released a report last week accusing the Israelis of two “unlawful” killings.
Chief among them is the controversial October 4 slaying of 19-year-old Fadi Alloun. Israeli police say he tried to stab a teenage Jewish boy in occupied East Jerusalem when officers made a split-second decision to use deadly force. A disturbing video captured the killing showing a retreating Alloun chased by a Jewish mob chanting for his death. Police arrived on scene shortly thereafter and opened fire. Alloun's family firmly denies he was involved with any attempted stabbing.
Israeli-based human rights organizations joined Amnesty International in condemning the encouragement of a “shoot-to-kill” policy. They argued against collective punishment in favor of alleviating the oppression of occupied life.
Hastily organized, Sunday's “Day of Rage” in Anaheim urges all to bring “signs, flags, kuffieyehs and pride.” Protesters will begin gathering at the corner of Brookhurst Street and Orange Avenue starting at 3 p.m.
If the past few years are any judge, it probably wont be the last demonstration against Israeli violence to line Little Arabia's streets.
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Gabriel San Román is from Anacrime. He’s a journalist, subversive historian and the tallest Mexican in OC. He also once stood falsely accused of writing articles on Turkish politics in exchange for free food from DönerG’s!