8.13 Press Conference asking MA DNC delegates TO support “Not Another Bomb” campaign
Speakers and statements:
MC: Dr. Lara Jirmanus, Vote No Preference Coalition, Boston Shai House and MA Healthcare Workers for Palestine
Dr. Karameh Kuemmerle, Pediatric Neurologist in Boston, Massachusetts Healthcare Workers for Palestine, recently returned from Palestine
“This is a global health crisis and a medical emergency of the highest level. Medical facilities have been bombed, and Gaza has become a graveyard for children. Every day, 5 to 10 children suffer amputations due to the weapons we are funding. These weapons are massively destructive and indiscriminate. The 2,000-pound bombs devastate entire neighborhoods. They do not target specific areas; instead, they primarily affect civilians. The impact is evident in the high number of children and women killed by these bombs. Although 40,000 deaths have been reported, this figure is a significant undercount, given that hospitals are severely underfunctioning. We do not know how many have died under the rubble or from starvation. Aid is not reaching Gaza due to restrictions imposed by Israeli forces.
“Currently, every wound in Gaza is infected because there is a severe shortage of antiseptics. An urgent issue is the presence of polio in the water. In addition to children with amputations, we may soon see an increase in polio cases, particularly among children under five, as there have been no vaccination clinics for the past year. This represents a severe health policy crisis that demands global attention. Polio has been 99% eradicated worldwide, but its resurgence is a direct result of the complete destruction of healthcare infrastructure.
“One harrowing account comes from a man searching for his son, Omar, in Gaza. He received a text from a friend saying that they had found 18 kilograms of remains and identified them as his son’s. This is the kind of trauma that will forever scar Palestinian families. Even if the violence stopped immediately, we would still face an unprecedented healthcare and psychological crisis. Seventeen thousand children are now orphans, not due to disease or medical issues, but because of bombings funded by taxpayers.
“We appeal to every politician to recognize the humanitarian duty to stop sending weapons, call for an immediate ceasefire, and support the rehabilitation of all affected individuals—women, men, and children. This crisis impacts not only the people of Gaza but also people worldwide who witness these atrocities. Yet, rather than taking action, we are compounding the issue by continuing to supply weapons.”
David Seaton, Host of Pod Save the Youth and Massachusetts DNC Delegate and signatory of the national Not another Bomb Ceasefire Delegates Letter
“As one of America’s youngest delegates to the Democratic National Convention, I, along with young people from across the world, support an immediate end to the war in Gaza, conditions on offensive military aid to Israel as leverage with the Netanyahu government, and a commitment to a two-state solution along with a comprehensive plan to rebuild Gaza.
“In recent weeks, the Harris campaign has changed the course of this year‘s presidential race. But in order to keep the momentum going for the campaign among youth, Vice President Harris and her team would be wise to publicly support conditions on Israeli military aid. This would make a clear contrast between her policy and the policy of the Biden administration. At time where so many young people want change, this contrast would certainly be welcome.
I won my race for DNC delegate on a promise to represent the opinions of young people to the Democratic party. At the National convention, I plan to speak with elected officials and activists about the urgent need to exert the maximum amount of pressure from the Democratic party and the US government to end the war, bring hostages home, and deliver a lasting Middle East peace where human rights are respected and violence is prevented far into the future.”
Eli Gerzon, Boston DSA, Jewish Voice for Peace Action Local Leader, Arlington for Palestine and Jewish community organizer
“My name is Eli Gerzon and I’m speaking as a Jewish Voice for Peace Action Local Leader, a member of the Boston chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and as a member of Arlington for Palestine. I was born in Jamaica Plain, Boston and mostly grew up in Arlington where I still live today. In the past, I’ve felt frustrated that the people in this suburban town have not been more politically aware and politically active. Now, I am in awe and deep appreciation: I’ve never seen people more politically active than they are right now. Arlington for Palestine is one of dozens of chapters of Massachusetts for Palestine. Most of the people organizing on this hyper local level have never been politically active before. This movement is growing - it is not slowing down.
“As I said, I’m a member of the Boston chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. We are an antiracist, anti-colonial, and anti-Zionist organization. Being a socialist and being anti-Zionist used to be extreme positions. Both have gone mainstream. We have watched on our phones men, women, and children being massacred. We have watched Democratic politicians say they support a ceasefire while voting to send billions of dollars in military aid to Israel.
“The American people do not want to support this. Will the Democratic party listen? Will the Harris/Walz campaign listen? We need an arms embargo now.
“I am Jewish Voice for Peace Action Local Leader. For months, indeed for decades, we have been told we need to support Israel’s racist oppression and brutalization of Palestinians in order to support Jewish people. If we do not, that means we are anti-Semitic, that means we are making Jews feel unsafe. Let me be clear: Jewish feelings do not matter more than Palestinian lives or Palestinian feelings. Rightly, we pay attention to the death tolls. But we must remember millions of Palestinians have been traumatized by ten months of a genocidal campaign. As a Jewish person, I know something about trauma and how it can even be passed down through the generations.
“My grandfather was very lucky to survive the Holocaust but 44 members of my family did not. We have experienced genocide. Therefore we are against genocide. It’s that simple. For many months now, according to polls, over half of the Jews in the Democratic party have supported a ceasefire. Democratic politicians: there is no excuse for using us as an excuse for genocide. I am tired of it.
“But it is not enough to say we are against it: we must take action. Jewish Voice for Peace Action is part of a large coalition on the local and national level demanding Kamala Harris call for an arms embargo. Israel is able to conduct daily massacres and carry out its genocide against Palestinians because of funding and weapons from the U.S. government. This must end. It must end now. “
Willie Burnley, Jr. Somerville City Councilor
Merrie Najimy, Massachusetts Teachers Association Rank and File for Palestine, an independent member network representing their own views
“MTA Rank and File for Palestine is an independent network of MTA members across Massachusetts, who speak for themselves and not the MTA. We stand in Solidarity with Palestinians, the labor movement and international civil society to demand an end to Israel’s genocide and scholasticide against the Palestinian people.
“In light of failed ceasefire talks, the only way to stop Israel’s campaign of genocide is through the United States implementing an immediate arms embargo on Israel. We are going to Park Street Station on Sunday, August 18, to join the national week of actions planned around the Democratic National Convention to tell the Biden administration and the Harris/Waltz campaign Not Another Bomb!
“Just two days before Israel’s assault on al-Tabin school in Gaza City where thousands of Palestinians had sought shelter, the Biden administration notified Congress that it is preparing to send an additional $3.5 billion to Israel to spend on U.S. weapons and military equipment. The report that Israel used U.S.-made GBU-39 small diameter bombs, as confirmed by CNN further illustrates why an arms embargo is needed, and it’s needed now!
“In April 2024 the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commission reported, “After six months of military assault, more than 5,479 students, 261 teachers and 95 university professors have been killed in Gaza, and over 7,819 students and 756 teachers have been injured – with numbers growing each day. At least 60 percent of educational facilities, including 13 public libraries, have been damaged or destroyed and at least 625,000 students have no access to education. Another 195 heritage sites, 227 mosques and three churches have also been damaged or destroyed, including the Central Archives of Gaza, containing 150 years of history. Israa University, the last remaining university in Gaza was demolished by the Israeli military on 17 January 2024. Without safe schools, women and girls face additional risks, including gender-based violence. More than 1 million Palestinian children in Gaza are now in need of mental health and psychosocial support and will suffer the trauma of this war throughout their lives.”
“The United Nations’ Damaged Schools Dashboard tracks the number of schools, students and teachers and the number of students and teachers affected by gender. AL Jazeera summarizes the most recent July data from the dashboard as “…93 percent of Gaza’s 560 schools have been either destroyed or damaged since October 7. About 340 have been directly bombarded by the Israeli army. They include government and private schools as well as those run by the UN itself. By now it is clear that Israel is systematically targeting Gaza’s schools and there is a reason for it.”
“The systematic destruction continues by the day. Since the OHCHR report, The Guardian reported in May that, “Israeli forces bombed six United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa) schools in Jabalia in northern Gaza, burned one in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, and destroyed three schools and burned another in the Zaytoun neighbourhood of Gaza City.”
“On August 10, Dr Mezna Qato writes in The New Statesman how “nearly every library, archive, and cultural centre or institution in Gaza has been destroyed or severely damaged by Israeli bombardment, firebombing and looting” and that “The Great Omari Mosque, which housed the Islamic Manuscript Library – one of the most important archives in Palestine, with artifacts from the 14th century – was destroyed in December. The Israeli military detonated the last remaining university building in Gaza in January. She notes the devastating impact it will have on the preservation of Gaza’s history. On August 11 AL Jazeera reported that Israel has bombed eight schools in Gaza over the period of just ten days.
“These are not just numbers. They are real people- mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, grandfathers and grandmothers, husbands and wives. They are children like Sara, a student at Zahrat Al-Madain Secondary School in Gaza City, who aspired to become a doctor. But instead of celebrating her passing grades of the Tawjihi or the matriculation exam to allow her to be accepted into college, Sara couldn’t take the exam because she lives her life amongst the rubble of her bombed out dreams. They are named Rawan, Amir, Majed, Amina, Muhammad, Lara,Lina, Hala, and Mustafa. ANd there are 100s of thousands more names.
“The bombing of buildings are not just events. This is a deliberate and systematic process designed to destroy institutions of learning, knowledge, history and culture to try to ensure that there will be no future for Palestinians and no possibility of an independent Palestine.
“As unionized educators it is our duty to take a stand against Genocide and Scholastide. Join MTA Rank and File for Palestine and thousands of people on August 18, at Park Street Station as we demand an arms embargo as the only way to stop the destruction of Palestinians and their future rooted in liberation and justice.”
Cicia Lee, Boston Not Another Bomb Coalition, Interfaith Ceasefire
“The day before political decision-makers gather for the Democratic National Convention, and in concert with over 30 actions and rallies across the country, the Boston Not Another Bomb Coalition, a new coalition with over 20 organizations, will join what has now become an “Uncommitted” movement urging VP Harris to embrace an arms embargo halting weapons to the Israeli government. On SUNDAY AUGUST 18 AT 4PM, gathering near Park St. Station at Boston Commons we will host a march and rally calling for NOT ANOTHER BOMB. Arms embargo now. Fund our communities, not genocide.”
Link to RSVP to action: bit.ly/bostonNAB