Palestine:Health & Human Rights Project

The St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee (STL-PSC) would like to send two of its members to Palestine in June of 2013 for the Health and Human Rights Project, a delegation that documents conditions on the grounds for the population living under Occupation. Our STL-PSC members will meet with and bring back stories, pictures and/or videos of Palestinians living under occupation, 1948 Palestinians within Israel, and Israelis working towards justice.

We cannot reveal the real names of these members publicly, for fear Israel will deny them entry based on ethnicity as they have done on numerous occasions, and as they did to another STL-PSC member last year.

"Noor" is a filmmaker who comes from a long line of Palestinian refugees. She grew up writing psychologically thrilling and symbolic films about the concept of home, return, and identity. Although Noor grew up in Amman, she never visited Israel/Palestine because she couldn't bare the thought of a teenage Israeli soldier on the border getting to decide whether she'd be allowed to visit the land of her ancestors. Her work with refugees and with the STL-PSC helped convince her it was time to visit for the first time in her life.

Noor delivers speeches about her family's experiences at local churches, schools, and interfaith centers. She describes in detail the story of her family's expulsion from their homes in the city of Lydd in 1948 and the subsequent challenges they faced as refugees. She plans on visiting the now impoverished city of Lydd during the delegation.

"Laila" is a Palestinian-American writer who was born and raised in America before her parents decided to relocate the family to their village in Palestine at the end of the first intifada. For five years, Laila faced the harsh reality of living as any other Palestinian under the unjust Israeli occupation which included, but was not limited to, the indefinite arrest of family members, imposed curfews, checkpoints, and the daily target practice that could be heard in nearby illegal Israeli settlements. She vowed to speak out about the plight of Palestinians once she returned to America. Working with the STL-PSC, she has been a part of numerous BDS campaigns, as well as events that celebrate Palestinian culture. 

After the delegation, Noor and Laila plan on informing Americans about conditions in Palestine through presentations, and bringing local boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaigns to the next level, grounded in connectedness to the ongoing realities and resistance in Palestine.

In order to do so, we need your help to raise money before June 7!

The STL-PSC is asking for $3,000 in order to cover the cost of the delegation in the following ways:

Send checks made out to "Instead of War" with "PSC-travel" in the memo field to: 438 N Skinker Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63130-4834

Donate to Paypal or credit card by visiting stl-psc.org and clicking on "To donate to the St Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee".

All donations are tax-deductable and any donation amount is appreciated.

The STL-PSC is a small group consisting of volunteers from the St. Louis community who work on BDS campaigns year-round that support justice and an end to oppression. Should donations exceed our $3000 goal, we will still accept donations to fund STL-PSC's tireless work unless you specify otherwise.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you in advance for those of you who can contribute!