Al-Awda convention demands right to return

On May 25th the Fifth Annual International Al-Awda Convention took place in Anaheim, Calif., with hundreds of participants dedicated to the theme “Uniting for the Return.” Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, is the largest organization of activists and students dedicated to Palestinian human rights. It supports the right of all Palestinian refugees to their original homes and lands that they were expelled from by the bloody Israeli occupation beginning in 1948. More than 5.5 million Palestinians live in exile.

This convention occurred in spite of last minute maneuvers attempting to sabotage the event by the University of California Riverside, which demanded unprecedented financial arrangements and invasive security measures. The venue had to be moved to the Embassy Suites Hotel for this reason.

Al-Awda co-founder Zahi Damuni said: “We have emerged from our coming together united, stronger and eager to carry out our work. The convention reaffirmed its commitment to Al-Awda’s mission, goals and points of unity.”

The conference began with testimony from survivors who detailed the horrific experience of the Israeli attack in 1948. From the host committee report: “Several described how they were shot, and others how they escaped attack and survived living as refugees in tents made of bed sheets under trees for more than a year. Others spoke of the horrors of the massacres they witnessed, and the attempts by Zionist terror squads to intimidate and frighten Palestinian civilians to flee their homeland.”

A particularly moving presentation was given by Leila Al-Arian, who spoke of the ongoing struggle of her father, jailed Sami Al-Arian, a Palestinian professor and activist who has suffered non-stop harassment and persecution by the FBI and other U.S. government agencies for his principled stand on Palestinian rights.

Workshops included discussions on the deteriorating conditions of Palestinian refugees and the projects attempting to provide access, building student activism for Palestine at local campuses, the movement to build boycotts and divestment and sanctions against Israel.

A panel on coalition building was led by representatives from Al-Awda, ANSWER and the International Action Center. Panelists discussed building unity amongst anti-war and social justice forces and challenges and successes in integrating awareness of and leadership from the Palestinian activists into the anti-war and immigrant rights movement.

One of the keynote speakers at the conference was author and professor Dr. Naseer Aruri, who exposed Israel’s role as mercenary at the behest of U.S. imperialism. In addition, Dr. Jamal Zahalka, an Arab Palestinian member of the Knesset, challenged the notion that Israel has a democratic government. Zahalka also cited the case of Dr. Azmi Bishara who is no longer allowed to represent the Palestinian voice in government and is being persecuted for his principled positions in support of Palestinian rights.

To support Al-Awda’s ongoing work, go to www.al-awda.org/donate.html and follow the instructions. View pictures from the Palestinian Cultural Event at www.al-awda.org/convention5/photos/photos.html.