Today's (4/23/24) Washington Post on page A-14 is a powerful article re the US State Department's report of human rights in Israel, Gaza and West Bank done by its own department. A must read for any one interested in this part of the world.
My own hope re this deadly conflict is that one day all sides involved will agree to a two party state. Please, please read this Washington Post. HERE
Human rights is about hope, a change in behavior, fewer deaths and justice for all so that torture and disappearances will be removed from this earth of ours. Human rights reporting is usually solid and believable. Often human rights groups can make mistakes but for the most part they usually are right with their research and reporting.
Hope for both sides is to find a way to get to security and peace for both. So often in the dialogue of the world re security and human rights, human rights is always in last place. Hopefully, this report on the Gaza and the West Bank will move all sides to a two state solution.
Just speaking this way must be backed up with a realistic plan with all the nations that can be organized into a working committee needs to come together and provide vision and financial support that one day there will be a two state solution and peace has come to both sides. Naive perhaps, but both vision and hope have to be present as well as a firm commitment to head in that solution. Such a vision would save lives and homes and hospitals and set an example that difficult things and changes can still be done in this century by governments that work for the people, all the people.
Remembering Feryal Gharahi
Feryal passed on March 1, 2017. Feryal was intensely committed to upholding human rights and making governments accountable for their actions. We miss her every day.
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What Would You Do - Fierce Madres Article By Magdaleno Leno Rose-Avila
Guest Article By: Magdaleno Leno Rose-Avila
Many of us were shocked beyond belief on May 24, 2022, when a shooter stormed Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas killing 19 students and two teachers.
Families of the victims went to the school board, the city council, the police, and the governor politely asking for answers to this horrific event. Almost 400 armed law enforcement officers stumbled around for 77 minutes as some victims bled to death before confronting the lone shooter.
Angela (Angie) Villescaz who grew up in Uvalde was not so humble but was instead outraged that this had happened. “You may not know much about our culture, but you don’t mess with our kids,” Villescaz said. “We have to stay laser-focused on what Hispanic moms are trying to do because they never have been given this kind of space.”
Racism and sexism are not new issues in Uvalde but have been the underpinnings of a political system that has not dealt with this discrimination.
In 1970 there was a six-week walkout by students demanding justice. Instead, they were ignored and some were punished by the draft board sending many school walk activists to the war in Viet Nam ..many losing their lives there.
Talking to Angie you enter into a tsunami .. filled not just with love but a stiff backbone to political lies and a strong trumpet for justice
The media, politicians, and the community are sometimes taken aback by strong voices who demand answers. They are even less accepting of these concerns when it is women instead of men making the demands.
Many of the families of the victims were dismayed by the answers or lack of answers from all the public officials with whom they met. And as the weeks went by their requests became demands for staff changes and resolution. Mothers and grandmothers of the victims have developed into strong voices and their outrage is real. What is needed is a strong and unified strategic plan to continue pushing for justice,
Others in the statewide and national women's movements working for gun control welcomed Fierce Madres as a needed voice.
In my past life, I was part of aggressive and well-organized movements that demonstrated, sat in, and even got arrested as we demanded a change in policies. Some of the moderates criticized us but were happy to benefit from our outrage and actions.
Traveling and working in the Chicano Movement, Farmworkers Union, Anti-War Movement, Criminal Reform Movement… I have been amazed by the voices and actions of Madres/Mothers who will do what is necessary to protect their families.
It has been a year since the Robb School shooting and there is no final report by the District Attorney (who is not qualified nor has the resources), who they say was to do a complete investigation into the failures on that horrific day.
It will take the parents and loved ones of the victims and of course, the loud and insistent voices of organizations like Fierce Madres to get to the bottom of all the failures on May 24, 2022.
Fierce Madres is a home for all mothers and grandmothers who can not nor should be quiet while their children are being killed.
#FierceMadres
