Boston Protesters Turn Vital
Demonstrators Clash At Pro-Israel Rally
Jun 19, 2006
Hundreds gathered for a pro-Israel rally in Boston over the weekend, with demonstrations becoming heated when opposing protesters showed up.
NewsCenter 5's Diolinda Vaz reported that the rally at City Hall Plaza started as a celebration, but turned tense when others showed up to protest, some demonstrators calling for freedom for Palestine.
"The biggest misconception is the mislabeling of us as though we're fighting the Israelis to take something from them that is legitimately theirs, and in actuality we're fighting to take back what is legitimately ours," said pro-Palestine demonstrator Rawan Baraket of the Committee to Defend Palestine.
The rally also attacted some unlikely protesters, such as a group of Orthodox Jews who said they oppose Israel's position regarding Palestine.
"I am Jew who is against the fact that we have a country, Israel, that is actually using tanks, billions of dollars, and massacring Palestinians," said protester Amirah Goldberg.
But rally organizers said such positions are unrealistic.
"If all of a sudden rockets came from Cuba and started hitting Miami, do you think the United States would just sit there and go, 'Peace, love and tie-dye?' I mean they would try to stop it. They would do everything in their power to stop it. Americans would demand that they stop it," said Barry Schrage of Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
From bomb-sniffing dogs to Secret Service, there was heavy security, but still protesters clashed in the streets, some screaming at each other. Even some white supremacists showed up to protest, but others at the rallies demonstrated against them, calling them 'Nazi Scum.'
"We believe and we support a free Democratic secure state of Israel and we dream and we pray for the day when she will be able to live in peace and not be victim to suicide bombers who threaten to wipe her off the face of the earth," said pro-Israel demonstrator Nancy Kaufman of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
Kaufman said the counter-protesters only make her group more eager to defend and support Israel.
Jun 19, 2006
Hundreds gathered for a pro-Israel rally in Boston over the weekend, with demonstrations becoming heated when opposing protesters showed up.
NewsCenter 5's Diolinda Vaz reported that the rally at City Hall Plaza started as a celebration, but turned tense when others showed up to protest, some demonstrators calling for freedom for Palestine.
"The biggest misconception is the mislabeling of us as though we're fighting the Israelis to take something from them that is legitimately theirs, and in actuality we're fighting to take back what is legitimately ours," said pro-Palestine demonstrator Rawan Baraket of the Committee to Defend Palestine.
The rally also attacted some unlikely protesters, such as a group of Orthodox Jews who said they oppose Israel's position regarding Palestine.
"I am Jew who is against the fact that we have a country, Israel, that is actually using tanks, billions of dollars, and massacring Palestinians," said protester Amirah Goldberg.
But rally organizers said such positions are unrealistic.
"If all of a sudden rockets came from Cuba and started hitting Miami, do you think the United States would just sit there and go, 'Peace, love and tie-dye?' I mean they would try to stop it. They would do everything in their power to stop it. Americans would demand that they stop it," said Barry Schrage of Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
From bomb-sniffing dogs to Secret Service, there was heavy security, but still protesters clashed in the streets, some screaming at each other. Even some white supremacists showed up to protest, but others at the rallies demonstrated against them, calling them 'Nazi Scum.'
"We believe and we support a free Democratic secure state of Israel and we dream and we pray for the day when she will be able to live in peace and not be victim to suicide bombers who threaten to wipe her off the face of the earth," said pro-Israel demonstrator Nancy Kaufman of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
Kaufman said the counter-protesters only make her group more eager to defend and support Israel.
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 2:38 AM
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