Israeli Forces Kidnap Cynthia McKinney

Israeli forces boarded a ship carrying Cynthia McKinney and 20 others and took them all into custody. The ship was in international waters. It was on a humanitarian mission to Gaza.
In 2008, the ship carrying Cynthia was rammed by Israeli forces.
Her boat was carrying crayons, paint, coloring books, pencils and paint brushes.
22nd June 2009 Video Free Gaza News Press Conference

Two of the organizers, Huwaida Arraf and Greta Berlin, as well as the Honorable Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. Congresswoman from Georgia, held a press conference yesterday in Doha, Qatar. All three called on the world to recognize Palestinian human and civil rightsrights that have been denied for 61 years.

In three days, the Free Gaza movement sails 240 miles from Cyprus to Gaza, its eighth mission to break Israels draconian siege on 1.5 million Palestinians there. In the holds of the FREE GAZA and the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY will be tons of cement, and suitcases full of toys, crayons and coloring books for the children, all items banned by Israels government.

Speaking to Al Jazeera and eight other news organizations, Ms Arraf emphasized, International donors pledged over $4bn to rebuild Gaza, yet none of them are doing a thing about the fact that Israel allows no building supplies into the territory. So 36 of us from 16 countries are leaving on Thursday to tell the world to do something.

The group intends to go at least three times over the summer; June 25th, July 14th, and August 16th, near the anniversary of the first successful voyage.

– Gaza Friends

Spirit of Humanity left Cyprus on June, the 29th to bring to Gaza medical supplies and cement. Mission updates at freegaza.org/live
Update: 07.02.09
Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire Speaks from Israeli Jail Cell After Arrest on Boat Delivering Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

VIEW VIDEO HERE
Irish Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire speaks to us from her jail cell in Israel. She was taken into custody along with twenty others, including former US Congress member Cynthia McKinney, when the Israeli military boarded their ship in international waters as it tried to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. -- DemocracyNow.org
Cynthia McKinney calls WBAIX from Israeli prison

The latest news:

"Israel on Wednesday reportedly sent home two of the 21 people taken aboard a ship that attempted to break through a blockade and deliver supplies to Gaza.

Authorities released an American filmmaker and a Danish human rights activist, according to freegaza.org, the web site of the Free Gaza Movement, which organized the voyage opposing the blockade."

-- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

___________________

CYNTHIA MCKINNEY--GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES--PRESS RELEASE

Green Party: President Obama and the US State Dept. must demand release of Cynthia McKinney and 20 other human rights activists on Free Gaza relief boat seized by Israeli gunboats

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
READ PRESS RELEASE HERE.

Update 07.02.09 6:57pm

Kidnapped Passengers from the Spirit of Humanity include:
Khalad Abdelkader, Bahrain
Khalad is an engineer representing the Islamic Charitable Association of Bahrain.

Othman Abufalah, Jordan
Othman is a world-renowned journalist with al-Jazeera TV.

Khaled Al-Shenoo, Bahrain
Khaled is a lecturer with the University of Bahrain.

Mansour Al-Abi, Yemen
Mansour is a cameraman with Al-Jazeera TV.

Fatima Al-Attawi, Bahrain
Fatima is a relief worker and community activist from Bahrain.

Juhaina Alqaed, Bahrain
Juhaina is a journalist & human rights activist.

Huwaida Arraf, US
Huwaida is the Chair of the Free Gaza Movement and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.

Ishmahil Blagrove, UK
Ishmahil is a Jamaican-born journalist, documentary film maker and founder of the Rice & Peas film production company. His documentaries focus on international struggles for social justice.

Kaltham Ghloom, Bahrain
Kaltham is a community activist.

Derek Graham, Ireland
Derek Graham is an electrician, Free Gaza organizer, and first mate aboard the Spirit of Humanity.

Alex Harrison, UK
Alex is a solidarity worker from Britain. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.

Denis Healey, UK
Denis is Captain of the Spirit of Humanity. This will be his fifth voyage to Gaza.

Fathi Jaouadi, UK
Fathi is a British journalist, Free Gaza organizer, and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.

Mairead Maguire, Ireland
Mairead is a Nobel laureate and renowned peace activist.

Lubna Masarwa, Palestine/Israel
Lubna is a Palestinian human rights activist and Free Gaza organizer.

Theresa McDermott, Scotland
Theresa is a solidarity worker from Scotland. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.

Cynthia McKinney, US
Cynthia McKinney is an outspoken advocate for human rights and social justice issues, as well as a former U.S. congressperson and presidential candidate.

Adnan Mormesh, UK
Adnan is a solidarity worker from Britain. He is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.

Adam Qvist, Denmark
Adam is a solidarity worker from Denmark. He is traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.

Adam Shapiro, US
Adam is an American documentary film maker and human rights activist.

Kathy Sheetz, US
Kathy is a nurse and film maker, traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.

Green People Are Real HipMcKinney/Clemente '08

Bombastic Republicans and complicit Democrats beware, Cynthia McKinney is infusing new life into the Green Party with her historic candidacy. Rosa Clemente is her Vice Presidential pick. Clemente is a community organizer, activist and journalist. The Greens have vowed to break the hold that the two party system has on the American political system. Their next step is trying to get ballot access in at least 40 states, a daunting process filled with major hurdles to the unembedded, unlobbied, unfetted and unwelcome. Rosa Clemente indicated that the Greens will be recruiting "disaffected" voters at the DNC and at the RNC conventions.

The two parties are engaged in the campaign battles. However, many are no longer engaged because the "hope" has faded and the "change" is "politics as usual". Barack Obama in a major reversal of previous statements, backed the FISA bill authorizing domestic spying and granting the Telecom companies immunity from lawsuits. Senator Obama has alienated many who hoped that his candidacy was based on integrity and accountability. The sense of betrayal is met with the cynical thought -- didn't you know he was a politician? The popular definition of a politician is not flattering. For most a politician is a congenital liar that you can never trust. However, people will hold their noses and vote for the Democratic candidate.

This reversal brings into question the Democrat's pledge to end the unjust war in Iraq. The war in fact has been prolonged and enabled by the Democrats who have continued to fund the war. My fear is that the now familiar talking point of "the situation on the ground" being parroted in the mainstream media these days is an ominous indication of preparatory step towards another political maneuver "to the center" by the Democrat.

Speaking on Democracy Now!, Cynthia McKinney is critical of US foreign policy.

"We need a different foreign policy. We need a foreign policy that is grounded in the respect for human rights. That respects self-determination. That respects democracy and the will of the people. That is the foundation for a peaceful forward deployment of US assets and resources around the world in such a way that we are actually helping people; lifting people up. We do not have to deliver bombs and missiles, and military technology and nuclear technology to countries in order to make them submit to US will in fear. We can make friends with peace."

The Greens say "Power to the People", but that will be delayed. On stand-by while a new American beauty contestant glides down the aisle. It remains to be seen if it will be cleared for take off. In the November elections, will a vote cast be counted? As Cynthia McKinney points out, there are major problems at the ballot box; votes are not assured because there is no ballot integrity.

When questioned about taking votes from the Democratic candidate, McKinney points out that "in a situation where we don't have election integrity, I don't think it is possible for anybody to talk about 1 or 2 percentage points difference, when we've got the electronic voting machines, we've got the central tabulation manipulation, we've got problems with people even being able to cast their votes... the Republicans have done a pretty fine job of stealing two presidential elections. And I would cast my eyes at them and the voter id laws, and the voter caging, the electronic voting machines, and the administration of elections -- where people can actually get inside the voting boot, cast one million votes and their votes not be counted. That's where I would be looking. Don't look at the Green Party and suspect that the Green Party is doing anything other then exercising its obligation to provide the voters choice."

35 Ways to Leave Your President: Kucinich Lists Bush's Crimes

"The house is not in order" said the gentleman from Ohio and former Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich yesterday before for a dramatic five hours he read 35 articles of impeachment against President George W. Bush for "High Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Kucinich also named some of President Bush's accomplices; Dick Cheney and the White House Iraq Group or WHIG -- Condoleezza Rice, Carl Rove, Karen Hughes, Mary Matalin, James R. Wilkinson, Steven Hadley, I. Lewis Libby and Nicholas E. Calleo.

Download video of Kucinich presenting articles of impeachment against Geroge W Bush

Watch an excerpt below:



Kucinich's first co-sponsor is Rep. Robert Wexler of Florida, who has been making the case for impeachment since last year. Rep Wexler will be on Keith Olbermann today.

In January of this year Kucinich introduced, then abandoned an effort to begin impeachment proceedings against Bush.

In April 2007 Kucinich introduced impeachment articles against VP Dick Cheney.

In her last act before leaving office, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (current Green Party Presidential candidate), began articles of impeachment against Bush. Cynthia McKinney was the most courageous member of Congress. She was targeted by Republicans for her persistent questions about 911 and subject to a smear campaign in the press.


To support Dennis Kucinich's impeachment resolution:
Call House Speaker Nancy Pelosy (D) at (202)225-0100
Call your US elected officials by entering your zip code at www.votesmart.org.
Call Dennis Kucinich to express your support and to thank him at(202)225-5871

Update (6/11/2008)
Rep. Wexler was not on Olbermann yesterday (they flashed his picture for two seconds). It's a first, a politician who shies away from discussing an issue he's advocating for. I guess Dennis Kucinich was busy washing his hair and couldn't make it either.

Keith Olbermann is like a storm in a teapot, when it comes down to it, he's as spineless as the Democrats who have allowed Mr. Bush to run amok.