I want to be sure you've heard the terrible news.
U.S. immigration has banned Omar Barghouti from entering the U.S.
Omar arrived at Ben Gurion Airport yesterday for his flight. And despite holding a valid U.S. visa, and having obtained the temporary lifting of Israel’s ongoing de facto travel ban upon him, he was told he wouldn’t even be allowed to board the plane.
This is outrageous. Omar Barghouti is being punished for being an effective advocate for Palestinian rights and we need to speak up loudly about this NOW!
If you don’t know Omar Barghouti, he’s the co-founder of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and a world-renowned advocate for Palestinian rights. It’s a huge blow that on his way to an important speaking tour, at a time of desperate need for advocacy from Palestine, the U.S. government refused to even respect its own visa process.
If you believe in freedom of speech and freedom of travel, then add your voice now: No U.S travel bans on political beliefs – for Omar, or anyone!
Maybe you think we shouldn’t be surprised. Between Trump and Netanyahu, why would we expect anything less?
But we cannot stay silent. We can’t allow ourselves to believe that this is legitimate. We can’t normalize this level of targeted repression.
Omar was coming to meet with members of Congress, hold a public talk with respected Jewish journalist Peter Beinart, have his first speaking engagement at a synagogue, speak at a number of universities, and also attend his daughter’s wedding.
In one calculated and punishing act, the U.S., Israel's strongest ally, blocked all of this.
On Monday, Omar, Marc Lamont Hill and I are scheduled to speak at NYU. The title of our talk is “From Jim Crow to Jerusalem: Time to Break the Silence on Palestine.”
Now Omar will have to appear via video, and the title will resonate more than we could have imagined.
We are in a time of real struggle for truth and freedom, I hope you’ll take a moment today to fight back with me.
Please click here to add your name right now:
Appreciating all you do,
Rebecca
Rebecca Vilkomerson
Executive Director
Jewish Voice for Peace is a national membership organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for the justice, equality, and dignity of all the people of Israel/Palestine. Become a JVP Member today.
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