Wednesday Call with Cindy and Craig Corrie

We stand with the Corrie family. As gently, compassionately, and courageously as we can, we stand with Rachel Corrie.

Craig and Cindy Corrie Courtesy: Zimbio.com

(SAN MATEO, CA) - I can’t imagine the pain of losing a wonderful daughter – as Craig and Cindy Corrie did in 2003. Then on top of the tragedy a judge tells them Rachel shouldn’t have been standing for justice, she should have just run away.

You can hear directly from Craig and Cindy tomorrow night (if technology permits).

The following is from the Rachel Corrie Foundation:

Dear Friends,

Please join the Corrie family on Wednesday, August 29th at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time, 8:30 p.m. Central Time, 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time, and 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time for a webcast interactive call from Haifa.  Just click here or check the home page, www.rachelcorriefoundation.org, for the link to the youtube webcast (more info below).

If you are nearby, please join us for dinner before that webcastat 6pm  at our shop Dove and Olive Works at 178 South Boulevard in San Mateo CA USA.  Please drop me a line to RSVP (so I'll know how much food to order.)

I struggle to find words to express my sadness over the decision issued by Judge Oded Gershon in Israel's Haifa District Court in response to the civil suit brought by the Corrie family. With Rachel Corrie's case he could have bridged the divide, he could have pressed for accountability and so safeguarded the lives of civilians and strengthened Israel's rule of law. Instead the world became yet again more dangerous today.

In 2009, when we testified in Abir Aramin's case before the State Department, Israeli Human Rights attorney Michael Sfard said, "Some may think it will all go away if one does nothing in response to a violation of human rights. But instead, when doing nothing, it gets worse."

Rachel Corrie's bravery brought us together in ways we could not have imagined: Rebulding Alliance responded with heart when Rachel was killed. I lived with the remarkable family she sought to protect, and they became part of all our families as they blogged with us through many years. With your help, we brought them to the U.S. to join the Corries, speaking in seven states and telling Rachel's and their own stories — and that U.S. visa approval confirmed their integrity.

So many of you donated to raise funds to rebuild a home for the Nasrallah family. We built that home — despite the early blockade — as we dreamed and planned the rebuilding of hundreds of Palestinian homes in the Rachel Corrie Rebuilding Campaign in Gaza. When we could no longer open the blockade to rebuild the 2200 demolished homes in Rafah, Rebuilding Alliance tested the waters and International maritime law by sending school supplies and cement on the Irish ship that bore Rachel Corrie's name in the Free Gaza Flotilla — only to see the Israeli Navy attack and kill passengers on the Mavi Marmara. When Israel invaded Gaza in Operation Cast Lead, Rebuilding Alliance held worldwide Free Conference Call briefings with direct lines to Palestinian and Israel Peace-makers as we mobilized policy makers and humanitarian aid. President Carter personally thanked us for linking him with Gaza's Non-Governmental community. And when we could not end the siege, we learned how to help as best we could to simply level soccer fields to bring children and neighborhoods together for Ramadan Soccer Tournaments in Rachel Corrie's name.

In an article today by Leehee Rothschild on Mondoweiss, the last question that Rachel's family was asked before the conference concluded was how they feel about the fact that the judge in one out of many victim-blaming phrases in his ruling said that Rachel should have moved out of the bulldozer's way. To that Cindy Corrie replied "I don't think that Rachel should have moved. I think we should all have been standing there with her."

We stand with the Corrie family.  As gently, compassionately, and courageously as we can, we stand with Rachel Corrie. 

Sincerely,

Donna Baranski-Walker
Founder of Rebuilding Alliance

Articles about the Rachel Corrie verdict carried by Salem-News.com today:

RACHEL CORRIE WINS!!! - M. Dennis Paul, Ph.D. Salem-News.com

Israeli Court Blames Rachel Corrie: She 'Put Herself in a Dangerous Situation' - James M. Wall Salem-News.com

ADC's Statement on Rachel Corrie Verdict - Salem-News.com

No Justice in Israel for Family of Rachel Corrie - Tim King Salem-News.com