[Sosfbay-discuss] GP: Obama must demand Israel release McKinney and 20 human rights activists

[Drew Johnson]

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 at greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene at gp.org


The Free Gaza's 'Spirit of Humanity' was delivering medical and other
supplies following Obama's call for relief to wartorn Gaza; the boat was
in international waters


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders are calling on the White House and
US State Department to intervene and demand the immediate release of 21
human rights activists, including former US Rep. Cynthia McKinney and
Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire, who were taken prisoner by the Israeli
navy after gunboats surrounded and seized the Free Gaza Movement relief
boat 'Spirit of Humanity' on Monday.

"This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat
was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the
Gaza Strip," said Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party's 2008 candidate for
President of the United States. "President Obama just told Israel to let
in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that's exactly what we
tried to do. We're asking the international community to demand our
release so we can resume our journey."

Read Cynthia McKinney's latest statement here:
http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/hope-fleet-news/970-call-off-your-attack-dogs-cynthia-mckinney

Ms. McKinney had earlier sent appeals to President Obama and the State
Department for assurances of protection for the relief mission. The Spirit
of Humanity was sailing in international waters when it was seized. Greens
stressed that the relief boat represents no threat to Israel and must be
allowed to continue its voyage to Gaza.

For more information and updates, see the Free Gaza Movement web site
(http://www.freegaza.org), including the latest release on the seizure of
the relief boat
(http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/hope-fleet-news/976-israel-attacks-justice-boat-kidnaps-human-rights-workers-confiscates-medicine-toys-and-olive-trees).

For communications and updates from Cynthia McKinney, visit her Green
Party page (http://www.gp.org/cynthia/index.php) and blog
(http://dignity.ning.com).

The Spirit of Humanity was carrying medical supplies, cement, olive trees,
and children's toys to Gaza after the Israeli invasion in December and
January damaged or destroyed 50,000 homes, 800 industrial properties and
200 schools damaged or destroyed, 39 mosques, and two churches. The
supplies were confiscated by the Israeli navy.

The Green Party of the United States condemned the invasion and massacre
of Palestinians and has endorsed the call for boycott, divestment, and
sanctions against Israel until the Israeli government guarantees full
human rights, including political rights and democracy, for all
Palestinians and non-Jewish Israelis.


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
International Committee of the Green Party: http://www.gp.org/committees/intl

Green Party releases:
"Breaking news: Cynthia McKinney aboard detained Free Gaza Movement relief
boat," June 25, 2009 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=228
"Greens join Global Day of Action for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions on
March 30 to end the Israeli occupation," March 26, 2009
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=192
"Green Party: Israel-Palestine truce must include end of Israeli
occupation and observance of international law or violence is likely to
resume," January 19, 2009 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=169

2009 Annual National Meeting of the Green Party, Durham, NC, July 23-26
http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM
North Carolina page http://ncgreenparty.org/2009-ANM.html
Media credentialing page http://www.gp.org/forms/media

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog