Here, once again, is our monthly vigil in the streets of downtown Melbourne. Almost a 100 sheets were put into the hands of passer-bys. I noticed this time as I offered our flyer, the shape and textures of these hands, some rough with work, some fragile, yet not afraid to touch my own, large hands that reached out, tentative touches--these moments of risked contact are the gift of street vigils
. I noticed other things as well. The family that came by, parents with a teenage girl and as the young woman reached for the flyer, her mother pulled her back as if she was going to put her hand into fire. She turned to me, her face contorted with anger, "how dare you, my uncle was Jewish!"
. I noticed other things as well. The family that came by, parents with a teenage girl and as the young woman reached for the flyer, her mother pulled her back as if she was going to put her hand into fire. She turned to me, her face contorted with anger, "how dare you, my uncle was Jewish!" "But I am Jewish," I said. Her face so close to mine I could see her eyes clenching with disbelief. She spat at me and then, pulling the young girl behind her, marched away. For a long time after, I thought of that young woman, how close she had come to exploring something for herself and how terrifying this was to her care takers.
Our Flyer for February
Make 2010 The Year We End Israel's Blockade of Gaza
Women in Black, Melbourne, dedicate this vigil to the International Gaza Freedom Marchers, young and old, including 85 year old Holocaust survivor, Hedy Epstein, who risked their lives to bring medical supplies to Gaza.
These people, ordinary citizens of Gaza, of Israel, of 40 other countries, want another kind of world where children do not play amidst the rubble of their homes, where military force does not deny peace-seeking people from negotiating solutions to their conflicts, where young people can have hope for their future.
We stand as Jewish feminists and our allies to oppose Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands, to call on Palestinian and Israeli leaders to take steps towards peace that are yet to be taken, to end the siege of Gaza and to freely allow dissent.
We stand to challenge the carnage inflicted by armed force on any people, to examine the fears that may drive us to blame and dehumanize each other, to protest the use of all forms of violence: rape,terrorism,collective punishment,militarism, suicide bombings,targeted assassinations and coerced population movements. These actions will never resolve conflicts between nations and peoples.
We stand to reject all forms of racism, including anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racism and anti-Semitism.
Join our monthly vigils, the first Saturday of each month, 12-1, on the steps of the GPO building on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets.
Our vigils members for February--Sivan, Dianne, Esme, Geraldine, Hellen, Joan, Hinde.
