This is the site for New Orleans Palestine Solidarity (NOLAPS). For New Orleans Palestinian Solidarity Committee and recent Palestine activism in New Orleans, see https://www.nolapsc.org. 

For a pre-Katrina archive of the work of NOLAPS, see this link.

a few upcoming events:

Roots Run Deep Here: A Reflection on Non-Violent Resistance in Palestine
A Multi-Media Presentation featuring New Orleans activist Morgan Bach
Wednesday, February 9 · 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Loyola University New Orleans, Miller Hall 114
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108335925908079

Never Again for Anyone
A Discussion with Holocaust survivor Dr. Hajo Meyer and Dr. Hatem Bazian, chairman of the American Muslims for Palestine
Sunday, February 13 6:30pm
Community Book Store
2523 Bayou Road
New Orleans, LA

BATON ROUGE PROTEST: Solidarity with Egypt, Tunisia, and All Arab Populist Movements!
Saturday, February 12, 11:00am
Baton Rouge Federal Building, 707 Florida
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=142955859097106


You can subscribe to the New Orleans Palestine Solidarity email list by sending a blank email to:
nolafreepalestine-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

New Orleans Shows Solidarity with the Egyptian People.

Thank you again to everyone who came out and made Saturday's demonstration so special. Please do keep in touch so we can continue to plan further actions, by joining the facebook pages of the event sponsors.

Here is the link for the facebook page for the main sponsor of the march, New Orleans' Friends of a Democratic Egypt:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-a-Democratic-Egypt/165223473525519

And here are some links for some of the other sponsors and supporters:

New Orleans Palestine Solidarity:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=298983175004

General Union of Palestine Students, UNO:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=86711630271

General Union of Palestine Students, Delgado:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=269274548944

Crescent City Anti-Authoritarians:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001287616925

In addition, here are some links to the excellent media coverage of the demonstration:
http://www.wdsu.com/video/26763840/detail.html
http://www.abc26.com/videobeta/?watchId=256d4a54-952b-4ae9-a8b2-001c98c19dc7
http://www.fox8live.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=23332%40wvue.web.entriq.net&navCatId=3

Protests Disrupt New Orleans Conference Featuring Israeli Leaders

Protests Disrupt New Orleans Conference Featuring Israeli Leaders

Some fierce and courageous Jewish allies with Jewish Voices for Peace and a NOLAPS member disrupted PM Netanyahu's speech at the Jewish General Assembly in New Orleans today, Monday November 8th, 2010.

They have also created a young Jewish Declaration that you can read at: www.youngjewishproud.org.

Local News Coverage:
http://louisianajusticeinstitute.blogspot.com/2010/11/protests-disrupt-new-orleans-conference.html

youtube video interviews with participants:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeEPo7FVjTc&feature=player_embedded

Coverage on Israeli and Jewish media sites on the event:
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=194523
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/hecklers-disrupt-netanyahu-s-speech-at-u-s-jewish-conference-1.323644
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=332088
http://mondoweiss.net/2010/11/five-young-jews-disrupt-netanyahu-speech-with-call-for-new-jewish-identity.html

NEW ORLEANS SAYS NOT IN OUR NAME
NOVEMBER 7TH, 2010
DEMONSTRATION

"On Sunday, more than fifty protesters marched down Canal Street to the Sheraton and Marriott hotels, which hosted the conference. Organized and endorsed by several local groups, the coalition was brought together by New Orleans Palestine Solidarity, and the University of New Orleans and Delgado chapters of the General Union of Palestinian Students. The protest carried the message that "War Criminals Are Not Welcome in New Orleans," and several speakers gave moving speeches, including one Palestinian student who spoke of harassment at Israeli military checkpoints that caused a ten minute trip to school to take several hours."
by Jordan Flaherty, Louisiana Justice Institute

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israeli leaders Tzipi Livni, and Ehud Barak have massacred thousands of Palestinians, kept Gaza under siege, and continue to expand settlements in the West Bank.

This weekend they're in New Orleans, promoting Israeli war crimes and apartheid at the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America. Prime Minister Netanyahu will also be meeting with Vice President Biden on Sunday.

New Orleans says NOT in OUR NAME!!

photos by Abdul Aziz.
www.thephotoaziz.com

NEW ORLEANS DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR THE FREEDOM FLOTILLA AND THE BESIEGED PEOPLE OF GAZA

March and Rally
Saturday, June 5, 2pm
Meet at World Trade Center Building at Canal and Poydras

NOLAPS joins our local and global community in outrage over the massacre of humanitarian workers on the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla. Below is a brief summary of the story, news sources, and action steps.

The Summary
The international volunteer-staffed Freedom Flotilla that set sail from Cyprus to deliver 10,000 tons of aid to the besieged people of Gaza was attacked in international waters early Monday morning by Israeli war ships and helicopters. Exact details are somewhat scarce, but as many as 20 volunteers have been killed and more than 30 have been injured by live Israeli munitions, as Israeli commandos dropped down onto the ships from helicopters and opened fire on nonviolent peace activists. The UN Security Council has condemned Israel's act of piracy, and NATO has demanded the release of the more than 600 passengers Israel kidnapped at sea.

Hundreds of thousands are protesting Israel's actions in cities across the US and around the world, and New Orleans will join them on Saturday. Below are some resources that have offered excellent coverage so far. These news sources are crucial, as more mainstream sources are essentially releasing Israeli government press releases and statements as if they were objective reporting.

This news comes on the heels of more devastating developments for the Gulf Coast, where BP has failed yet again to stop the river of oil that is pouring into the Gulf at a shocking rate. The flow of oil may not end until August, and the first tropical storm of what's shaping up to be a deadly storm season has killed more than 115 in Central America. NOLAPS is fully committed to human rights for Palestinians, residents of the Gulf Coast, and all people, including the Right of Return, the Right to Work free of siege and toxic pollutants, and the Right to Self-Determination in safe and healthy communities for all people.

The MV Rachel Corrie, which was originally supposed to join the flotilla but was delayed by technical issues that may have been caused by Israeli sabotage (as reported by The Guardian) is now en route to Gaza with the full support of the Irish government, one of its sponsoring countries. NOLAPS joins the global community in demanding that the ship be permitted to dock in Gaza.

Additionally, please consider contacting the US State Department to express your concern for the victims of this attack and the 1.5 million Palestinians living under siege in Gaza. Details about the New Orleans protest are coming soon.

US State Department Telephone: (202) 647-4000 (24-hour number)

US State Department E-Mail: publicaffairs@panet.us.state.gov

In solidarity,

NOLAPS
nolaps.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/nolaps

Online Resources
For the past two days, Democracy Now has featured great coverage of the Israeli Massacre and world response.

Al Jazeera English released a video Sunday night, shot by AJ journalists on board the Mavi Marmara, the largest of the flotilla ships. Their site has great reporting on the incident, and also the global protests sparked by the Israeli attack.

The Guardian has offered phenomenal reporting and is helping to dispel the ridiculous myth that the Israeli commandos who attacked the flotilla were acting in self-defense.

Mondoweiss has great coverage, analysis, and news summaries.

Electronic Intifada has news on (re)actions in Gaza, as well as analysis.

For up-to-the-minute info, Ali Abunimah's twitter feed and Mondoweiss' twitter feed have been invaluable. Sharine Tadros' twitter feed has a lot of info as well, and you can also always look for local and global updates on NOLAPS' twitter feed. (note: you don't have to be a twitter subscriber to view these feeds).

You can also find updates on Free Gaza's website (Free Gaza is the main organizer of the flotilla) and the International Solidarity Movement's website.

Downtown Business Meeting Draws Protest.
by Jordan Flaherty