Protesters question AIPAC attendees on Ukraine, Palestine & Iran
Washington, DC, March 2-3, 2014
The
annual AIPAC convention vibrated this year with the voice of protesters
focusing on the occupation of Gaza as well as new tensions in
Ukraine.
Tampa Bay activists braved single digit temperatures and an early March
snow storm to spread the message of questionable
American government allegiances, the ongoing concern of the plight
of Palestinians, the need to resist sanctions and war with Iran and the
involvement of specific politicians such as Senator John McCain and
Secretary of State John Kerry with the neo-Nazi faction of Ukrainians
known as the Svoboda party. As has been described in many articles, the Svoboda party is an ethnic purity group who resist immigration and regularly quote Joseph Goebbels as a model.
Convention delegates were less openly
hostile to the protesters than in year's past, and several acknowledged
that American involvement in Ukraine may not be appropriate if it
includes the involvement of an openly neo-Nazi group. However,
there was clear disdain for Putin and any Russian control of the region
leaving the question of what should be the role of the U.S. in the
region.
Noticeably striking
this year was the number of attendees who were of African-American
heritage. When confronted with the similarities between South
African apartheid and Middle East apartheid, attendees chose not to
respond. Neither was there reaction when the discrimination
against African immigrants in Israel was addressed by the protesters.
Several delegates questioned who had paid the protesters to show
up but there was no acknowledgment of why African-Americans might be at
AIPAC, other than a comment that Jews and African-Americans have a
common bond in that they both know what it's like to be discriminated
against.
Fashionable AIPAC
attendees sported stiletto heels, the coats of dead animals and a
fourth or fifth facial rejuvenation apparently with the hopes of
maintaining their status. Some male participants, while sporting
less plumage, were quick to display arrogant smirks and obvious
superiority when passing the crowds of CodePink, Veterans for Peace,
Palestinians, St. Pete for Peace, Peace House, BDS supporters and other
activist groups. The smirks lessened and eyebrows raised when the
possibility of U.S. involvement with a neo-Nazi political faction was
introduced. Surprisingly, a few participants acknowledged and
questioned the role of the Svoboda party in the Ukraine discussion and
expressed appreciation for the topic being illuminated.
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E-mail: info@stpeteforpeace.org
