CATCHING UP WITH FALL CAMPAIGN HEADLINES: Posted January 11 - Foreign government weighs in against small town's grassroots activists.. In what is perhaps a sign of desperation (and like Goliath coming after David), the Israeli consulate acted to oppose the ballot questions in Somerville: a few days before the November 7 vote, it send a plea for help - "Israel Needs Your Help in Somerville" - throughout New England.

Posted January 11 Mayor Curtatone does Traffic This October, Bob Cable in behalf of SDP requested a parking permit for the school bus that brought Wheels of Justice to Somerville. Bob was given a run around that ended with the Traffic and Parking Director telling Bob that this simple request was "creating some issues in the highest reaches of City Hall" [read it in Bob's own words (pdf)]. As you may guess, Bob did not get the parking permit. With his political ambitions, Mayor Joe Curtatone knows that he must please his powerful pro-apartheid donors* even if it means interfering with the proper and lawful functioning of the Parking and Traffic Dept. (see the 2005 ArtBeat banning and how SDP participated in 2006 despite the Mayor's ban).

* Powerful pro-apartheid donors such as those in the network organized by Tufts' ultra-Zionist President. We'll report on this network soon.

November 14 Somerville Town Meeting on Right of Return. We had a wonderful turnout tonight at a Somerville town meeting to allow citizens to talk aboutÝ the right of return of Palestinian refugees. This is an important issue for all supporters of Justice and, particularly, to the Palestinian-American community in Somerville. The Aldermen, churlishly, only alloted 20 minutes for the discussion.

November 7 SOMERVILLE VOTES ON BALLOT QUESTIONS! 45% YES FOR RETURN!! 31% YES FOR SANCTIONS Supporters of the questions celebrated with dinner and a delicious homemade Palestinian cake at Davis Square. Official Election Results (PDF) Commentary by John Spritzler: Reflections on the Somerville vote.

Despite the well funded campaign* by multi-millionaire Al Haber and the visible opposition of mainstream political figures including now Governor - Elect Deval Patrick, and Lt. Governor Kery Healey, the Mayor and the locally popular Congressman Capuano, 45% of the people of Somerville stood for fundamental human rights and 31% went as far as favoring sanctions on Israel! "That's more than enough a to drive forward a social change movement. Which is exactly what we plan to do" - stated a member of SDP. The pro-apartheid forces expected the questions to get only a small percentage approval - near 10% - but ordinary Somervillians are different from the local politicians. Most of our elected officials receive money and support from the major parties that are controlled by lobbyists representing elites as well as the Israel Lobby.

The Right of Return Ballot Question (Question 5), endorsed by the Green Party US , lost, but received 45 % of the vote and in one precinct (Ron Francis' home precinct) got 50% of the vote ! This is a great leap forward for the anti-apartheid movement in the U.S. Support for zionism and apartheid is weakening and hopefully the social justice movement will pick up on this energy and move things forward.

ON Question 6 (divestment), 31% were willing to support economic sanctions against Israel. While less than the 45 % garnered on the return ballot question, 31% of people in the US willing to support sanctions on Israel is still a respectable result. With Carter's new book stating "Israel's policy is a system of apartheid" and Ilan Pappe new book titled "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine", the divestment movement is sure to grow.

The Israeli consul also took part in the campaign by sending an S.O.S to the Zionist/Israeli community throughout New England calling for help in defeating the ballot questions.

October 28 Wheels of Justice comes to Somerville Hosted by SDP, volunteers for the Wheels of Justice Tour gave presentations at the College Ave. Methodist Church. Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh dwelt on the history and current plight of Palestinian refugees. Joe Carr spoke of his time spent with the Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq during May, 2005 and closed with a hip-hop tribute to his ISM friend, Rachel Corrie, whom he saw killed by an Israeli soldier.

October 16 Sunday in Davis Square with SDP Volunteers spent Sunday afternoon leafleting, displaying new banners and getting a friendly reception from passers-by.

October 9 Green Party Of United States supports SDP local ballot questions ! - Following the lead from the Massachusetts Green-Rainbow Party, delegates representing state parties of The Green Party of the United States voted this weekend, by more than a two thirds margin, to support SDP's two local ballot questions.

September 12 SDP announces ballot questions for this November SDP announced on Tuesday, September 12th, that Somerville residents submitted the required signatures that allowed for the 2 Public Policy ballot questions (on human rights for Palestinians i.e. divestment and refugees' right of return)Ý on the November ballot in the 27th Middlesex district. Rabbi Dovid Weiss, and Rabbi Webbermen, representing Neturei Karta of New York, an Orthodox Jewish organization, joined Somerville residents and David Rolde, representing the Green-Rainbow party, in front of Somerville City Hall to speak in favor of Palestinian human rights. [Press release - text of ballot questions - photo gallery].

September 7, 2006: Zionist group led by Seva Brodsky attempts to disrupt SDP's film night. On this day, a group of Zionists led by the provocateur Seva Brodsky showed up outside the First Congregational Church where SDP holds its monthly film nights. The "Israel- Now and Forever" crowd attempted to intimidate people entering the church by using aggressive behavior and by blocking the pathways. (To avoid the mob, one of the movie goers entered the church by climbing over a wall.) The Zionists also littered the ground outside the Church with leaflets. However, the showing of the film "The Loss of Liberty" proceeded peacefully inside the Church, away from all the ruckus.

August 3-4, 2006: CAMERA member and provocateur attend SDP volunteer sessions. SDP held training sessions for new volunteers in preparation for the Fall ballot question campaign on August 3 and 4. One of those that showed up for the first training session was Hillel Stavis, sitting board member of the Zionist organization CAMERA and former owner of the bankrupt but much beloved bookstore, Wordsworth's in Harvard Square. The following session was attended by Seva Brodsky, a Zionist agent provocateur, who unlike Mr. Stavis, proceeded to behave in a loud and aggressive manner. In order to avoid aborting the session due to Mr. Brodsky's pugnacious demeanor, one SDP member engaged him in a discussion while others left the room to detour arriving volunteers to a different area. The training session was held successfully.

July 15, 2006: Children's Art of Survival at Somerville's ArtBeat Festival!! With the help of SDP volunteers, the Burj Al Shamali - Zouk Tahtani Tri-Sister City Exchange has a very successful day at the annual Somerville ArtBeat Festival. The Tri-Sister City Exchange showcased Palestinian children's "Art of Survival" from the Burj al-Shamali refugee camp in Lebanon . Many of those at Burj al-Shamali originally came from Zouk Tahtani and Zouk Foukani (Upper and Lower Zouk), villages which now lie in ruins in what is now Israel. [For more on the refugee camps, visit Imaginarius.org]

People at the Festival learned about the plight of Palestinian people as refugees and about the Somerville - Burj Al Shamali - Zouk Tahtani Tri-Sister City Exchange (pdf). Many were moved to pledge donations for the children and to sign up as volunteers. For photos, click on image.

July 1-2, 2006: July 15 Art of Naji Al-Ali in the heart of Harvard Square Tawassul, with the aid of SDP/CPHR members showcased the political cartoons of Naji Al-Ali. A mock Apartheid Wall was built to display the art provided by the family of the slain Palestinian artist. Visitors wrote and drew messages on the "Wall" were treated to a film celebrating the artist and his life (Naji Al-Ali, An Artist with Vision). Photos

April 2, 2006: SDP supports Sabeel, Police harass SDP member Ron Francis Joining ~15 other anti-apartheid activists, about 6 SDP members participated in a counter protest to support Sabeel representatives who were giving a talk at Harvard Memorial Chapel. (Sabeel is an ecumenical group that supports Palestinians - in particular Christian Palestinians - and also supports divestment.)ÝÝ The counter protest was to thwart the pro-apartheid David Project which had about 20 members protesting Sabeel.

SDP members displayed large colorful signs pointing out the discriminatory nature of IsraeliÝlaws and policies, and the human right of Palestinians to return to their homes. SDP also distributed literature to those waiting to go hear the Sabeel speakers until Harvard security - called by a pro-Apartheid woman - demanded SDP stop. When Ron refused to do so, the officer announced that he was arresting Ron, and pulled him very deliberately, and fairly roughly, aboutÝ15 meters.ÝÝ(Ron sustained no injuries other than a sore bicep.) Ý The officer then stopped andÝtold Ron that he was banned from the campus and had to leave.Ý Ron acquiesced but stated firmly that not without the SDP material which he proceeded to gather.Ý The officer followed Ron and other SDP members even once they left the Harvard campus.

UPDATE April 4: Sabeel sent an email thanking SDP for our support. It read in part It was wonderful to see the support that Sabeel received from you all and the many others who showed up - outnumbering those who seek to silence us."

March 17, 2006: ACLU launches ArtBeat ban investigation - The ACLU has started investigating the banning by city officials of SDP from the 2005 ArtBeat Festival.

March 16, 2006: In memory of Rachel - SDP holds a public reading of Rachel Corrie's words in Davis Square in remembrance of her death and as an answer to the cancellation of the play "My Name is Rachel Corrie". Those attending also discussed the significance of her life and death.

March 12, 2006: Center for Palestinian Human Rights opening in Harvard Square - With the help of SDP, the Center for Palestinian Human Rights is opening in Harvard Square (Cambridge) for people in the Greater Boston area interested in divestment and, particularly, in municipal divestment of the kind that SDP has championed. The office is located in the pro-divestment First Church in Cambridge Congregational, 11 Garden Street (across the Commons and next to the Sheraton Hotel). The new CPHR will begin to function by late March.

Jan 2006: SDP planning upcoming campaigns - Read about it in The Bridge, an excellent local newspaper published by the pro-divestment Green-Rainbow Party.

Jan 2006: Anti-Divestment Candidate Soundly Defeated in Somerville by Ron Francis - In a stunning defeat for anti-divestment forces in Somerville, the avidly anti-divestment candidate E. Moroney was soundly defeated in the only head-to-head match for elected office that Somerville has seen in two years. SDP protested publicly Moroney's campaign last December. Moroney lost 62% to 38% to Denise Provost - a candidate whose campaign was supported by many SDP members. more

December 2005: SDP Protests Anti-Divestment Candidate more.

October 2005: City blocks ballot question petition - Thanks to all who signed the ballot petition! Wondering why it was a no-show on the ballot this November? Find out how city officials thwarted democracy in our town.