Demand the Release of Samer Issawi Call-In Day Wed. 2/20/13

There will also be a campaign on Twitter, as there has been for multiple days.

To endorse, please email uspcn@uspcn.org

(WASHINGTON DC) - After 211 days on hunger strike, the Israeli “kangaroo” military court rejected the release of Palestinian hunger striker Samer Issawi today during his “emergency” hearing. Issawi will remain behind bars until his next scheduled hearing on March 14, 2013.  Issawi’s mother Um Ra’fat collapsed after the court decision. The Israelis are clearly waiting for him to die. After the court hearing, 800 Palestinian inmates also went on hunger strike to show solidarity with those already striking. It’s time for all people of conscience to step up our actions.

We call for everyone, especially those in the U.S., to call President Obama and the State Department on Wednesday 2/20/13 to take action.

“My name is _____ from __________ and I demand that the US administration intervene for the immediate release of Samer Issawi, who is close to death, the other hungers strikers, and all the administrative detainees and Palestinian political prisoners.”

1)   Call President Obama at 1-202-456-1111

2)  Call US Secretary of State John Kerry at 1-202-647-4000 or the Office of Near East Affairs at 1-202-647-7209

There will also be a campaign on Twitter, as there has been for multiple days, at 1PM CST to demand the release of Samer Issawi. Check @samerissawi1 for the hashtag to use.

For updates on the worldwide campaign, follow “The Free Samer Issawi Campaign” page on FaceBook

Issawi has been detained by Israeli authorities without any charge. He had been released from prison in October 2011 as a part of the Shalit prisoner swap, but was detained again without charge on July 7, 2012, and has been refusing food since August 2012 to protest his detention.  He is in critical condition. He is losing his vision, vomiting blood and lapsing in and out of consciousness.

Sponsored by (list in formation):

Palestine Solidarity Group (PSG) – Chicago
U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)-National
USPCN – Chicago
Coalition to Protect People’s Rights (CPPR)
Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR)
Committee Against Political Repression (CAPR) – Chicago
Chicago Movement for Palestinian Rights (CMPR)
Jewish Voice for Peace – Chicago
American Muslims for Palestine – Chicago

To endorse, please email uspcn@uspcn.org.

US Palestinian Community Network
www.uspcn.org + uspcn@uspcn.org + Twitter @USPCN 

Special thanks to Rod Driver fromSalem-News.com