British MP George Galloway to headline AMP Nakba events nationwide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(PALOS HILLS, IL 5/12/2010) – On Saturday, May 15, the American Muslims for Palestine will begin its nationwide campaign to commemorate 62 years since the Nakba in Sacramento, California. George Galloway, British MP and founder of Viva Palestina, will headline the event, which also includes Berkeley Professor and AMP Chairman Dr. Hatem Bazian.

AMP is commemorating the Nakba this year by reflecting on current human rights abuses in Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank. Events are planned in the following cities:
May 15 – Sacramento, CA
May 16 – Santa Clara, CA
May 21 – Brooklyn, NY
May 22 – Milwaukee, WI
May 23 – Chicago, IL
May 28 -  Philadelphia, PA 
June 4 – Minneapolis, MN
June 5 – Dearborn, MI
June 6 – Washington DC
June 12 – Paterson, NJ

Speakers include George Galloway; Dr. Hatem Bazian; Imam Zaid Shakir of the Zaytuna College; Sheikh Jamal Said of the Mosque Foundation of Bridgeview; Osama Abu Irshaid, editor of Al Mezan newspaper; journalist Alison Weir, founder of If Americans Knew; and journalist Alan Hart, author of “Zionism: The Real Enemy of the Jews” vols. 1-3.

Nakba means catastrophe. It began with the United Nation’s partition of Palestine in November 1947, and culminated on May 14, 1948, with the declaration of the state of Israel. While the world celebrates Israel’s birth, most people don’t realize what that country’s creation cost Palestinians. During the Nakba, Zionist terrorist organizations killed more than 13,000 Palestinians and forced more than 750,000 into exile. Many of Israel’s institutions, such as Tel Aviv University, were built upon stolen land and remnants of Arab villages that were ethnically cleansed of their indigenous population.

People looking to understand the Middle East conflict need look no further than 63 years ago when the United Nations took land that did not belong to them and gave it to the Zionist Jews, most of whom were recently introduced by Great Britain to the region during the Mandate period.

For more information about the Nakba or to read testimonials from people who experienced it, read “Al-Nakba: Preserving our Narrative.”  A copy of the booklet is attached to this email.

Available for interviews: 

DR. HATEM BAZIAN, AMP chairman. Dr. Bazian also is a senior lecturer in the Near Eastern and Ethnic Studies and also International Relations as it relates to the Palestinian occupied territories at the University of California, Berkeley. 
510.914.6722 or [email protected]

MUNJED AHMAD, AMP vice chairman. Mr. Ahmad is an attorney in private practice in Milwaukee. He is also a community activist. 
414-467-5452 or [email protected]

AWAD HAMDAN, AMP National Programs Director. Mr. Hamdan oversees all programs and events for AMP. He is also the chairman of AMP Chicago. 
773.951.2020 or [email protected]