State Green Party Condemns Torching of Pro-Palestinian Display at University, Administration's War on Muslims

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: May 27, 2004

Contacts:
Cres Vellucci, GPCA Spokesperson, 916-996-1970,
Beth Moore Haines, GPCA Spokesperson, 530-277-0610,
Sara Amir, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-270-7106,

ANAHEIM – The Green Party of California Wednesday voiced "disgust" at the arson attack on a pro-Palestinian display at the University of California-Irvine and called it an example of the Bush Administration's "war on Muslims."

"This is a very sad example of Bush's war on Muslims, Arabs and anyone who supports their causes. If we stand by and tolerate these hate crimes, then history will judge us like we judged the Germans in the fascist era," said Sara Amir, GPCA spokesperson and Iranian-American feminist activist in Southern California.

Police have now officially classified as a hate crime the torching late last week of a display challenging the wall Israel is building on Palestinian land. The display, made of cardboard boxes and built by the Society of Arab Students (SAS), was a replica of Israel's new wall.

Tom Lash, the Green Party's nominee for Congress in the 46th District (Huntington Beach), said that he was "disgusted by the openly racist action...the "apartheid wall that the Israeli government is erecting is abhorrent to all sane, peace loving peoples."

Lash, who called on the U.S. to withhold all military aid to Israel until it withdraws from the occupied territory, added that "Just as we can make a distinction between supporting our military and at the same time condemn the mission on which they have been sent, we can condemn the Israeli government for the apartheid conditions they enforce in Gaza and the West Bank, yet still support the Jewish people."

"The road to peace and justice is made even more difficult by the actions of those currently in power in our country that take no action to prevent the real wall from being built in the first place. Our Congress must lead the way in breaking the spiral of injustice, fear, and hate," said Gary Waayers, Green Party congressional candidate in District 50 (San Diego).

The Greens cited a recently-released California Senate Office of Research Report that documents massive civil rights violations of Muslims since 9/11 and passage of the USA Patriot Act, which was approved by Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

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The Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org
P.O. Box 2828, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
gpca@greens.org