Sam Hart, retired US diplomat, joining Gaza Freedom Flotilla; Phone Brigade Needed Now

Samuel Hart, age 77, originally from Mississippi, a retired US diplomat who served in
Uruguay, Indonesia, Malaysia, Costa Rica, Chile, Israel and Ecuador, and sees similarities to the fight agains segregation in the South, is joining the American Audacity of Hope delegation on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.

Another person on the same boat, Alice Walker, a 67-year-old African-American writer originally from Georgia, also views Israel from the point of view of the segregated South and also views the Gaza Freedom Flotilla as being today's Freedom Riders, which they are.

For more on Sam Hart, see:
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-06-25/story/jacksonville-resident-samuel-hart-former-us-ambassador-plans-participate

http://www.freepalestinemovement.org/delegation.html

http://presstv.com/detail/186621.html

http://mondoweiss.net/2011/06/do-they-look-like-murderers-to-you.html

We also heard from Hedy Epstein, the 86 year old Holocaust refugee, and others on the Audacity live on Democracy Now, June 30, 2011 at
http://www.democracynow.org/

IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE YOUR PHONE CALLS TO SUPPORT THE GAZA FREEDOM FLOTILLA AND GUARANTEE THEIR SAFE PASSAGE, PLEASE DO SO NOW. Call all Senators and Congresspeople you can, as well as the State Department at 202.647-4000 and follow the news at
http://michaelmoore.com/
In particular, the Twitters as
http://twitter.com/#!/usboattogaza
http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23flotilla2
http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23FreedomFlotilla2
The list of numbers to call is from How You can Help at USBoatto Gaza:
http://ustogazawest.org/?page_id=458
Stay Human Freedom Flotilla 2011: how you can help:

Before the flotilla leaves:
1. Phone to demand US government ensure safety of Americans on board, on the US Boat, the Audacity of Hope, and the other boats:

SF Israeli Consulate 415 844 7500 fax; 415 844 7555
Akiva Tor, Consul General (415) 844-7501
The emergency number is: 415-806-7857.
An emergency is classified as a life-threatening situation that requires immediate attention.

President Obama: 202 456 1111

State Department: 202 647 4000

The phone number for the Congressional switchboard is 202-224-3121. Just dial and ask for your Senator or Representative by name, or use numbers given below:
San Francisco's Nancy Pelosi:(202) 225-4965 and (415) 556-4862
San Franscio-San Mateo's Jackie Speier: (202) 225-3531 and (650) 342-0300

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Montana senator Max Baucus (202) 224-2651
Montana senator Jon Tester (202) 224-2644
1. Johnny Barber’s representative, Denny Rehberg 202-224-3121
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Washington Senator Maria Cantwell: (202) 224-3441
Washington Senator Patty Murray: (202) 224-2621
1. David K. Schermerhorn’s Representative, Rick Larsen (202) 225-2605
2. Kit Kitredge’s representative, Norm Dicks 202-225-5916
3. Megan Horan’s representative, Jim McDermott (202) 225-3106
4. Richard Lopez’ representative, Jaime Herrera Beutler (202) 225-3536
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Oregon Senator Ron Wyden: (202) 224-5244
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley: (202) 224-3753
1. Erin DeRasmus’s representative, Earl Blumenauer (202) 225-4811
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California Senator Feinstein: 202 224 3841
California Senator Barbara Boxer: (202) 224-3553
1. Regina Carey’s Representative, Lynn Woolsey: local 507 9554 Washington (202) 225-5161
2. Kathy Sheetz’s Representative (in Mass) William Keating Phone: (202) 225-3111 Fax: (202) 225-5658
2a. Kathy Sheetz’s rep in Richmond : George Miller, Phone: (510) 262-6500 Fax: (510) 222-1306;
Phone in DC (202) 225-2095 Fax: (202) 225-5609
3. Henry Norr’s Representative, Barbara Lee (510) 763-0370 Fax: (510) 763-6538 and see below
4. Alice Walker’s representative, Barbara Lee Oakland (510) 763-0370 Fax: (510) 763-6538.
5. Kaleo Larson’s representative, Barbara Lee DC: (202) 225-2661 Fax: (202) 225-9817
6. Debra Ellis’s Representative, Sam Farr. Santa Cruz , Phone: (831) 429-1976 • Fax: (831) 429-1458
Sam Farr’s DC office 202-225-2861 Fax: (202) 225-6791
7. Greta Berlin’s Representative, Henry Waxman. switchboard, 202-224-3121, or, as above
8. Hagit Borer’s Representative, Henry A. Waxman Telephone (202) 225-3976 Fax (202) 225-4099
Los Angeles, Tel (310) 652-3095 and (818) 878-7400 and (323) 651-1040 Fax (323) 655-0502
9. Mary Hughes-Thompson representative, Henry Waxman. switchboard, 202-224-3121, or above.
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Arizona senator John McCain (202) 224-2235
Arizona senator John Kyl (202) 224-4521
1. Gabriel Schivone’s Representative, Raul Grijalva, Tucson office: ph (520) 622-6788
fax (520) 622-0198; DC office: ph (202) 225-2435 fax (202) 225-1541
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New Mexico senator Jeff Bingaman (202) 224-5521
New Mexico senator Tom Udall (202) 224-6621
1. Ken Mayer’s Representative, Ben Ray Lujan D.C. Office Ph: (202) 225-6190 • Fax: (202) 226-1528
Santa Fe Office • Ph: (505) 984-8950 • Fax: (505) 986-5047
2. Linda Durham’s Representative, Ben Ray Lujan as above
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Hawaii senator Daniel Akaka (202) 224-6361
Hawaii senator Daniel Inouye (202) 224-3934
1. Ann Wright, representative, Colleen Hanabusa, Phone: (202) 225-2726 Fax: (202) 225-0688
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Massachusetts senator (for Kathy Sheetz): Scott Brown Phone: (202) 224-4543 Fax: (202) 228-2646
Massachusetts senator (for Kathy Sheetz): John Kerry (202) 224-2742
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And in central USA :
1. For Robert Naiman: Urbana , Illinois Tim Johnson, IL-15: D.C. Phone: 202-225-2371 Fax: 202-226-0791
2. For Kathy Kelly: Chicago, Illinois Jan Schakowsky, 9th District Chicago – (773) 506-7100 Washington – (202) 225-2111
Fax Chicago – (773) 506-9202 Evanston – (847) 328-3425 Washington DC – (202) 226-6890
3. For: Max Suchan, Chicago , Illinois Luis Gutierrez, 4th District, Chicago, 773-342-0774; DC Tel: (202) 225-8203
Fax: (202) 225-7810
4. Hedy Epstein, St Louis , MO : Senator for Missouri : Claire McCaskill Phone 202-224-6154 Fax 202-228-6326
Representative: W Lacy Clay Phone: (202) 225-2406 Fax: (202) 226-3717
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Should an attack occur:
2. Make phone calls to those above to express your outrage.
3. Contact local media to express your outrage.
Join a protest being organized near you: San Francisco, San Jose or Santa Rosa . OR organize your own protest in your area.
Please bring signs and Palestinian flags.

SAN FRANCISCO:
*On the day following an attack* (or boarding) of any ship in the Freedom
Flotilla 2- Stay Human, we invite all people of conscience to gather outside
the *Israeli Consulate at 456 Montgomery St., #2100 . San Francisco , Ca 94104
at 5:00 pm*.
SAN JOSE:
In San Jose: gather outside the *Dr Martin Luther King Jr Library (San Jose Public Library) at 150 East San Fernando Street, San Jose, CA 95112 at 5:00 pm
SANTA ROSA:
If Israel responds with violence – as they did last time – there will be a peaceful protest in Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa from 6:00 to 7:00 the evening of the incident.

We also ask that Palestine solidarity groups and peace and justice groups spread this message across their membership through listservs, phone calls, and other forms of social media. It is of the utmost importance that this event has a large attendance; international pressure–especially from the United States –is a critical factor in preventing Israel from acting with impunity towards humanitarian activists. We all need to be prepared to act on short notice.

TALKING POINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION:
Call right now as they all have voice mail so you can leave a message at any time. The State Department is putting our calls on a voice mail message system. All representatives have local numbers with voice mail. Night rates apply to 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., local time, and evening rates are 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. local time. The president's switchboard number only takes messages from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., DC time, which is 3 hours later than the Pacific coast. Feinstein's local office may not take messages so you will have to call her DC number. This time, unlike the usual, Feinstein's live person is sitting there listening instead of switching you to voice mail or hanging up. Here are some talking points:
1. I call as an American citizen and ___________ (Holocaust family member, voter of __________ state or city, and the like.)
2. I demand that you support the Gaza Freedom Flotilla
3. I demand that you tell your puppet Israel to lift the illegal blockade of Gaza.
4. The Zionists do not speak for the entire Jewish community.
5. The Zionists do not speak for me.
6. All Americans can now see that there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans which will help build the socialist and Green parties, the only parties worth voting for.
7. Support the Gaza Freedom Flotilla! Lift the blockade of Gaza! No US tax dollars to Israel! End the 63 year occupation of Palestine!
GET ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW SO THAT THE BOATS MAY LEAVE GREECE TODAY. WE ARE ALL THE GAZA FREEDOM FLOTILLA. THE PHONE BRIGADE IS JUST AS MUCH A PART OF THIS EFFORT AS THE PEOPLE ON THE BOATS.