The Gertrude Welch Peace and Justice Award was presented to San Francisco Bay Area activists and founders of the Free Gaza Movement, Greta Berlin, Paul Larudee, and Kathy Sheetz in a public ceremony on January 30. Greta Berlin started her work on Palestine immediately after the June 1967 war, co-founded the Free Gaza Movement in 2006, and sailed on the SS Free Gaza on the first daring voyage that broke the siege of Gaza in August 2008.

Dr. Paul Larudee, also a co-founder of the Free Gaza Movement, played a critical role in procuring the two small fishing boats for that first voyage and was among the 44 international human rights activists on board. Kathy Sheetz started her human rights work in the 1980s in Haiti. On the first voyage of the FreeGaza boats, she played a crucial role as a nurse in caring for passengers suffering from severe seasickness.

The San José Peace and Justice Center established the Gertrude Welch Peace and Justice Award to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to social justice and peace locally and globally. Milpitas Vice Mayor Pete McHugh presented Commendation plaques to each of the three Award recipients at the ceremony, saying, “It’s up to us to make a difference!” Congressman Mike Honda sent them Certificates of Special Congressional Recognition.

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San Jose Peace and Justice Center | Free Gaza Movement | Free Palestine Movement