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ADC and MPAC Thank Ambassador Edward Peck for Insightful Remarks
ADC and MPAC Thank Ambassador Edward Peck for Insightful Remarks
Washington DC | June 25, 2010 | www.adc.org | The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) were privileged to welcome Ambassador Edward Peck and thank him for speaking at the Wednesday, June 23, 2010 event, “Set the Truth Free: The Freedom Flotilla & the Future of Palestine.” Ambassador Peck provided a first hand account of the Israeli Military’s seizure of the peaceful humanitarian ships that were attempting to deliver much needed aid to the people of Gaza.
Ambassador Peck and 54 other humanitarians were aboard a small inter-island passenger vessel sailing from Athens, accompanying a freighter transporting water purification systems, electric wheelchairs, prefabricated houses and medicines. They were on it for almost a week, until attacked by masked Israeli commandos armed with automatic rifles, tasers, pistols and stun grenades. The unarmed civilians locked arms in passive resistance, to keep the attackers out of the ship’s bridge, and several of them were injured as the Israelis seized the ship and took it to Israel.
At Ashdod, the prisoners were given a document in Hebrew to sign. If they refused, they would be imprisoned; if they signed, they would be expelled for admitting that they had entered the country. Ambassador Peck commented on the irony of being captured illegally in international waters by armed attackers, brought under armed guard to Israel, forced against his will into the country, and then be deported for illegally entering. The belongings of all the passengers on his ship were confiscated, have not been returned, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
Throughout the event, he emphasized that the primary objective of the unarmed, humanitarian, non-hostile Flotilla was to bring needed civilian material to help the suffering people in blockaded Gaza. His remarks challenged the audience to maintain and strengthen their efforts to help resolve the issues facing the Palestinian people by providing factual information to other Americans that is often absent in the news media, to “Set the Truth Free.” Ambassador Peck emphasized that alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people will not be quick or easy, but it is certainly worth every effort.
ADC and MPAC thank Ambassador Peck for his courage, wisdom and devotion for speaking truth to power.
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Contact: media@adc.org
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NOTE TO EDITORS: The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), which is non-profit, non-sectarian and non-partisan, is the largest Arab-American civil rights organization in the United States. It was founded in 1980 by former Senator James Abourezk to protect the civil rights of people of Arab descent in the United States and to promote the cultural heritage of the Arabs. ADC has 38 chapters nationwide, including chapters in every major city in the country, and members in all 50 states.
The ADC Research Institute (ADC-RI), which was founded in 1981, is a Section 501(c)(3) educational organization that sponsors a wide range of programs on behalf of Arab Americans and of importance to all Americans. ADC-RI programs include research studies, seminars, conferences and publications that document and analyze the discrimination faced by Arab Americans in the workplace, schools, media, and governmental agencies and institutions. ADC-RI also celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Arabs.
ADC Research Institute (ADC-RI) | www.adc.org
1732 Wisconsin Ave., NW | Washington, DC | 20007
Tel: 202-244-2990 | Fax: 202-333-3980 | E-mail: media@adc.org
