Dear Friend,

I just returned from the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and started my speaking tour last night in NYC to share what I witnessed aboard the flotilla, and what people can do to end the siege.

I witnessed the Israeli attack that killed 9 persons and wounded 50 on the Gaza Flotilla - the six unarmed civilian passenger and cargo ships that were taking humanitarian aid to the 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza to break the over three year Israeli siege of Gaza.

The murder of nine persons, the piracy in international waters, the kidnapping of 700 persons, taking us to Israel against our will, imprisoning us for 36 hours and stealing all our possessions (computers, cameras, cellphones and luggage) by the Israeli military forces left me aghast.

While it was a frightening and harrowing experience, I knew, as did the wife of one of the men killed aboard the ship, that we were doing the right thing.

Tragically, it took another example of disproportionate use of force by the Israeli military that resulted in the deaths of nine innocent civilians to force many governments of the world to call for the Israelis to end the siege of Gaza. 

I call on all people of conscience everywhere in the world to keep up the pressure on our governments to use their power and influence to end of the siege on Gaza and to open the gates to the open air prison called Gaza!

I hope to carry my message throughout communities in the US.  I'd like to ask you to donate to support my speaking tour, and let us know if you'd like to host a speaking event for me or another delegate in your city.

Send this fact sheet on Gaza to your member of Congress and to your friends who may be receiving bogus reports about what happened.  We can spread the truth and ask for a full, impartial investigation into the killings aboard the flotilla.  And we must keep the focus on lifting the crippling siege of Gaza. 

Thank you and hope to see you in your city,
Ann Wright
United States Army Colonel (Ret.)

PS Join me later this month at the US Social Forum in Detroit to hear me speak about the flotilla and the Gaza crisis, and join CODEPINK for creative peace actions and dynamic workshops.