Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The Palestinians Refugees Right of Return is the primary target for liquidation by Israel, the US and Arab officialdom. Many Palestinian elites view the Right of Return as a nuisance, a hurdle blocking their quest for Palestinian statehood. As Azmi Bishara noted recently, it is the other way around: the statehood-at-any-price project espoused, explicitly and covertly, in some Palestinian circle is burdening the Palestinian refugees' quest for return.
Al-Awda's upcoming convention on May 25-27 in Riverside, California represents a space and an opportuntiy to defend the Right of Return in the US (Information below). Al-Awda has been, and will continue to be dedicated to full Palestinian return and liberation.
Uniting for the Return: Al-Awda's Fifth Annual International Convention
VENUE: University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92521
DATE: May 25-27, 2007
Al-Awda's Fifth Annual International Convention will be held this year in Riverside, California, on the May 25-27 memorial day week-end. The theme of this year's convention is Uniting for the Return.
The date of the convention commemorates the Nakba, the 59th year since the "State of Israel" was declared on stolen Palestinian land, and which led to the Zionist occupation of all of Palestine.
This year's convention will be hosted at the University of California, Riverside, by Students for Justice in Palestine. The community-based local host committee currently also includes Al-Awda's Riverside, Los Angeles and San Diego chapters, The Palestinian American Women's Association, The Free Palestine Alliance, The National Council of Arab Americans, The Middle East Cultural and Information Center, The Muslim Students Association at Palomar College, The Muslim Students Association at UCSD, Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA, The Muslim Students Union at UCR, and The Arab Community Center of the Inland Empire.
The Program
The Fifth Annual International Al-Awda Convention promises to be an amazing three-day event from speakers and workshops, a youth program, to a Palestine Cultural Dinner Event. The opening will be held on the evening of Friday 25 May and include a moving event at which survivors of the Nakba, the great catastrophe, share their recollections of their first-hand experience in 1948.
On Saturday May 26, the convention will devote itself to political assessments, and to developing the ongoing work of organizing Al-Awda's Right of Return campaigns such as refugee support, media work, student, divestment, art/culture, etc., in addition to our recruitment and outreach projects.
On Sunday May 27, the convention will arrive at its resolutions based on the concrete recommendations of the various workshops.
The Saturday evening Palestine Cultural Dinner Event will include keynote addresses as well as Palestinian folkloric dance, music, a Palestinian Arab fashion show and readings of children's writings from refugee camps.
Among the confirmed convention speakers are:
Dr. Naseer Aruri, former member of The Palestine National Council
Elias Rashmawi, National Coordinator National Council of Arab Americans
and Samia Halaby, activist, artist and Nakba survivor
INVITATION
We invite all Al-Awda members, and groups and individuals who support the implementation of the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their towns and villages of origin, and to reclaim their land, to join us in our landmark Fifth Annual International Convention. The convention is a superlative forum for activists to listen to expert presentations and to share their own thoughts on how they would like to see our collective efforts and campaigns for the rights of Palestinian refugees develop.
Like its predecessors, Al-Awda's Fifth International Convention will be one of the largest annual gatherings of Palestinian Arab activists and their supporters. We highly encourage out of town guests to plan and make their travel and accommodation arrangements early.
Don't Delay! Reserve Your Place Today!
To reserve, go to:
http://al-awda.org/convention5/reservations.html
Additional information
Flyer
Program
Reservations
Sponsor
Tables
t-shirt
Advertise
Directions/transportation
Hotels
Host Committee
Al-Awda's Points of Unity
We thank you for your support and look forward to your participation.
The Fifth Convention Host Committee
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA
Tel: 760-685-3243
Fax: 360-933-3568
E-mail: info@al-awda.org
WWW: http://al-awda.org
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition (PRRC) is the largest network of grassroots activists and students dedicated to Palestinian human rights. We are a not for profit tax-exempt educational and charitable 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States of America. Under IRS guidelines, your donations to PRRC are tax-deductible.
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