"WE ARE UNARMED AND WE ARE SAILING" 

On Anniversary of Mavi Marmara Killings,  

 U.S. Boat to Gaza

Announces Passenger List

http://ustogaza.org/

New York, NY-May 31, 2011. Organizers of the U.S. Boat to
Gaza announced today that they expect some 50 people will be
aboard The Audacity of Hope when it joins the second "freedom
flotilla" in late June to break the siege of Gaza.

The announcement came on the year's anniversary of the 2010
Israeli attack on unarmed passengers aboard the Mavi Marmara,
killing nine, including an 18-year old U.S. citizen of
Turkish descent.

Leslie Cagan, coordinator of the U.S. Boat to Gaza, said, "We
are sailing-despite threats by the Israeli armed forces to
use attack dogs and snipers against us-and despite frantic
diplomatic pressure by the Israeli government to prevent
other countries from allowing the flotilla to sail." She
commented that while Egypt has just opened the Rafah border
to Gaza, the maritime blockade and the Israeli siege of Gaza
still exist.

So far, 34 passengers and four crew members have confirmed
that they will be sailing on The Audacity of Hope. They range
in age from 22 to 87 years old and live in 14 states in every
region of the U.S. All are committed to non-violence. Members
of the press will also be on the boat.

Varied occupations are represented by the passengers,
including retired film producer, construction worker, retired
teacher and engineer, student, author, nurse, EMT,
firefighter, activist, jazz musician, retired military
personnel, professor social worker and lawyer. More than half
the participants are women.

Passengers and crew will gather in Athens on June 21, 2011 in
advance of the anticipated sailing date, which will depend on
weather conditions and logistics.

The Audacity of Hope will carry as its cargo thousands of
letters of friendship and solidarity with the people of Gaza
from people throughout our country. Cagan said that
inspections of the boat and its passengers prior to departure
will prove the non-violent nature of the mission.

Richard Levy, attorney and passenger on The Audacity of Hope,
explained that "Because Israel occupies Gaza, and accordingly
has obligations under the Geneva Conventions, it cannot
legally blockade Gaza." Therefore, he continued, "attempts by
the Israeli government to prevent ships from going to Gaza
are equally illegal."

A list of confirmed passengers and crew is attached. Short
biographical statements from each of them can be found at
http://ustogaza.org/passengers-on-the-audacity-of-hope/


PASSENGERS ON THE AUDACITY OF HOPE


Nic Abramson - Woodstock, NY

Johnny Barber - Gallatin Gateway, MT

Medea Benjamin - Washington, DC

Greta Berlin - Los Angeles, CA

Hagit Borer - Los Angeles, CA

Regina Carey - San Rafael, CA

Gale Courey Toensing -Canaan, CT

Erin DeRamus - Portland, OR

Linda Durham - Sante Fe, NM

Debra Ellis - Santa Cruz, CA

Hedy Epstein - St. Louis, MO

Steve Fake - New Orleans, LA

Ridgely Fuller - Waltham, MA

Megan Horan - West Seattle, WA

Kathy Kelly - Chicago, IL

Kit Kittredge - Quilcene, WA

Libor Koznar - New Britain, CT

G. Kaleo Larson - Northern CA

Richard Levy - New York, NY

Richard Lopez - Tumwater, WA

Ken Mayers - Sante Fe, NM

Ray McGovern - Arlington, VA

Gail Miller - New York, NY

Robert Naiman - Urbana, IL

Henry Norr - Berkeley, CA

Ann Petter - New York, NY

Gabe Schivone- Tucson, AZ

Kathy Sheetz - Richmond, CA

Max Suchan - Chicago, IL

Brad Taylor - New York, NY

Len Tsou - New City, NY

Alice Walker - Northern CA

Paki Wieland - Northampton, MA

Ann Wright - Honolulu, HI


CREW OF THE AUDACITY OF HOPE


John Klusmire, captain

David Smith, engineer

Yonatan Shapira, mate

David Schermerhorn, mate



GET ON BOARD THE U.S. TO GAZA CAMPAIGN

VISIT WWW.USTOGAZA.ORG

TO ENDORSE AND CONTRIBUTE

Thank you for your support

Please distribute widely

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