FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2024
Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | [email protected]
CODEPINK Bay Area and Mega Mouth Rebels Hold People's Tribunal Against Netanyahu
San Francisco, CA – CODEPINK Bay Area, in collaboration with Mega Mouth Rebels, calls for the withdrawal of the invitation extended to Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress. In a symbolic act, they will hold a People's Tribunal at 1pm on Friday, July 12, at the Israeli Consulate, 456 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, to convict Netanyahu of genocide, highlighting his status as a war criminal and signaling that he is not welcome in the United States.
CODEPINK Bay Area organizer Cynthia Papermaster said “We in CODEPINK are grieving every day over the mass starvation and killing of innocent people in Gaza. It looks like Netanyahu’s goal is to wipe out the civilian population of Gaza and we can’t be silent about that. We are outraged that our Congress has invited him to speak, and that the Biden administration and Congress continue to send billions in weapons to Netanyahu to commit genocide in our names and with our tax dollars.
“Richard Falk, professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University, says ‘In Gaza, the West is enabling the most transparent genocide in human history.’ Netanyahu is currently being investigated by the International Criminal Court for the crime of genocide. This Peoples’ Tribunal will provide the judgment of Netanyahu that the world seeks,” she continued.
Hank Pellissier, coordinator of Mega Mouth Rebels, says, “We are horrified that the US government supports Netanyahu, instead of condemning his murderous actions. Bibi is guilty of killing 186,000 people, claims a recent estimate in The Lancet. Our trial will summarize his criminal actions and suggest appropriate punishment.”
Event Details:
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When: Friday, July 12 at 1pm PT
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Where: Israeli Consulate, 456 Montgomery Street, San Francisco
The event will feature a People's Tribunal with actors portraying Netanyahu, a prosecutor, and a People's Tribunal Jury. Evidence will be presented by the prosecutor, and the jury will decide Netanyahu’s fate. During the Tribunal, Netanyahu will be confined in a makeshift jail constructed specifically for this action. Along with the tribunal there will also be sidewalk chalking, chanting, skits, games, and a quiz on Palestinian culture.
This event is part of the CODEPINK campaign, "Tell Congress to boycott Netanyahu's visit and arrest him for crimes against humanity!" CODEPINK Bay Area is deeply concerned that Congress would invite a war criminal to address a joint session.
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