Queers Against Israeli Apartheid action at the Center (3.3.12)

 

For Immediate Release

PRESS ADVISORY

CONTACT:

Pauline Park
(718) 662-8893 (c); (718) 424-4003 (h)

paulinepark@earthlink.net

OCCUPY THE CENTER!

Protest censorship by New York’s LGBT Community Center

 

WHO: Queers Against Israeli Apartheid and other groups (list below)

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 4-6 PM

WHERE: LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. between 7th and 8th Avenues

WHY: One year ago, amidst great controversy, the LGBT Center banned groups opposing Israeli apartheid. Protesters will confront the Center’s censorship policy and its secret closed-door board of directors meetings.

It’s been a year since NY’s LGBT Community Center banned Siegebusters, the anti-occupation organizers, from using space at the Center. Since that time NYC Queers Against Israeli Apartheid has also been banned from the Center—and a “moratorium” has been imposed on ANY discussion of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict (meaning “discussion” of support for Palestinian rights). The Center’s board promised, but never delivered, a policy revision clarifying their rental/access/programming guidelines.

On Saturday, March 3, as part of Israeli Apartheid Week, protesters will enact an end to the ban on Palestinian-related organizing at the Center, and re-institute the Center’s original access policy of full inclusion for all queers who organize for liberation. The “moratorium” is over!

The wealthy and powerful 1% should not be allowed to silence the voices of the 99%. Queers Against Israeli Apartheid will defy the ban on March 3 — Occupy the Center!

DEMANDS:

1. End the ban on Palestine solidarity organizing at the Center

2. Open the Center to all who respect its stated mission.

3. Open the Center’s board meetings and decision-making process to the community.

ENDORSING GROUPS:

Queers for an Open LGBT Center (QFOLC)

alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society

Adalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel

Brooklyn for Peace

FIERCE (Fabulous Independent Educated Radicals for Community Empowerment)

Jewish Voice for Peace-NY

Jews Say No!

International Action Center

International Socialist Organization

Metropolitan Community Church of New York

New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA)

Palestinian Queers for BDS

South Asian Lesbian & Gay Association (SALGA-NYC)

Sylvia Rivera Law Project

Workers World Party

Young, Jewish and Proud

 

For more information: www.queersagainstisraeliapartheid.blogspot.com

 

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