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 On Wednesday, August 9, dozens of Brooklynites gathered opposite the Military Recruiting Station in downtown Brooklyn in a demonstration called by Brooklyn For Peace (BFP), to voice concern and outrage over the widening conflict in the Middle East. Calling for an immediate cease-fire, an end to the killing of civilians whether targeted or as "collateral damage," the halting of weapons provided to all sides in the conflict, a negotiated prisoner exchange and the initiation of an international peace conference, the marchers set off chanting "Cease-fire Now". Sympathetic onlookers spontaneously joined the line of march as it proceeded through Fulton Mall to a rally on the steps of Brooklyn's Borough Hall.
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Arriving at Brooklyn Borough Hall, demonstrators were greeted by Molly Nolan of BFP, who introduced Rabbi Michael Feinberg of Clergy and Laity Concerned About Iraq. Rabbi Feinberg commenced the gathering by delivering an inspiring ecumenical prayer for peace. Next, David Tykulsker, an attorney and vice-chair of BFP, asked the crowd for moment of silence for those killed on both sides in this conflagration before delving into a speech that directly linked the current Lebanon crisis with the failed policies of the Bush administration in the ongoing Iraq war.
Following up on this theme was Carolyn Eisenberg, co-founder and vice-chair of BFP, who decried both the horrific destruction of Lebanon and Hezbollah's missile attacks on Israeli cities. She connected these events with the ongoing Israeli occupation in Palestine, and US policies that support the Israeli occupation. She thanked the two Brooklyn congressional representatives, Major Owens and Nydia Velasquez, who have called for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire in support of the Kucinich bill in the House (HR 450), and challenged the silence of the other Brooklyn representatives, as well as the pro-war stances of Senators Schumer and Clinton. Eisenberg then exhorted the gathered crowd to take action, be it by "marching, writing, phoning, or faxing, and organizing to do whatever is necessary to bring these ruinous policies to a halt."
See complete text of Carolyn Eisenberg's remarks.
See complete text of David Tykulsker's remarks.
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