2011 September 01 |

Paul Larudee

Director/Global March to Jerusalem North America and Feriha/Media Coordinator

Host: Basima Farhat

Previously Aired On: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 – Listen to the Show!

Paul Larudee was born to an Iranian Presbyterian minister and his American missionary spouse in 1946 and grew up in the American Midwest. He has a Ph.D. in linguistics from Georgetown University and spent 14 years in Arab countries as a contracted U.S. government advisor, Fulbright-Hays exchange lecturer, teacher, training administrator and graduate student.

Paul has visited the Palestinian region many times since 1965, including four times with the International Solidarity Movement, a Palestinian-led movement that applies nonviolent principles to resist Israeli human rights violations. Paul was among seven ISM volunteers wounded by Israeli gunfire in April, 2002 in an otherwise nonviolent attempt to help Palestinian families. In 2006, he was held in Israeli detention for two weeks while unsuccessfully appealing a decision to deny him entry. He helped organize nonviolent resistance in Lebanon during the 2006 Israeli invasion. He is one of the founders of the Free Gaza Movement, whose boats, on August 23, 2008, became the first in 41 years to enter Gaza by sea, breaking the Israeli naval blockade. He is also a founder of the Free Palestine Movement, which also seeks to challenge Israel’s blockade and denial of access to all of Palestine by sea, air and land.

Paul, a former student of Noam Chomsky, became a Professor of Linguistics himself and remains a good friend and colleague of Professor Chomsky. Working with the NorCal branch of the International Solidarity Movement, Paul is very much a believer in and practitioner of Gandhi’s principles of non-violence. Paul was one of the 5 USA delegates aboard the Sfendoni, a ship of the Freedom flotilla attempting to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.

ABOUT THE GLOBAL MARCH TO JERUSALEM (GMJ)

On 30 March, 2012, one million or more people will march – peacefully and nonviolently, but with determination – to Jerusalem. The purpose of this march is to protest and defy Israeli attempts to prevent and restrict Palestinians and others from entering this city, and the abuse and denial of Palestinian human and political rights.

The GMJ is a coalition of organizations throughout the world, formed to implement this movement. It consists of geographical associations and international committees where the associations are represented. In addition, committees assigned to perform specific functions, such as media, finance and logistics, are created as needed.

GMJ MISSION STATEMENT

We intend to march peacefully from all parts of the globe to Jerusalem as Palestinians who have the right of access to the city, as solidarity brothers and sisters of those whose right of access is being violated, and in solidarity with political prisoners who cannot be there with us. Together we will reassert and affirm the Palestinian refugees’ Right of Return and right of access to Jerusalem and all of Palestine.

Our intent is not to harm any person, and in fact, we refuse to do so, regardless of what anyone may do to us. However, we also refuse to be deterred from our goal, and will persist until we reach it. We believe that good will and determination will ultimately overcome all obstacles in our path.

We ask all persons and institutions who care for human rights and justice to support our peaceful, nonviolent effort with whatever means are at their disposal: by participating as marchers, by volunteering their services to the project; by legal, official and diplomatic intervention; and by financial support.

Let us prove that people of good will who are determined to pursue peace based on justice have nothing to fear from each other. Where better to do so than the historic City of Peace?