Founder Palestine Office - Michigan
Host: Basima Farhat
Previously Aired On: Tuesday, February 3, 2009 - Listen to the Show!
Hasan Nawash was six years old when his family fled their home in the Palestinian village of Ein Karem in 1947, when it was overrun by a right-wing Jewish militia ahead of the establishment of Israel.
Nawash returned to visit his childhood home in 1990, more than 40 years later, and found the house his father built still intact, now inhabited by Israelis, with Arabic script still carved above the front the door reading “He who enters this home is safe.”
The village was incorporated into West Jerusalem and has become high-end real estate property.
Now in Michigan, Hasan fought for justice, freedom and independence for the Palestinian people. As he approached his retirement years he thought he would be spending his days writing his beloved poetry and traveling the world. However, his outrage and disgust over the current Intifada amplified his activism, and soon he and a few core activists mapped out a clear organizational mission that would become the building blocks of the Palestine Office-Michigan.
The Palestine Office-Michigan coalesced in 2004, serving as a voice for Palestinian aspirations in the heart of Southeastern Michigan’s Arab American community. The office asks for an end to Israeli occupation and promotes greater awareness and understanding of issues concerning Palestinian rights here and abroad.
At a recent demonstration in Dearborn, Michigan, Hasan told Arab American News that such demonstrations serve to bring the community together in a way that encourages prolonged, continued activism for long-term impact.
He said communities can create change over time when each person, one at a time, takes on the attitude that “it’s important for me to do my part.” That’s how South African apartheid fell.
He said large, loud demonstrations also facilitate the influence of community leaders on government leadership.
Please visit: http://www.PalestineOffice.com
February 1st, 2009
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