My daughter Rachel Corrie brought me to the Palestinian/Israeli issue. Ours was a family and community that generally thought about the world and its inhabitants in a loving, curious way. We connected, as comfortable Americans do, through following and discussing the news, attending events, and making donations to support those in third world countries—but there was never any intention of sacrifice. In 2003, Rachel travelled to Gaza to join the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a group of Palestinian and international activists who use non-violent, direct-action methods to confront the Israeli occupation. Why did she go? Rachel was motivated by her family and community experiences, by her questions about US foreign policy that arose after 9/11 shattering our nation’s sense of security and self-satisfaction, and simply by whom she was as a human being.

Dear Friends,

Cindy Corrie participating in Washington DC vigil for Troy Davis. Photo courtesy of Edie Garwood.

It’s become part of our annual ritual at the Rachel Corrie Foundation to write this end-of-year newsletter and use it as an opportunity to reflect on all that has been and all that can be. We dedicate this issue to Scott Kennedy – co- founder of the Resource Center for Nonviolence in Santa Cruz, former city council member and mayor, a giant contributor to efforts for justice and peace in Israel/Palestine, and our friend. Scott died unexpectedly November 19th – one week after leading his final tour to the Middle East with Interfaith Peace-Builders. In 2004, as mayor, he declared March 16th Rachel Corrie Day in Santa Cruz and said, “It is a very sad commentary on the state of political affairs in the United States that our national government has done virtually nothing to find out what happened…” In 2005, he hosted Craig and me and members of the family whose home Rachel stood to protect, in a memorable Santa Cruz visit. He was a brave, passionate man who helped us find our voices.

Earlier this month the Rachel Corrie Foundation convinced the National Building Museum (NBM) in Washington DC to cancel its September 14th public ceremony to award its prestigious Henry C. Turner Prize to Caterpillar Inc. Then last week, acting on behalf of the Rachel Corrie Foundation, we and representatives of Jewish Voice for Peace, Code Pink, the Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace, and the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation (a coalition of more than 350 organizations) held a protest outside the F Street museum entrance. We sang, chanted, flyered, and chatted with the public. We then entered the Museum’s lofty Great Hall to deliver the call from 150 regional, national, and international organizations and more than 7000 individuals to rescind the prize to Caterpillar Inc. completely.

We met with Museum Development Events Manager Jessie Cochran. She promised to deliver our petitions to the Museum’s Executive Director, Chase Rynd, along with our requests to consider the human rights records of future award candidates and to use the museum’s public forums to discuss the built environment during conflict and occupation.

Petition delivery and action at the National Building Museum
Video courtesy of Bill Simonds, JVP – DC Metro Chapter

Thank you for your amazing support of this effort! You signed our petition, encouraged groups to sign our letter to the museum, and communicated directly with NBM staff with your own letters and calls. This small but public victory is just one indicator of how together we are bringing Palestinian human rights front and center and making a difference. Once again, we have exposed the complicity of Caterpillar Inc. in the ongoing violations of these rights by the Israeli military and government in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel.

Our work isn’t finished just yet! Here are a few more things you can do to help with the Caterpillar campaign:

1.  Write your own letter, thanking the museum for canceling their award ceremony, but asking them to rescind the prize completely.  Use our sample email or send your own email message to Mr. Chase Rynd, Executive Director of the National Building Museum, crynd@nbm.org.  Or call the National Building Museum at (202) 272-2448 and ask to speak to the Executive Director, Mr. Chase Rynd.  Courteously explain why the National Building Museum must reconsider its decision to award the Henry C. Turner Prize to Caterpillar Inc.

2. Contact the Washington Post to comment on their failure to mention the use of CAT equipment against Palestinians in Israel/Palestine in their article about the cancellation of the award ceremony.   Post reporter Monica Hesse interviewed Craig Corrie, received our press releases and other materials, and yet left out this critical information.  You can email Monica at hessem@washpost.com or send a letter to the editor at letters@washpost.com

3.  Consider making a tax deductible a donation to the Rachel Corrie Foundation so that we can continue this very important corporate accountability work!  Consider joining our growing list of monthly donors who provide us with financial stability.  The less time we need to spend fund raising, the more time we can spend in action!

Rachel Corrie standing in front of a Caterpillar DR9 bulldozer in Rafah, Gaza.

Read Press Release Here

We wish our Muslim friends in the U.S. and around the world a joyful Ramadan. Welcomed this week to a local iftar (the evening meal to break fast), we were reminded of the shared values of family, community, and giving that connect us all, and that are celebrated through this rich holiday month.