McKinney joined the Free Gaza movement to bring aid to Gaza & break the blockade

Program Title: Cynthia McKinney & THE FREE GAZA MOVEMENT
Description: Former US congresswoman McKinney was on board. The Israeli navy almost sank the ship, then imprisoned the passengers.

Host(s): Maria Gilardin
Featured Speakers/Guests: Cynthia McKinney, former US congresswoman, Green Party candidate for US President 2008.

Credits:

Comments: The Free Gaza Movement began in the Fall of 2006. Seeing all land borders of Gaza controlled by Israel - and by Egypt at Rafah - severely restricting the crossing of urgently needed food, fuel, and medicine for 1.4 million Palestinians - they decided to reach Gaza by sea, and directly challenge the Israeli siege.

They found two, small, wooden fishing boats. In August 2008 they became the first international boats to land in the port of Gaza in 41 years. Between August and December 2008 the Free Gaza Movement successfully broke the Israeli siege five times and arrived in Gaza with international crews and humanitarian aid.

In response to the month-long Israeli war on Gaza that began at the end of December 2008 the Free Gaza Movement sent a ship with over 3 tons of emergency medical supplies, and 3 surgeons. Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate, decided to participate in this journey.

This time the Israeli navy rammed the ship, almost sinking it - then abandoned the disabled vessel. This is McKinney's story of confrontation with the Israeli navy in international waters, up to the boarding of the second Free Gaza Boat by Israeli commandos and the kidnapping and imprisoning the passengers.

Cynthia McKinney came to Sonoma State University on August 15, 2009 to tell a story that made it around the world as breaking news - but was almost completely ignored by the US media.

Cynthia McKinney made history in 1992 when she became the first African American woman to represent Georgia in Congress. However she soon found herself in the sites of AIPAC, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, Israel's officially registered lobby, when she refused to sign a statement supporting Israel that is routinely demanded by AIPAC of every candidate for Congress from either party.