Big Win! NFL Player Cancels Trip to Israel!

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Big Win! NFL Player Cancels Trip to Israel!


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Dear Chris,

Last night we got some amazing news: NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Winner Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks posted on his Twitter (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Em852PGdq78DFyQTEkVWZqH1JR85nqPs) and Instagram (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ruiFAgghNjpFWbfFoLPPpaH1JR85nqPs) accounts that he will no longer be going on a propaganda trip to Israel!

Sign this petition now to thank him for choosing to be on the right side of history! (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=jBGYVB7x8P7e6dYUlRTZ36H1JR85nqPs)

Earlier this week The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli government was sponsoring a delegation of 12 NFL players to go to Israel as part of an effort to get them to “become ambassadors of goodwill for Israel.” These trips bringing celebrities to Israel are part of a larger “Brand Israel” campaign to help the Israeli government normalize and whitewash its ongoing denial of Palestinian rights.

The US Campaign spearheaded an open letter (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=8h9OJjcHQFnhEt1%2FjftDhW7cfl1Rjz5H) that was published at The Nation yesterday urging the players, many of whom have used their celebrity to shed light on various struggles including Black Lives Matter, to reconsider the ramifications of such a trip, which Israel’s head of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy Minister Gilad Erdan said was part of his ministry's goal to “fight against the delegitimization and BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) campaigns against Israel.” The letter was signed by Palestinian groups, renowned figures including Angela Davis, Alice Walker, and Harry Belafonte, as well as athlete-activists such as John Carlos and Craig Hodges.

Within hours, Bennett announced he was no longer going to Israel. Please add your name to the petition (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=IkYSkupSWBxtqfIu%2FUuRm6H1JR85nqPs) recognizing what an admirable and inspiring decision this is. We know he will face backlash for choosing to publicly support Palestinian rights and we need to send a clear message that those of us working for freedom, justice, and equality truly appreciate his stance.

Thank you for taking action.




RAMAH KUDAIMI

Director of Grassroots Organizing





PS: If you are on Twitter, make sure to thank him there too @mosesbread72 (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=JqLn48TFBEZ9aTHgiy%2BWjaH1JR85nqPs)! And share this action alert on Facebook (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=jO6LXZiqGaMDQxU%2FdEmYJaH1JR85nqPs) and Twitter (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=FhYie6bOIUS2LXvSEA6%2B76H1JR85nqPs)!

Connect with Us

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Washington, DC 20009
(703) 312-6360

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Take Action to Oppose Israeli settlements!


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Dear Chris --

The confirmation hearings for David Friedman to be the next U.S. ambassador to Israel is scheduled for next Thursday, the day after Netanyahu and Trump meet in D.C. Friedman is not only a supporter of Israel’s illegal settlements, he is also a leader in the settlement movement. He has raised millions of dollars for settlements and his appointment would give a green light for an increase in settler violence. Friedman wants to destroy the Iran nuclear deal, move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and denies that Palestinian refugees exist. He is so right-wing and toxic that he makes Netanyahu look like a liberal centrist!

Here is the good news: we have a fighting chance of defeating him! This is why we need your to tell your Senator that you oppose David Friedman as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel. (http://www.codepink.org/r?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oneclickpolitics.com%2Fmessa ges%2Fedit%3Fpromo_id%3D2958&e=247b6f0c69174ee7dfa25e341c4eedfe&utm_source=codepink&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=friedman_call&n=2)

If you haven’t done so yet, sign our petition (http://www.codepink.org/davidfriedman?e=247b6f0c69174ee7dfa25e341c4eedfe&utm_source=codepink&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=friedman_call&n=3) opposing Friedman. Read from Ariel and Issa why Friedman (http://www.codepink.org/david_friedman?e=247b6f0c69174ee7dfa25e341c4eedfe&utm_source=codepink&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=friedman_call&n=4) is not fit to be the US ambassador to Israel. Friedman is a right-wing extremist who has no business being the next US ambassador to Israel.

Towards equality and freedom for all!

Ann, Ariel, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Paki, Tali, and the entire CODEPINK team

P.S. Join us around the country and in Tel Aviv on February 15 to protest Netanyahu and Trump, and in DC on February 16 to protest Friedman (http://www.codepink.org/protest_trump_netanyahu?e=247b6f0c69174ee7dfa25e34 1c4eedfe&utm_source=codepink&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=friedman_call&n=5). Contact [email protected] for more information.


Donate Now (http://www.codepink.org/donate_to_codepink?e=247b6f0c69174ee7dfa25e341c4ee dfe&utm_source=codepink&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=friedman_call&n=6)


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http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/02/13/patr-f13.html


New England Patriots players plan to boycott meeting with Trump

By Alan Gilman

13 February 2017

Six players from the Super Bowl LI champion New England Patriots have announced they will not attend a White House visit to be held in their honor.

Since the National Football League (NFL) franchise won a historic fifth Super Bowl on February 5th, a growing number of players on the team have told the press that they would turn down an invitation to commemorate their victory at the White House.

As has been a long-standing tradition, the President invites the championship team from each major professional sports league to the White House each year to honor their achievement.

In anticipation of this invitation tight end Martellus Bennett was the first player to announce he would not join his teammates at any future White House celebration. Bennett made it very clear that Trump was the impetus for the decision by his twitter statement: “America was built on inclusiveness not exclusiveness.”

Bennett was later joined by defensive back Devin McCourty (who also participated in a silent, fists-raised National Anthem protest with Bennett during the regular season), who said: “Basic reason for me is I don’t feel accepted in the White House. With the president having so many strong opinions and prejudices, I believe certain people might feel accepted there while others won’t.”

These sentiments were also echoed by running back LeGarrette Blount, who during his appearance on the Rich Eisen Show explained his position: “I don’t feel welcome in that house. I’ll leave it at that.”

Meanwhile Dont’a Hightower, Chris Long, and Alan Branch have now all also said they would turn down a request to come to the White House, but did not cite political motivations. And running back James White has said he is considering skipping the trip, but will wait until an invite is put forward to decide.

The New England Patriots, the most successful NFL franchise during the last fifteen years, is known for its strict discipline and insisting that its players avoid any off-the-field controversy or distractions.

The three major architects of this philosophy, owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick, and future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, all ignored their own edict by publicly expressing their support for Trump.

During the regular season Brady put one of Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again caps in his locker and also referred to Trump as “a good friend.” Belichick wrote a letter of support to Trump that was read aloud by Trump at one of his campaign rallies. Kraft also made public statements of support for Trump, claiming the new president would be great for the “economic side” of America.

Speaking at a dinner for campaign donors in Washington, D.C. on the eve of his inauguration, Trump singled out Kraft, saying, “In the audience, we have somebody that’s under no pressure whatsoever cause he’s got a great quarterback named Tom Brady, and a great coach, and a great coach named Belichick: Bob Kraft. So good luck, Bob. Your friend Tom just called. He feels good. He called to congratulate us. He feels good. Good luck. You’re going to do great things.”

Kraft joined Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for dinner at Trump’s Mar-a Lago Florida estate last Friday.

It is not unprecedented for athletes to decline a White House invitation. Tom Brady after New England’s 2015 Super Bowl victory did not attend the Obama White House invitation—without publicly giving a reason why. Moreover, Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan have all experienced an occasional athlete declining a similar invitation.

What distinguishes these New England Patriots players, however, is that most of them have publicly expressed their strong political opposition to Trump as their reason for declining an invitation that is expected, but has not yet even been formally extended.

Bennett’s feelings were so strong that in the week leading up to the Super Bowl he announced that if New England won he would not be going to the White House. His views as well as those of many of his teammates are yet another illustration of the high degree of political tension, polarization, and unease that permeates society in the wake of the 2016 presidential race and the reactionary policies being pursued by the Trump administration.

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Thank You for Supporting Michael Bennett


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Dear Chris,

"Like 1968 Olympian John Carlos always says, 'There is no partial commitment to justice. You are either in or you're out.' Well, I'm in."

This is how NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Winner Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks ended his post (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Q5mkPWSegvgmAdETXSNhR091S%2B0ph83d) on Friday explaining why he will no longer be going on a propaganda trip to Israel.

There have been more than two dozen media hits since then about Bennett's brave decision, including AP (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=FABmSJAK2RIIqqBlkM0lfE91S%2B0ph83d), CNN (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=uN4Pdgn%2FYc%2BlFURj3DeMXU91S%2B0ph83d), AJ+ (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=7UAv0xn7WnkELPnNznlAsE91S%2B0ph83d), ESPN (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=6d3LITzSDBnbx88MbL3VOU91S%2B0ph83d), Fox Sports (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=UqJHW0NuLmdoCpDlA9eRFk91S%2B0ph83d), The Nation (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=7GniZyDdWnVEErKE86%2B7cE91S%2B0ph83d), The Guardian (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=bZqlLvCSmQxdLg7607blAE91S%2B0ph83d), Bleacher Report (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=KWi%2FHUP%2BeSoIY3%2F%2BaUOHaU91S%2B0ph83d), Deadspin (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ocPu4pU8uAWs599rpE1Hok91S%2B0ph83d), and USA Today (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=G%2FwZ1LDIhIsug96myHSn2U91S%2B0ph83d).

Last week the US Campaign initiated an open letter (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=zBokMkrHor%2FgwlmKxOl%2BzEsNMdKs3bQN) urging NFL players reported to have been going on a trip to Israel as part of an effort to get them to “become ambassadors of goodwill for Israel” to reconsider. The letter was signed by Palestinian groups, renowned figures including Angela Davis, Alice Walker, Harry Belafonte, and Danny Glover, as well as athlete-activists such as John Carlos, Craig Hodges, and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

Within hours, Bennett announced he was no longer going to Israel. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mOK7QkKbw7WbUw8jbaMmVk91S%2B0ph83d) and Denver Broncos running back Justin Forsett (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=rnH2%2BIuTbnb%2FOEkcCgg%2Bnk91S%2B0ph83d), two other players who were slated to go, shared Bennett's letter about cancelling and indicated they too will no longer be going.

Thank you for adding your name to the petition recognizing what an admirable and inspiring decision this is. We know Bennett will be facing backlash for choosing to so strongly support Palestinians and we need to send a clear message that those of us working for freedom, justice, and equality truly appreciate his stance and to encourage others to use their celebrity platforms to advocate for Palestinian rights.

Will you now help is get more signatures on the petition by sharing it with your friends? The link is uscpr.org/bennettsaysno. You can also post about it on Facebook (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ptHuKv9ZRLFQbkAfCjVjpU91S%2B0ph83d) and retweet on Twitter (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=DRPRYxM7NkxidCdym5VJZk91S%2B0ph83d)!

Thank you for taking action.




RAMAH KUDAIMI

Director of Grassroots Organizing





PS: Consider making a donation (http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=QNl3yI0XHujat9LrI3voxk91S%2B0ph83d) today to help us continue getting more campaign wins like this.

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Washington, DC 20009
(703) 312-6360

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