Alaskans for Palestine

Alison Weir’s speaking tour of Alaska was truly a success, with thanks to the many of you who came out to hear her presentations.  She spoke in Fairbanks, for the World Affairs Council at UAF and for the Alaska Peace Center – in Homer at the Library and at the Homer Foundation – to classes at UAA and three high schools in Anchorage – for the World Affairs Council in Juneau – and at the Bartlett Political Forum, the Alaska World Affairs Council, and at the Loussac Library in Anchorage.  She also was interviewed on the Shannyn Moore Show, and reappeared on Eddie Burke.  At the Bartlett Club the attendance went beyond the fire code, and at the Alaska World Affairs Council it was standing room only even after the move to a larger room.  The podcast of her presentation at the AWAC is at:

http://kska.org/index.php?s=Weir

In all the venues, it was clear that Alaskans like many other Americans have a true hunger for the real information about Palestine, what has been and is taking place there, and our own role in it as U.S. taxpayers…and even more so since the most recent siege of Gaza.   A bit of opposition served only to heighten the interest, and many diverse people attended.  Someone who heard her speak in Juneau wrote:

Alison’s talk tonight was exceptional. It was a good turnout for a Juneau WAC event and it included some of her target audience, people who know little of the situation. Afterwards she joined several of us for dinner and talked some more.  I honestly enjoyed her style.  She was not at all combative, mixed in her own truth about learning late in life about the truth, and stayed with reporter-like research for the most part. And still, a quiet passion could be heard in her speech and seen in her eyes, even from nearer the back of the room. I can imagine many people really listening to her just because she makes it easy even for a tragic subject.

It was Alaskans for Palestine who sponsored and coordinated this statewide tour, working with other groups who wished to hold an event(s) with her, and our name has become much better known as a result of this visit and its success.  While we have been recovering a bit from all that effort and activity, the absolutely tireless Alison has been in Michigan giving a dozen presentations to groups in Central Michigan and Detroit… but says she has a special place now for Alaska.   Our thanks to everyone who helped in any way with her visit, and for your generosity.  We plan a follow-up meeting soon, and for those on our mailing list not able to come, a chance to respond by e-mail about what we can do next as a group.