According to Amnesty International, "for decades, Israel has pursued a policy of forced eviction and demolition of homes of Palestinians living under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip … often the only warning is the rumbling of the Israeli army's bulldozers and tanks, and the inhabitants barely have time to flee as the bulldozers begin to tear down the walls of their homes." In 2003, 23-year-old American Rachel Corrie, a nonviolent protestor from Olympia, Wash., stood tall outside of one such Palestinian home against an approaching Israeli army bulldozer. The home would stand longer than Rachel, who was crushed by the vehicle and died shortly after. Her cousin, Dr. Beth Corrie, is an activist and educator at the Lovett School in Atlanta, and is currently developing educational materials to help young people understand the Israel/Palestine conflict. Eckerd College welcomes Dr. Corrie for a special presentation, "Washing Dishes and Other Revolutionary Tactics: What It Takes to Change the World." Tues., Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m., Wireman Chapel-Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, free admission, eckerd.edu.
This article appears in Sep 26 – Oct 2, 2007.