Subject: Urgent: Free L.A. Activist Without Deportation
Free Garrick Ruiz Without Deportation!
Los Angeles Area Contact: Matt Horton (323) 341-6716
Note: *International Press Release Follows Local Press Release*
At 8am today (Palestinian time), Los Angeles native Garrick Ruiz was arrested along with 45 human rights activists who were trying to stop Israel's "Apartheid Wall" in the Ma'sha area near the Palestinian City of Qalqiliyah (Kal-Key-Lee-Ah).
Within 5 minutes of arriving at the Peace Camp in Ma'sha, Garrick was grabbed by three soldiers while another kicked him is his ribs. At 10am, the activists (Palestinian, Israeli and International), were taken to the Ariel Settlement Prison, where they are currently being held.
Garrick has since been able to see an army doctor, but has not recieved medical care for his possible broken ribs.
The activists are currently undergoing individual hearings by an officer from the israeli ministry of affairs who has the power to order deportations. The activists are not permitted contact or the presence of lawyers in these hearings.
The mass detention of the 45 activists follows another incident in which a peace camp blocking the wall was attacked by the Israeli army and many activists were shot with rubber coated steel bullets and one American activist was grazed by a live round.
ACTION ALERT:
Please flood the Ministry of Interior with phone calls asking that ALL the detainees be released. Let them know that you are watching and protest the Israeli government’s attempts to deport peace activists witnessing and trying to prevent abuses against Palestinian human rights.
You can phone the Ministry of Interior at:
011 972 2 670 1648
You can also flood Ariel prison with calls demanding the immediate release of all detainees. The best numbers to call are the officers but if they are unreachable, please call the General Info line.
Ariel Prison General Info:
011 972 3 906 5444
Ariel Chief of Police
011 972 3 906 5416
Prison Officer Haim Fadlan:
011 972 3 906 5406
For more information on the "Apartheid Wall", visit
http://www.pengon.org/ To schedule speaking appearances for Garrick in the Southern California area, please call (323) 341-6716 or write to
lasolidarity@yahoo.com For an archive of all of Garrick's updates go to www.straybulletins.com/palestine.