Jewish Voice for Peace – Madison, May 15, 2008
JVP’s Madison Chapter held a very successful “No Time to Celebrate” demonstration in partnership with several other area groups on May 8 on the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s Library Mall.
The demonstration was a counter to an Israeli Independence Day birthday celebration put on by Hillel students also being held on the Library Mall. Their event featured birthday cake, free food, and a “moon bounce.” We actually outnumbered them during a three-hour time frame. We had from 45-50 people on our side with a very visually impactful presence including black balloons, a “puppet” figure dressed as a Palestinian refugee, Palestinian flags, banners, and signs. We also passed out a lot of leaflets putting the Israeli celebration in perspective and listing the 418 Palestinian Communities Destroyed in Al-Nakba. Our chapter reprinted the UK statement to pass out with our contact info.