Writing from the back of the Wheels of Justice bus. The Sabeel conference finished a couple hours ago. My wheels friends went out to dinner and Charlie and I shared a sandwich I had saved from from lunch and then went for a long walk.

The conference had excellent speakers–Phyllis Bennis, Mark Ellis, Jeff Halper, Michael Tarrazi. My workshop was during the final session which worked well. Most of the people who came had had enough analysis and were ready for art and storytelling.

A highlight for me was sitting and talking with Cindy Corrie. Cindy is the mother of Rachel Corrie who was killed in Gaza in 2003, trying to prevent the demolition of the home of a Palestinian family. I met Craig and Cindy Corrie at the Atlanta Sabeel conference last February. Since Rachel’s death they have been tirelessly asking our government for a US-led investigation into her killing. And in March they initiated a lawsuit against the Israel Defence Force and the government of Israel, to seek justice for Rachel and also information. (Unfortunately, the Israeli parliament, counter to international law, has passed retroactive legislation making it impossible for most Palestinians and others to file suit against the IDF for injury that occurred in the occupied territories after September 2000.)

The Corries breathed life into a conference that was heavy on analysis. During lunch Cindy played a video of a press conference Rachel took part in two days before her death, then read some of Rachel’s correspondences from Gaza.

To read a recent article by the Corrie’s go to www.counterpunch.com/corrie10102005.html

With Craig and Cindy Corrie at Sabeel Conference