Toronto Declaration: No Celebration of Occupation

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Thank you for your support!

Quick link to the Toronto Declaration

Support for the ‘Toronto Declaration – No Celebration of Occupation’ has been tremendous. We sincerely thank every individual and organization that has joined in our efforts. We also wanted to share some important updates with you regarding the Toronto Declaration:

Although TIFF co-director Cameron Bailey vehemently denied any links between the spotlight and Brand Israel, the Canadian Jewish News reported today (Sept 16/09) that the Mayor of Tel Aviv confirmed the involvement of the Israeli government in TIFF’s City-to-City Spotlight. According to the report, Mayor Ron Huldai “said that while the City to City program was initiated by the festival, the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs was involved as part of its Brand Israel media and advertising campaign, which was launched last year.” We are glad to see that the connections between the Spotlight and the Brand Israel campaign have been clarified; we had hoped these answers would come from TIFF directly.

A reminder: we are protesting because we could not stand idly by as Tel Aviv, the heart of Israel’s economic and military power, was being celebrated as if this was an apolitical decision. Palestinians in Gaza continue to live under a brutal Israeli siege that has turned Gaza into what countless observers have described as an open-air prison, with access even to food and medicine greatly restricted. We protested the spotlight to call attention to a humanitarian emergency and an ongoing crime. The UN fact finding mission on the Gaza conflict led by the renowned South African constitutional court judge Richard Goldstone has just concluded that Israel indeed committed war crimes in Gaza earlier this year, and further that there is evidence that Israel may have committed crimes against humanity. This was why we said "no celebration of Occupation," facts deliberately ignored in most press reports.

As you have no doubt heard, our petition is being falsely accused of "blacklisting" Israeli filmmakers. Anyone who had read the letter knows this is untrue. The irony is that we couldn't find a single newspaper to publish our letter, despite the fact that it is now an international phenomenon. And unlike our critics, we don't have the resources to buy advertisements that reiterate the editorial line that the newspaper has already taken. And yet, despite the bullying we are all facing, we have to remember that this is only a sideshow. Many Palestinian artists and filmmakers, denied freedom of movement by Israel's Occupation and pass system, are de facto boycotted, unable to communicate with their communities or travel freely. The double standard is mind-boggling and, slowly, these are the issues we are helping to put under a spotlight.

The stated goal of the Brand Israel campaign is to change the subject from these kinds of human rights abuses to more pleasant topics like art and medicine. Thanks to your work and support, in the case of the Toronto International Film Festival, the strategy has failed miserably. The JTA, the leading Jewish news agency, just reported that, "rather than talking about Israel's rich cinematic culture, the buzz this week in Toronto has centered on the one thing Israeli officials had sought to avoid: the conflict with the Palestinians." We firmly believe that is exactly where it belongs.

Because of your courage in speaking out early, you are now inspiring others to raise their voices as well. Yesterday, the respected U.S.-based non-profit Jewish Voices for Peace launched a petition in support of the signatories of the Toronto Declaration. The petition states: "I stand with you against the bullying attacks which are attempting to silence discussion and dissent regarding Israel. Thank you for your courageous stand. You speak for me." In less than 24 hours, roughly 7,000 people have added their names. Check out the petition here and encourage your friends to sign. http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/301/t/9047/p/dia/action/public/?action_key=1433 We’re sure you will join us in thanking those signers as well.

So this is just an update to let you know that, despite all the overheated language and misinformation, our message is getting out and we are opening up the debate that should have happened at TIFF. We have managed to turn the Spotlight on the festival and asked it to take responsibility for the political choice it made to celebrate Tel Aviv and make TIFF this year, the year of the Gaza assault, a showpiece for the Brand Israel propaganda campaign.

Defamation, intimidation, and diversion won't stop us from protesting crimes that no amount of rebranding can erase. Please take the time to fight back agaist the misinformation: write letters, post comments, write op-ed and link to the original letter as much as you can, so people can judge for themselves.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

The Toronto Declaration: No Celebration of Occupation

An Open Letter to the Toronto International Film Festival:

September 2, 2009

As members of the Canadian and international film, culture and media arts communities, we are deeply disturbed by the Toronto International Film Festival’s decision to host a celebratory spotlight on Tel Aviv. We protest that TIFF, whether intentionally or not, has become complicit in the Israeli propaganda machine.

In 2008, the Israeli government and Canadian partners Sidney Greenberg of Astral Media, David Asper of Canwest Global Communications and Joel Reitman of MIJO Corporation launched “Brand Israel,” a million dollar media and advertising campaign aimed at changing Canadian perceptions of Israel. Brand Israel would take the focus off Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and its aggressive wars, and refocus it on achievements in medicine, science and culture. An article in Canadian Jewish News quotes Israeli consul general Amir Gissin as saying that Toronto would be the test city for a promotion that could then be deployed around the world. According to Gissin, the culmination of the campaign would be a major Israeli presence at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. (Andy Levy-Alzenkopf, “Brand Israel set to launch in GTA,” Canadian Jewish News, August 28, 2008.)

In 2009, TIFF announced that it would inaugurate its new City to City program with a focus on Tel Aviv. According to program notes by Festival co-director and City to City programmer Cameron Bailey, “The ten films in this year’s City to City programme will showcase the complex currents running through today’s Tel Aviv. Celebrating its 100th birthday in 2009, Tel Aviv is a young, dynamic city that, like Toronto, celebrates its diversity.”

The emphasis on 'diversity' in City to City is empty given the absence of Palestinian filmmakers in the program. Furthermore, what this description does not say is that Tel Aviv is built on destroyed Palestinian villages, and that the city of Jaffa, Palestine’s main cultural hub until 1948, was annexed to Tel Aviv after the mass exiling of the Palestinian population. This program ignores the suffering of thousands of former residents and descendants of the Tel Aviv/Jaffa area who currently live in refugee camps in the Occupied Territories or who have been dispersed to other countries, including Canada. Looking at modern, sophisticated Tel Aviv without also considering the city’s past and the realities of Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza strip, would be like rhapsodizing about the beauty and elegant lifestyles in white-only Cape Town or Johannesburg during apartheid without acknowledging the corresponding black townships of Khayelitsha and Soweto.

We do not protest the individual Israeli filmmakers included in City to City, nor do we in any way suggest that Israeli films should be unwelcome at TIFF. However, especially in the wake of this year’s brutal assault on Gaza, we object to the use of such an important international festival in staging a propaganda campaign on behalf of what South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and UN General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann have all characterized as an apartheid regime.

This letter was drafted by the following ad hoc committee:

Udi Aloni, filmmaker, Israel; Elle Flanders, filmmaker, Canada; Richard Fung, video artist, Canada; John Greyson, filmmaker, Canada; Naomi Klein, writer and filmmaker, Canada; Kathy Wazana, filmmaker, Canada; Cynthia Wright, writer and academic, Canada; b h Yael, film and video artist, Canada

Endorsed By:

Ahmad Abdalla, Filmmaker, Egypt
Hany Abu-Assad, Filmmaker, Palestine
Mark Achbar, Filmmaker, Canada
Zackie Achmat, AIDS activist, South Africa
Ra'anan Alexandrowicz, Filmmaker, Jerusalem
Anthony Arnove, Publisher and Producer, USA
Ruba Atiyeh, Documentary Director, Lebanon
Joslyn Barnes, Writer and Producer, USA
Harry Belafonte, Musician/Actor, USA
John Berger, Author, France
Walter Bernstein, Screenwriter/Film Producer, USA
Dionne Brand, Poet/Writer, Canada
Daniel Boyarin, Professor, USA
Judith Butler, Professor, USA
David Byrne, Musician, USA
Noam Chomsky, Professor, USA
Julie Christie, Actor, USA
Nandita Das, Actor/Filmmaker, India
Guy Davidi Director, Israel
Na-iem Dollie, Journalist/Writer, South Africa
Igor Drljaca, Filmmaker, Canada
Eve Ensler, Playwright, Author, USA
Eyal Eithcowich, Director, Israel
Lynne Fernie, Filmmaker and Programmer, Canada
Sophie Fiennes, Filmmaker, UK
Peter Fitting, Professor, Canada
Jane Fonda, Actor and Author, USA
Danny Glover, Filmmaker and Actor, USA
Noam Gonick, Director, Canada
Malcolm Guy, Filmmaker, Canada
Rawi Hage, Writer, Canada
Anne Henderson, Filmmaker, Canada
Mike Hoolboom, Filmmaker, Canada
Annemarie Jacir, Filmmaker, Palestine
Gordon Jackson, Jazz Musician, South Africa
Fredric Jameson, Literary Critic, USA
Nadia Kamel, Filmmaker, Egypt
Juliano Mer Khamis, Filmmaker, Jenin/Haifa
Bonnie Sherr Klein Filmmaker, Canada
Joy Kogawa, Writer, Canada
Paul Laverty, Producer, UK
Min Sook Lee, Filmmaker, Canada
Paul Lee, Filmmaker, Canada
Yael Lerer, publisher, Tel Aviv
Mark Levine, Professor, USA
Jack Lewis, Filmmaker, South Africa
Ken Loach, Filmmaker, UK
Arab Lotfi, Filmmaker, Egypt/Lebanon
Kyo Maclear, Author, Toronto
Guy Maddin, Screenwriter/Director, Canada
Mahmood Mamdani, Professor, USA
Fatima Mawas, Filmmaker, Australia
Anne McClintock, Professor, USA
Tessa McWatt, Author, Canada and UK
Viggo Mortensen, Actor, USA
Cornelius Moore, Film Distributor, USA
Yousry Nasrallah, Director, Egypt
Joan Nestle, Writer, USA
Rebecca O'Brien, Producer, UK
Pratibha Parmar, Producer/Director, UK
Anand Patwardhan, Documentary Film Maker, India
Jeremy Pikser, Screenwriter, USA
John Pilger, Filmmaker, UK
Shai Carmeli Pollak, Filmmaker, Israel
Ian Iqbal Rashid, Filmmaker, Canada
Judy Rebick, Professor, Canada
David Reeb, Artist, Tel Aviv
B. Ruby Rich, Critic and Professor, USA
Wallace Shawn, Playwright, Actor, USA
Eyal Sivan, Filmmaker and Scholar, Paris/London/Sderot
Elia Suleiman, Fimmlaker, Nazareth/Paris/New York
Eran Torbiner, Filmmaker, Israel
Alice Walker, Writer, USA
Thomas Waugh, Professor, Canada
Christian Wiener Freso, President – Union of Peruvian Filmmakers, Peru
Debra Zimmerman, Executive Director Women Make Movies, USA
Howard Zinn, Writer, USA
Slavoj Zizek, Professor, Slovenia

Signatories A-E

PeterA. SchnappManagementUSA
NuzhatAbbasWriterCanada
LamiaAbbasJordan
FadiaAbboudFilm Festival DirectorAustralia
FuadAbboudLawyer (Rd)/ PlaywrightCanada
MuhanedAbdElhamidPalestine
ReemAbd ElhamidPalestine
QaisAbd ElkarimPalestine
AhmadAbdallaFilmmakerEgypt
MajdAbdel HamidArtistPalestine
ArabAbdel-HadiPalestine/Egypt
MalakAbdel-HadiPalestine/Jordan
MonicaAbdelkaderCanada
FadiAbdelnourGraphic ArtistPalestine/Berlin
AshrafAbdel-QaderStudent
GamalAbdel-ShehidProfessorCanada
NahlaAbdoProfessorCanada
HodaAbdul FattahAustralia
ReemAbdul QadirSocial WorkerCanada
GhassanAbdullaPalestine
WasimAbdullahPalestine
Mohammed AbedProfessorUSA
NoaAbendTeacherIsrael
WalidAbid ElsalamMusicianPalestine
MohsinAboobakerUK
Bassel Abou JamraGermany
PaulaAbrams-HouraniAustria
AmaniAbu Al SameedJordan
AdnanAbu AlashPalestine
MiasarAbu AliPalestine
RasmiAbu AliPalestine
UsamaAbu AliPalestine
DarwishAbu El RishFilmmakerPalestine
MahmoudAbu ElhiaaPoetPalestine
MousaAbu GharbiehPalestine
Ala'Abu GhoushFilmmakerPalestine
HishamAbu GhoushPalestine
HakeemAbu JaleelaFilmmakerItaly
FadiAbu SadaPalestine
BasharAbu SaifanProducerLebanon
SuhailAbualsameedCanada/Jordan
HanyAbu-AssadFilmmakerPalestine
RashidAbu-GhazalahResearch FellowCanada
AmanyAbu-HammadProject ManagerCanada
MahmoudAbuHashahsPalestine
MarkAchbarFilmmakerCanada
ZackieAchmatAIDS activistSouth Africa
SergeAdamProfesseur (Rt)Canada
Mary-LouiseAdamsProfessorCanada
FranciscoAdrianzenFilmmaker/ProfessorPeru
Inés MariaAgresott GonzalezDirector – Cuzco International Short Film FestivalPeru
Muhammad IdressAhmadWriter/JournalistScotland
MaraAhmedFilmmaker/ArtistUSA
SameetaAhmedArchitect/Assistant ProfessorPakistan
Amany Ahmed HosneyEgypt
NoraAkawiPalestine
DarinaAl JoundiWriter/ActressFrance
Nehalal TarhuniDentistCanada
IssamAl yamaniWriterPalestine/Canada
HalaAlabdallaRéalisatriceSyria
TamamAl-AkhalArtistPalestine
MohamedAlAsmarPalestine
FathiAlbisPalestine
GregAlboProfessorCanada
AmmielAlcalayWriterUSA
HaroldAldenCanada
DawudAl-EisawiProfessorJordan
ConradAlexandrowiczDirector/WriterCanada
Ra'ananAlexandrowiczFilmmakerJerusalem
Muhammad AliAl-HashimiStudent PhdUK/USA
SaiqaAliCharity WorkerUK
Noaman AliCanada
RadfanAli HindadArtist/FilmmakerUSA
SeyyedAli MirzadehClinical PsychologistUSA
Yazan AlKhaliliPalestine
JocelyneAllenTranslatorCanada
ZainAlmasriStudentJordan
HugoAlmeidaPortugal
ManalAl-QasemProfessorUSA
OsamaAl-QasemUSA
BasmaAlsharifArtistPalestine
GalitAltshulerGermany
GloriaAlvernaz MulcahyFilmmaker/ProfessorCanada
AzmatAlviCanada
D. AlwanPalestine/USA
BasilAlzeriArtistPalestine
Mo'min
AlzyoudPalestine
ZainabAmadahyCommunity WorkerCanada
AhmedAmeerFilmmakerEgypt
MeravAmirAcademic and ActivistIsrael
HanaAmouryIsrael
ZiadAmraUSA
ReemAnaniUSA
AndreasAnderssonSweden
SaedAndoniProducerPalestine
RaedAndoniFilmmaker Ramallah/Paris
FrancescaAntinucciDesignerItaly
RachadAntoniusProfessorCanada
enzoapicelladesignerUK
LauraArauCinematographerSpain
AlbertoArce SuarezFilmmakerSpain
DavidArchibaldFilm AcademicUK
AnthonyArnovePublisher and ProducerUSA
ShahrzadArshadiPhotographer/FilmmakerCanada

Shahrzad
ArshadiCanada
ShroukAsaadjournalistPalestine
ChristopherAssadCAPCACanada
NajlaAtamnahMusic TherapistPalestine
MahaAtianiPalestine
RubaAtiyehDocumentary DirectorLebanon
MamounAttiliHuman Rights and Good Governance Outreach Specialist Palestine
SuhaAudiSmall Business OwnerUSA
MimiAvishaiIsrael
NitzanAvivIsrael
ShazaAwadaLebanon
NahedAwwad
NeddalAyadWriterCanada
WallyAyadAustralia
DimaAyoubCanada
RaneemAzzamTeacherCanada
GrietjeBaarsNetherlands
FeyziBabanProfessorCanada
SusanBabbittProfessorOntario
LianaBadirFilmmakerPalestine
LialiBadirPalestine
WilliamBadovinacArtistCanada
RollaBahsousTeaching AssistantCanada
NaimBaidounPalestine
BeverlyBainProfessorCanada
Rebecca BainMusicianCanada
SepidehBakhtshirinUSA
IsamBakirPalestine
Viviane Baladi
France
IndiraBalkissoonWriterCanada
DianeBallantyneCanada
NicoleBallivianFilmmakerUSA
EIngunaBalodeSocial WorkerLatvia
CharlotteBankFilm Video CuratorGermany/Syria
CharlotteBankGermany/Syria
KaushalyaBannerjiPoet and translatorCanada
Himani BannerjiWriter, ProfessorCanada
HalaBarakatPalestine
YahiaBarakat,filmmakerPalestine
Frank Barat
UK
DianeBardierSecretaryCanada
StefaniBardinMedia MakerUSA
EllenBarfieldUSA
RonnieBarkanIsrael
DavidBarkhamArtist/Production DesignerCanada
IanBarnardProfessorUSA
JoslynBarnesWriter and ProducerUSA
RamzyBaroudAuthor/JournalistPalestine/USA
PepeBarraganArtistSpain
SamBarryAccountantCanada
GwenBartlemanArtist/Arts WorkerCanada
JimBartleyWriterCanada
ElenaBasileProfessorCanada
JudithBatesCanada
FionaBatesonWeb DesignerCanada
HusseinBayoumyfilm criticEgypt
BeckyBeasleyVisual ArtistBelgium
RogerBeckProfessor Emeritus/WriterCanada
JulieBeddoesProfessorCanada
JoelBeininProfessorUSA
HarryBelafonteMusician/ActorUSA
SaïdBellariNetherlands
JessicaBelleUSA
GabyBelzSwitzerland
HishamBen KhamsaProducer and Film Festival directorTunisia
RonnenBen-ArieIsrael
AbdulhakimBenayouneStudentCanada
AichaBenayouneSocial WorkerCanada
MohammedBenbrahimCanada
NormanBenbrahimCanada
SaraBenbrahimCanada
KhalilBendibUSA
DevBenegalWriter/DirectorIndia
JesseBenjaminProfessorUSA
KhalilBenkiraneFilmmakerMorroco?Quatar
JohnBergerAuthorFrance
RachelBergerProfessorCanada
GretaBerlinFree Gaza MovementFrance
GretaBerlin
MarkBermanwriterUSA
MartinBernalProfessorUK/USA
DavidBernansAuthorCanada
KarlBeveridgeVisual ArtistCanada
DavinaBhandarProfessorCanada
AmielBibliowicz
RobertBideauTeacherCanada
AndrewBigioniStudentCanada
Anat BiletzkiProfessorIsrael
ÜstünBilgen-ReinartWriterTurkey/Canada
NaomiBiner WallwriterCanada
PatBirdRetiredCanada
LeahBirnbaumCanada
RanaBisharaArtistPalestine
RozeenBisharatFilmmakerPalestine
Francioli BittnerUSA
LeonardBjorkmanUSA
JamesBlackmusicianUnited States
SimonBlackWriterCanada
BonnieBlackCanada
DerekBlackadderCanada
AdrianBlackwellArtist/UrbanistCanada
LukasBlakkFilmmakerCanada
Jeffrey BlankfortRadio hostUSA
PeterBlendellCanada
AnitaBlockSocial Worker/ActivistCanada
NikoBlock
MarusyaBociurkiwArtist/ProfessorCanada
GoranBockmanUK
GuyBollagSwitzerland
KeithBoothCanada
HagitBorerProfessorUSA
RichardBorshay LeeAntropologistCanada
RosaBoschProducerUK
Hans Bosscherproducer/directorNetherlands
SherylBoswellCanada
KamalBoullataVisual ArtistFrance
bobbowesusa
GeoffBowieFilmmakerCanada
DanielBoyarinProfessorUSA
SarainBoylanActorCanada
John BoylanActor, teacherCanada
SarahBrackeProfessor and FilmmakerBelgium
DionneBrandPoet/WriterCanada
HannaBraunUK
Erin Breault
USA
jamesbrennanCitizenUK
KevinBrezinaMusicianCanada
P.C.BrickellVisual ArtistCanada
EnriqueBriebapoetCanada/Chile
MordecaiBriembergRadio BroadcasterCanada
Mark RobertBrillAnti-Poverty ActivistCanada
LindaBriskinProfessorCanada
ChristineBroCanada
DavidBrooksCanada
ReneBroussardVideo Artist/Film ProgrammerUSA
ChrisBrownMusicianWolfe Island
JeffreyBrownProfessorCanada
Dan BrowneFilmmakerCanada
Paolo FrancescoBrunelloItaly
BennyBrunnerFilmmakerNetherlands/Israel
MortonBrusselProfessor of physics emeritusUSA
DanaBseisoPublicistUSA
FayekBseisoStudentUSA
NimraBuchaActorPakistan
ChrisBuchnerProfessorCanada
RobertaBuianiTeacherItaly
KenBurchUSA
MichaelBurgActorUSA
Margaret BurgessCanada
MikeBurkeProfessorCanada
JennyBurmanProfessorCanada
Tam DeanBurnDirectorCanada
RainBurroughsUSA
LeroyBurtScreenwriterUSA
HikmatBushnaq-JostingGermany
DonBustanyUSA
AntoineBustrosFilm ComposerCanada
JudithButlerProfessorUSA
NinaButskaWriter/EducatorCanada
DianaButtuLawyerCanada/Palestine
DavidBuwaldaConsultantCanada
DavidByrneMusicianUSA
UmayyahCablePhotographerUSA
EdithCacciatoreUSA
WendyCampbellProducerUSA
Paola CanaruttoItaly
CaitrionaCantillonFilmmakerCanada
AntonioCaraccioloProfessorItaly
BonitaCaraccioloPlant FarmerUSA
AnnaCarastathisProfessorCanada/USA
SheryleCarlsonFilmmakerCanada
PatCarmeliUSA
ShaiCarmeli PollakFilmmakerIsrael
SmadarCarmonIsrael/Canada
Dr. Nancy Caro HollanderUSA
RobertCarrJamaica
CourtneyCarterUSA
RhondaCaseUSA
SheliaCassidyUSA
CristinaCastelloPoète et journalisteBrazil/France
SheilaCavanaghProfessorCanada
RonCavenVisual artist, documentary film maker and social activistCanada
CarmenCelestiniProducerCanada
BobanChaldovichFilmmakerCanada
Karen B. K. ChanCanada
JananChandlerTeacherCanada
HannesCharenwriterUSA
HarpreetChatthaStudent, GradCanada
AbirChattopadhyayIndia
SamerChayaStudentCanada
ShebaChhachhiArtist/PhotographerIndia
AlineChirinianLebanon
MichelleChoCanada
CynthiaChoucairDirector/ProducerLebanon
Julie ChristieActorUK
AlanClarkWriterUK
IsabelleCloutierWriter/Poet/ResearcherCanada
WendyCoburnArtist and ProfessorCanada
MikeCoganFinancial Analyst Canada
LynneCohenArtistCanada
Yulie CohenFilmmakerIsrael
MatanCohenIsrael
AlanCollinsProducerCanada
AnnColoneseUSA
CarolynCombsFilmmakerCanada
JoyceConatyCanada
CaroleCondéVisual ArtistCanada
StephenConnollyfilmmakerUK
KevinConorTaxi driverScotland
JoieCookPoet
AnaCopphotographerCanada
TrevorCoppActorCanada
EdwardCorriganCanada
Gale Courey ToensingjournalistUSA
Sylla CousineauProfessor Hong Kong/Canada
Deborah CowenProfessorCanada
SusanCreanWriterCanada
FerneCristallCanada
KimCrosbyCanada
GaryCrowdusEditor-in-Chief, Cineaste MagazineUSA
JamesCullinghamFilmmakerCanada
JordyCummingsWriter/AcademicCanada
PatrickCumminsCanada
NedCurthoysResearch FellowAustralia
MikeCushmanUK
HamidDabashiProfessorUSA
CherineDabisFilmmakerUSA/Palestine
FatenDabisU.S.A.
Adi DaganIsrael
YousefDaibesCanada
VictoriaDaibesCanada
HumaDarCanada
SalleDareRetiredUK
GuyDavidiDirectorIsrael
HowardDavidsonProfessorCanada
BillDavidsonArtistCanada
AdamDavidson-HardenPostdoctoral Fellow/Singer-SongwriterCanada
AdamDavidson-HardenSinger/Song Writer/PhDCanada
EliasDavidssonComposerGermany
ElisaDavincaAustria
Mary EllenDavisFilmmaker and ProfessorCanada
UriDavisWriterPalestine
HeatherDavisWriterCanada
AllanDavisonProfessorCanada/South Africa
ColinDayanProfessorUSA
LiviaDaza-ParisVenezuela-Canada
EmilyDe FerrariUSA
Mercedesde la GalaArtistSpain
HermanDe LeyBelgium
Hierryde RavelProduction ManagerMauritius
Jaapde Vreugdpastor
Helende WittFestival Producer/LecturerUK
NicolaDebboCanada
TerriDeBonoFilmmakerUSA
RandiDeguilhemProfessorFrance
ConsueloDelgadoEditorSpain
DavidDemchukwriterCanada
Trudeden BurgerCanada
Zivia Desai KeiperFilm Festival Co-Director/ProducerSouth Africa [Cape Town]
KarenDeslierresUSA
JanetDesrohesWriter/AdministratorCanada
JimDeutschProfessor/PhysicianCanada
JudithDeutschCanada
Mary Ann DeVliegDirector of an international arts associationItaly
Marcello Di CintioWriterCanada
MichelDi PollicinoFilmmakerUSA
MikeDibbFilm-maker UK
VictorDiCarloCanada
BillDienstUSA
EmilyDische-BeckerWriterLebanon/USA
SuDittaCurator/Arts ConsultantCanada
JeffDixonwriterUSA
MurrayDobbinWriter/BroadcasterCanada
JessDobkinArtistCanada
KatherineDoddsFilm PromoterCanada
BajisDodinProfessorUSA
Na-iemDollieJournalist/WriterSouth Africa
BrianDonnellyProfessorCanada
MarkDowdyProfessorUSA
IgorDrljacaFilmmakerCanada
AlizaDrorSocial WorkerIsrael
BrettDruggeTeacherUSA
OmisooreDrydenScholar/ActivistCanada
Nancydu PlessisFilmmaker/Solo PerformerUSA
GhadaDuaibesJournalistPalestine
MohamedDuarArab Film FestivalAustralia
SiphiweDubeProfessorCanada
MartinDuckworthfilm-makerCanada
MartinDufresneScreenwriter/TranslatorCanada
SandraDughman ManzurChile
SineadDunphyIreland
Svetlana DurkovicSarajevo,
ClaireEganArtistCanada
KateEichhornWriter/ProfessorUSA
KateEichhornUSA
EwaldEichlerScientistAustria
Leuan Goch abEinionCompositeurFrance
ShiriEisnerIsrael
EyalEithcowichDirectorIsrael
IvarEkelandProfessorCanada
MyriamEl HajjFilmmakerLebannon
ChristoEl MorrProfessorCanada
EhabEl TorkyJournalistEgypt
IntisarEl WazirPalestine
MuhibElBarghutiPhotographerPalestine
YousefEldiek,filmmakerPalestine
ItidalAbdElghani,Palestine
TarekElghawabycanada
PeterElginProfessorCanada
HakimEl-HachoumiFilmmakerGermany
AzzaEl-HassanFilmmakerPalestine
AlbertElhianiUSA
SimonElhianiUSA
RaedElhiluFilmmakerPalestine
NoelleEliaArtist/writer
NoelleEliaArtist/WriterCanada
KhaledElianPalestine
OmarEljaladMusicianPalestine
MansourEl-KikhiaProfessorUSA
KimElliottPublisher, rabble.ca
JoyceEllman-McLeanUSA
AkramElMalkiActorPalestine
EmtiazElMughrabiJournalistPalestine
RichardEloferFrance
MajdiEl-OmariFilmmakerCanada
RuthEl-RazIsrael
LauraElrickUSA
SafaaEl-SawyEgypt
YousefElshaibJournalistPalestine
AbdElslam Al AttariPalestine
MahaEltamimiPalestine
Haithem El-ZabriUSA
MorganElzeyActivistUSA
TayseerElzubidiPalestine
IrmgardEmmelhainzMexico/Canada/Ramallah
JamesEnnesUSA
EveEnslerPlaywriight/AuthorUSA
Daniel Epp-TiessenprofessorCanada
HamutalEratoIsrael
EshratErfanianArtistCanada
DavidEvansUSA
Joel M. Evans, M.D.USA
MohamedEzzeddineVisual ArtistCanada

Signatories F-K

ReemFadda Curator Palestine
khadijaFadhelFrance
DionneFalconerCanada
NatherFalehPalestine
JosephFaragUK/Canada
RandaFarah Professor Canada
MunirFarahCanada
LailaFarahCanada
NajiFarahCanada
NadaFarahCanada
MimiFarahCanada
SuraFarajUSA
ImadFarajinActorPalestine
AmberFares Filmmaker Canada
JamesFarisUSA
EmmanuelFarjounProfessorIsrael
NaamaFarjounIsrael
AbouFarmanWriter/ArtistUSA/Canada
NancyFarrellUSA
AnitaFastCanada
KaneezFatimaNews AnchorIran
DavidFaubionPublisherUSA
DrorFeiler Composer/Musician/Artist Sweden
Heba HageFelderDevelopment workerSwitzerland
AndrewFelluss Music Producer USA
AndrewFellussMusic ProducerUSA
ToddFergusonTrade UnionistCanada
Marilyn FernandesGraphic DesignerCanada
SharonFernandez Visual Artist and Writer Canada
LynneFernie Filmmaker and Programmer Canada
CarlosFerrand Filmmaker Canada
Carlos FerrandfilmmakerCanada
JackFertig Writer USA
SophieFiennes Filmmaker UK
DennisFindlayCanada
EricaFischer writer Berlin
DanFischerCanada
Barry FisherEducator (Retired)Canada
DouglasFisherCanada
PeterFitting Professor Canada
JanetFitzGeraldUSA
AndreaFitzpatrickProfessorCanada
BlairFixMusicianCanada
Harriette FleisingCanada
MarnieFleming Curator Canada.
MireyaFolch-Serra Professor Canada
JaneFonda Actor and Author USA
MartinForberg Journalist Germany
Christian ForsbergSenior TV EditorFinland
RobertForsbergUSA
PaulForster professor Canada
HassanFoudaUSA
DennisFoxWriter, Photographer, ProfessorUSA
GraziaFrancioli Bittner
MargotFrancis Professor Canada.
LindaFrankUSA
DavidFrankovichArtistCanada
HelmutFranzGermany
RobFreemanCanada/USA
GavinFridellProfessorCanada
Eugene FriedmanUSA
BenjaminFrymer Professor USA
VanessaFuertesSociologistScotland
SusumuFujitaProfessorJapan
SanciaGaetaniItaly
CélineGagneFrance
RacheliGaiUSA
OscarGaiborEcuador
TagGallagher Film historian USA
BrookeGallagher Theatre Co Manager UK
KathleenGaltSelf Employed - Rental BusinessUSA
PhilipGanchevUSA
Charlene M.GannagéProfessor Canada
MariaGarcia Film critic USA
JustynaGardzinskaPoland
VibhorGargEducatorCanada
AmberGarlanUSA
ZoeGarnettFilmmaker/ActorCanada
RebeccaGarrett video artist Canada
AlissarGazal Filmmaker Australia
JackGegenberg Professor Canada
ElioGelmini Filmmaker Canada
DinaGeorgisProfessor Canada
Dina Georgis, PhDProfessorCanada
WilliamGepfordUSA
John Bart GeraldWriter / PoetCanada
AlfredGerteiny Professor and author USA
HeinzGessProfessorGermany
MahmoudGhandourWriter/PoetLebannon
QaisGhanemPhysician/Poet/ProfCanada
AsimGhaniJournalistPakistan
JessGhannam Professor San Francisco
MaryamGharavi Filmmaker USA
Dr.S.M.Ghazanfar Professor Emeritus USA
RadwanGhazi Moumneh Artist Canada/ Lebanon
JillGillilandChild Care ProviderUSA
JessicaGillis Graphic Designer / Painter Canada
KwoiGinFilmmakerCanada
TerriGinsberg cinema studies professor USA
RachelGiora Professor Israel
CarlaGiovanna RazzanoItaly
MarcoGiovannelli Multimedia Artist Italy
EirinGjorv filmmaker Norway
DannyGlover Filmmaker and Actor USA
IraGlunts
NetaGolan
RonaldGoldPhysician/Professor (Rt)Canada
PennyGoldsmith Publisher Canada
SueGoldstein Artist and activist Canada
NoamGonick Director Canada
CarlosGonzalez-CarrascoUK
SelwynGoottSouth
PatriciaGordonArtistUSA
RachelGorman Artist/Academic Canada
PeterGose Professor
AmyGottliebCanada
SarahGoudaStudentEgypt
RebeccaGranatoPalestine
DatejieGreen Documentarian Canada
RogerGreenProfessor/WriterCanada
David J.GrefrathActivist/GardenerUSA
RichardGrehan director
CeciliaGreyson Writer Canada
Matt GreysonfilmmakerCanada/Berlin
ChrisGreyson-GaitoUK
Jeremy H. GriffithSoftware ArchitectUSA
AndrewGriggsUSA
Silvia Grunervisual artistMexico
DanieleGuevara Designer for Theatre Canada
MichaelGuillen Film Journalist USA
CathyGulkin Filmmmaker Canada
JohnGultigCanada
GeorgesGumpelFrance
DurulGur Filmmaker UK
FredaGuttman Artist Canada
MalcolmGuy Filmmaker Canada
KhadijehHabashenh,Palestine
NadiaHabibCanada
SyedaHabiba MaghrabiUSA
ConnieHackbarth Israel
RaniaHaddad Film Critic Jordan
AbdulHadi Abo-IssaPalestine
JoanaHadjithomasFilmmaker/ArtistLebannon/France
RawiHage Writer/Visual Artist Canada
GhassanHageProfessorAustralia
LarryHaiven Professor Canada
IbrahimHamarsheh,Palestine
SafaHamed Professor USA
AyeshaHameedFilmmaker/WriterCanada
FareedHameedPharma ProfessionalCanada
LilyHamerCanada
SarahHamiltonCanada
SousanHammad Writer Palestine
SherifHamptonSolicitorUK
LeilaHanaineh-Abdelnour Professor Jordan/Palestine
JudithHaney Publisher USA
MichaelHanna-Fein Editor and Publisher Canada
Jens HanssenProfessorCanada
TanweerulHaq Director of Technology USA
FajrHarbPalestine
PamHardymentWriterUK
LaurelHarig Writer New York/ Beirut
MichaelHarrisFrance
AlanHart author uk
NadiaHasanCanada
GitaHashemi New Media Artist and Curator Canada
AnnalieseHaslerArtist/NurseCanada
SophiaHasnainEngineerGermany
FaycalHassairi Producer Tunisia/Switzerland
Yasmine HassanCanada
JamelieHassan Visual ArtistCanada
HebaHassaneinCanada
HishamHassaneinCanada
DinaHassaneinEgypt
OssamaHassaneinUSA
AmirHassanpourAssociate Professor (Retired)Canada
John S.HatchWriter/FilmmakerCanada
SarahHawasEgypt/USA
RyanHayesCanada
David HeapProfessorCanada
MeaganHeathStudentCanada
IrisHefetsIsrael
MaryHeffron Musician USA
GeraldHeidel Musician USA
MayaHelwaniCanada
DorothyHénautFilmmaker/ArtistCanada
AnneHenderson Film director
IdaHendersonSupporterCanada
GordonHendricksonUSA
LynneHenryCanada
LarryHermelingRetiredUSA
Sarah HershbergSinger/SongwriterCanada
AviHershkovitz Filmmaker France/Israel
Annette HerskovitsWriterUSA
ShirHeverIsrael
Rob HeynenProfessorCanada
SulfaHijaziPalestine
AbdullahHijaziPalestine
Saad



HijjawiMiddle
FerasHilalJordan
BrentHildermanCanada
CurtisHinkleUSA
JimHodderStudentCanada
GregHoferCanada
PhilHoffman filmmaker/teacher Canada
MorrisHoffmanRetiredSouth Africa
SoniaHoffmanRetiredSouth Africa
PearlHoffmanUSA
TikvaHonig-ParnassIsrael
MikeHoolboom Filmmaker Canada
SuzanneHooverProfessorUSA
SandraHoyStudentCanada
WafaHozienUSA
PeterHudymanWorker Rep/ParalegalCanada
CynthiaHuertaActor/WriterUSA
MinaHuntRetired/Director of foundationCanada
Adrienne C.HurleyProfessorCanada
Ali AKHuseinMechanical EngineerCanada
HassanHusseiniUniversity Instructor / Trade UnionistCanada
Lynn HutchinsonVisual ArtistCanada
StuartHutchisonUSA
J.D. HuttonStudentCanada
Dua AsiyaHyjazStudent, LawCanada
YuditIlany Photographer Israel
DinaIordanova Director of the Centre for Film Studies Scotland
IanIqbal Rashid Filmmaker Canada
JeromeIrwinAuthor/PublisherCanada
Ali IspahanyEntrepreneurCanada
ArnoldItwaru Writer Artist and activist scholar
MaryIzettUSA
SamiehJabbarin film theatre directorPalestine/Germany
JumanaJaberJordan
SaraJabirStudentCanada
AmmaraJabirStudentCanada
AnnemarieJacir Filmmaker Palestine
MariaJackmanCanada.
PaulJackson writer Canada
Lois Jacobs
IrfaanJafferCanada
KajriJainProfessorCanada
NadirJalal,Palestine
Sherazad JamalDesignerCanada
FredricJameson Literary Critic USA
DavidJanzenCanada
OscarJarzmikStudentCanada
RodrigueJeanFilmmakerCanada
SandraJeppesen writer and professor Canada
Karl MichaelJerkeStudentGermany
JharanaJhaveri Director India
SadafJilaniCanada
FarrukhJilaniCanada
DavidJobsonTeacherCanada
Eric MichaelJohnsonWriterCanada/USA
SabrinaJohnsonActivist/CubaCanada
BrianJohnston Professor UK
DavidJohnstonUSA
Myna LeeJohnstoneCanada
LindsayJollySocial Service WorkerCanada
Rachel LeahJonesfilmmakerIsrael [Tel Aviv]
JeffJonesCanada
KhalilJoreigeFilmmaker/ArtistLebannon/France
SamirjubranMusicianPalestine
AliKaaf Artist Berlin/Damascus
Lenore KadishUSA
WaleedKadrayStudentCanada
NadiaKamel Filmmamer Egypt
OmarKamelProducer/Writer/MusicianEgypt
IsamKamelGermany
HatimKanaanehPalestine
LouayKanafaniFilmmakerCanada
DaliaKandiyotiProfessorUSA
PatriciaKane Actor/Theatre Director USA
IlanKapoor Professor Canada
LaraKaraian Professor Canada.
SonjaKarkarAustralia
FriggaKarl Vidéaste France/Austria
SumayyaKassamaliStudent, GradCanada
MousaKassisUSA
SusanKasurakTeacherCanada
MohammedKateebProducerUAE
ChristopheKatrib Artist and Musician Lebanon
JaredKatsiane Filmmaker USA
JohnKatz Journalist Israel
Reena KatzArtistCanada [Canada]
LauraKauferCanada
BillKaufmann
Writer
Canada
SaseenKawzally Journalist/ Theater director and writer Lebanon
DurriyaKaziArtistPakistan
RosinaKaziMusicianCanada
ColleenKearneyCanada
MichaelKeefer Professor Canada
GaryKeenan Musician Canada
ShannonKelley Film Programmer USA
DavidKellyRetiredUSA
StephanieKellyCanada
KamalaKempadoo Professor Canada
YasharKeramatiNGO FounderCanada
ZiadKhadashPalestine
NalanKhalafOccupation Sales EngineerCanada
RazanKhalafArchitectJordan
LilianKhalafIT consultantJordan
AhmadKhalifaMother & Concerned CitizenCanada
GeorgeKhalifehFilmmakerPalestine
Muhammad AliKhalikiProfessorCanada
NaelaKhalilPalestine
LalehKhalili Academic UK
Khulud KhamisIsrael
ArshadKhan FilmmakerPakistan
AnushaKhanHomemakerCanada
Faiza SultanKhanWriterPakistan
Salma AhmadKhanParentUSA
AdamKhanWriterCanada
SaeedKhanCanada
MohammedKhanCananda
SohailKhanUSA
ZulfiqarKhandwalaBusinessman USA
AlexKhasnabishProfessorCanada
MiraKhazzamCanada
PunamKhosla Academic Canada
RajaKhouriHuman Rights CommissionerCanada
MariaKhouryEducatorPalestine
Buthin CanaanKhouryFilmmakerPalestine
MariaKhouryUSA
Gary KibbinsArtistCanada
DorothyKiddAssociate ProfessorCanada
SarahKilloranCanada/Jordan
JanineKilroyUK
BernardKilroyUK
EleanorKilroyUK
GloriaKim
B.KimikoCanada
T.Kim-TrangArtist/EducatorUSA
Edkinaneusa
BrooksKindArtistCanada
SamanthaKing Professor Canada
Nick KingWriterUK
SteveKingUSA
RuthKingUSA
PaulKingstonProfessorCanada
Alec KinnearCreative DirectorAustria
GaryKinsman Professor Canada
JeffKipilmanUSA
JaneKirbyStudent/ActivistCanada
MarkKlein
AnnetteKlepzigGermany
YanaKnapovaIsrael
SusieKneedlerUSA
RudolfKnuttiSwitzerland
MustafaKocProfessorCanada
Joy KogawaWriterCanada
EigoKomaiDesigner-BuilderUSA
SakiKomatsuStudentJapan
JacobKorczynski Curator Canada
KhadijaKotbCanada
Dusan M.KovacevicFilmmakerSerbia-Canada
KirstenKozolanka ProfessorCanada
WayneKraft Professor USA
NancyKricorian Writer & ActivistUSA
SlawomirKrolakPoland
LealeaKrollWriterCanada
AtifKubursiProfessorCanada
AntonKuertiMusicianCanada
ClariceKuhling Professor Canada
SubratKumar Sahu Filmmaker India
SaurabhKumar Shahi Journalist and Film Critic India
JasonKuninCanada
NadiaKurdStudentCanada
MichaelKuttnerCanada

Signatories L-P

Jason Lafolle  Réalisateur Canada
Lainna Laine El Jabi Canada
Claude Lalumière  Writer  Canada
Roger Langen Writer/Union activist Canada
David Langille  Executive Producer  Canada
Julie Lapalme  Artiste  Canada
Aitor Lara  Photographer  Spain
Paul LaRose  Producer  Canada
Carole Larsen  Film Editor  Canada
Kethrin Lases-Johnson  Interpreter Mexico/USA
Sheldon Laskin Lawyer/Writer USA
Allison LaSorda Student Canada
Brian Latour Canada
Jean Latreille Teacher Canada
Anne Lauel Carter  Writer  Canada
Paul Laverty  Producer  UK
George LaVoo  Filmmaker  USA
T Lawand Canada
Mary Layoun  Professor  USA
Shu Lea Chang  Artist  USA
Pierre LeBlanc Canada
Hervé Joseph Lebrun  Filmmaker  France
Min Sook Lee  Filmmaker  Canada
Paul Lee  Filmmaker  Canada
Louise Lee Teacher Canada
Peggy Lee Karfills  Producer   Panama and Canada
Genevieve Lehr Poet Canada
Yael Lerer  publisher  Tel Aviv
Michael  Lesher Writer, Lawyer and Activist USA
Michael Levin Musician USA
Mark Levine Professor USA
Aaron Levitt USA
Jack Lewis  Filmmaker  South Africa
Richard Lewis Social Worker USA/Canada
Josef Lewkowicz USA
Melissa Lewkowicz USA
Rita Lewkwowicz  Fashion Designer  USA 
Chelsey Lichtman  Artist and activist  Canada
David A Light USA
Peter Lilienthal Germany
Cheng-Sim LIM USA
Kim Linekin  Film Critic  Canada
Abby Lippman  Professor  Canada
Robert Lipton Poet/Epidemiologist USA
Margret Little Professor Canada
David Lloyd  Writer/Professor  USA
Marie Lo  Professor  Canada/USA
Ken Loach  Filmmaker  UK
Luigia Locatelli-Luxereau France
Amir Locker-Biletzki Israel
William Loeber USA
Dawn Logan Writer Canada
Kristin Loken USA
James Loney Canada
Brenda Longfellow  Professor of Film  Canada
James Longley  Filmmaker  USA
Juan Lopez  Artist  Spain
Yosefa Loshitzky  Professor  UK
Arab Lotfi  Filmmaker  Egypt/Lebanon
Mary Louise Adams  Professor  Canada
Georgette Loup  Professor  USA
Henry N. Lowi Canada
Anthony Löwstedt
Charles Lozada Artist USA
Jorge Lozano Film/Video Canada
Le-Ann Lue-Fatt Student, Med Trinidad and Tobago
Andrew Lugg  Professor Emeritus  Canada
Ian Lumsden Canada
Kate Lushington Theatre Director Canada
Philippe Luxereau France
D.Clifford Luyt Canada
Muhammad M.M Nigeria
Michael C. K. Ma Community Worker Canada
Sara Maali Administrator Tunisia
Julie Maas Artist Canada
MaryBeth MacDonald Musician Canada
Scott Macdonald Immigration Canada
David Macias  Artist-Musician  Spain
Angelica Macklin  Filmmaker  South Africa/USA
Scott Macklin  Filmmaker  South Africa/USA
Kyo Maclear  Author  Toronto
Graeme MacQueen  academic and writer  Canada
Khaldoun Madi Engineer Jordan
Jamie-Lynn Magnusson Professor Canada
Sairally Mahmood France
Sairally Mahmood, Dipl. Arch. France
Roberto Maiocchi USA
Abdul Majeed Admin Manager UAE
Dania Majid Supporter Canada
Saree Makdisi  Professor  USA
Safana Anna Makhdoom Physician Canada
Sana Makhoul Art Historian USA
Jaro Malanowski Filmmaker Canada
Gregory Malas Visual Artist Canada
Mahmood Mamdani  Professor  USA
Duraid Manajim Filmmaker Canada
Sherif Mandour Film Director – Producer
Maxine Mangat Canada
Ali Manji IT Canada
Fatima manjra Student UK
Polly Mann USA
Maria Manrique  Artist  Spain
Carol Mansour Filmmaker Canada
Mehreen Manto Lawyer Pakistan
Eilat Maoz Israel
Montaser Marai  Filmmaker  Palestine
Janine Marchessault Professor Canada
Richard Marcuse  Arts Consultant  Canada
Michael Marino USA
Fareed Marjaee USA
Rania Marjieh Palestine
David Ben Mark Trucker (Rt) Canada
Laura Marks  Writer Canada
George Martell  Professor  Canada
William James Martin  professor  USA
Dr. Ruchama Marton
Israel
Hasan Matani Israel
Anat Matar  Professor  Israel
Haggai Matar Israel
Pamila Matharu  Visual Artist  Canada
Petrosino Matteo Italy
Sara Matthews Professor  Canada
Peter Matthews-Wright  Professor  USA
Fatima Mawas  Filmmaker  Australia
Bakrieh Mawasi Palestine
Brock May  Photographer  Canada
Rela Mazali  Writer & Activist  Israel
Nicole Mazgo Social Worker Canada
Kerri McCanna USA
Tim McCaskell Canada
Jon Paul McClellan  Ballroom Dance School Owner/Musician/Radio Talk Show Host  USA
Anne McClintock  Professor  USA
Margaret McClintock Eduitor/Writer Canada
Glenn McConell University Academic Australia
John McCorkell Entertainer/Commedian Canada
George McFetridge  Musician  Canada
Thomas McGuire Insurance Executive Canada
Malcolm Mckeil CAS Canada
David McNally  Professor Canada
Phil McNally USA
Tessa McWatt  Author  Canada and UK
Murtaza Meghji Canada
Shahira Mehrez Egypt
Nadia Melhem Marketing USA
Maria Teresa Melorin Italy
Juliano Mer Khamis  Filmmaker  Jenin/Haifa
Diana Meredith  Visual Artist  Canada
Roy Merrens Professor Canada
Maria Mesa Poet/Visual Artist Canada
Nissrine Messaoudi  Journalist  Germany
Jeffrey Metcalfe Minister Canada
Bill Meyer Musician USA
Marika Mikulak Student Poland
Bogdan Milek Germany/Poland
John Miller  Writer  United States
Amy Miller Filmmaker Canada
Tina Lekas Miller Artist and Writer USA
Henry Mills  Poet  USA
Arthur Milner  Playwright  Canada
Susette Min  Professor and Curator  USA
Nighat Mir Editor Pakistan
Jazmin Miranda  Photographer  Canada
Davis Mirza Teacher/Dancer/Choreographer
Davis Mirza Canada
Roy Mitchell  Arts Administrator/Video Artist  Canada
Tarek Mizan Canada
Zohreh Mizrahi USA
Hans Modlich Engineer Canada
Haideh Moghissi  Professor  Canada
Hamzi Moghrabi Environment Engineer & Activist Lebanon
Michelle Mohabeer  Filmmaker/Academic  Canada
Samih Mokbel Businessman Canada
Albert Mokhiber Human Rights Activist USA
Elizabeth Molchany USA
Kevin Moloney Canada
Valerie Molyneux Artist Portugal
Radhika Mongia Professor Canada
Colin Mooers  Professor  Canada
Cornelius Moore  Film Distributor  USA
Dianne Moore Actor/Artist/Writer Canada
Shani Mootoo  Writer  Canada
Céline Moragues-Maury Psychologist (Retired) France
Ruth Moran  Artist  Spain
Chris Morrison Filmmaker Canada
Arlene Moscovitch Writer Canada
Elise Moser  Writer  Canada
Nadia Moss  Artist  Canada
Khaled Mouammar Canadian Arab Federation Canada
Randa Mouammar-Nimry Lawyer Canada
Mohamad Mourad Canada
Aiyman Mourad Canada
Abir Mousa Palestine
Imad Mousa Palestine
Noémie Moutel  Filmmaker  Paris
Astrid Mrkich Professor Canada
Nazih Mroue Canada
Edward Mualim Palestine
Aamir Mufti USA
Nadia Muhanna  Journalist  Syria
Elba Muler Argentina
Stuart Murray Professor  Canada
Karren Murray Professor Canada
Izidore Musallam Filmmaker Canada
Rami Muslih Palestine
Zubeida Mustafa Journalist Pakistan
Inas Muthfar Palestine
Mel Mutlu Mucisian Turkey
Dorit Naaman  film theorist/video maker  Canada/Israel
Karma Nabulsi. UK
Denise Nadeau Professor Canada
MaMary-Jo Nadeau Assistant Professor Canada
Leilah Nadir  Writer  Canada
Nathan Nahm USA
Joanne Naiman Professor Canada
Neil Naiman Professor Canada
Katrina Najjar Jordan
Najwa Najjar  Filmmaker Palestine
Meena Nanji  Filmmaker  USA
Rola Nashef  Filmmaker  USA
Basim Nasir Baker Canada
Nadine Nasir Student Canada
Yousry Nasrallah  Director  Egypt
Maria Nassaf Morocco
Rémy Nassar Canada
Karen Nassar Chile
Jolaina Nasseri Malaysia
Donna Nassor USA
Katherine Natanel UK
Ahmad Natche Filmmaker Spain/Palestine
Susan Nathan  Author  Israel
Susan Nathan  Writer  Israel
Sameera Natour, Palestine
Robyn Naylor Canada
Rehab Nazzal  Visual Artist  Canada
Mothepa Ndumo Lesotho
Ofer Neiman Israel
Karin Nemri Artist USA
Joan Nestle  writer/teacher USA
Martha Newbigging  Artist  Canada
Marcy Newman  Professor  Jordan
Melanie Newton Professor Canada
Judith A. Nicholson Professor Canada
David Nir Israel
Bobby Noble  Professor  Canada
Ayesha Noorani Canada
Abdelaziz Nouayd Morocco
Abdelaziz Nouaydi Palestine
Orwa Nyrabia Film Producer Syria [Damascus]
Rebecca O'Brien  Producer  UK
Jordan O'Connor Composer Cabada
Rula Odeh Business woman Canada
May Odeh FilmMaker Palestine
Dalia Odeh
Amman/Jordan
Jun Oenoki Artist Japan
Ananya Ohri  Filmmaker  Canada
Mercy Okalowe Human Canada
Derrick O'Keefe Canada
Eileen Olmsted USA
Reginald Olson Realtor USA
Colleen O'Manique Professor Canada
Midi Onodera  Artist/filmmaker  Canada
Franz Oppacher  Professor  Canada
Syed Osama Afaq Oman
Michael Ostroff  Director  Canada
Aysha Oudeh Palestine
Iman Oun Palestine
Rupal Oza USA
Mel Packer USA
Gary Pallone Scientist USA
Leo Panitch Professor Canada
Dino Paoletti Psychotherapist Canada
Ralph Pape   Playwright  USA
Anne Paquier  photographe  France
Shahin Parhami Filmmaker Canada
Pratibha Parmar  Producer/Director  UK
Barbara Parnes USA
Nora Parr  Editor Canada
Jocelyn Parr  writer/student/teacher  Canada
Stephen Parsons  Musician  USA
Bruce Parsons Artist Canada
Xavier Part Balerdi Spain
Matt Paruske Self Employeed USA
Kaz Patwa UK
Anand Patwardhan
Leila Paul  Journalist  Canada
Leiser Peles Israel
Jack Pencharz Australia
Rosalie Pencharz Australia
Miranda Pennell  Film Maker/Lecturer UK
James Penney Professor Canada
Jan Pennycook Canada
Paz Perez Ramos  Artist  Spain
Nalini Persram Professor Canada
V. Spike Peterson  Professor USA
Tonanieva Peurtas Cuellar Peru
Lia Philcox UK
Monika Pichler Retired Austria
Elizabeth Pickett  Law Professor/Writer  Canada
Terica Pickrell Activist USA
Jeremy Pikser  Screenwriter  USA
John Pilger  Filmmaker  UK
Brendan Pinto Service industry Canada
Christina Piovesan Producer Canada/Palestine
Marianne Pita Professor USA
Catherine Podojil Writer USA
Céline Poirier Canada
Jonathan Pollal  Graphic Designer  Tel Aviv
Richard Porton  writer  USA.
Klaus Poulsen Singer Denmark
Elaine Power  Flimmaker/Assistant Professor  Canada
MJ Pramik Novelist/Travel Writer USA
Alanna Prasad Student Canada
Valérie Prat
Canada
Arthur Preisinger Pastor/Professor USA
Franco Preparata Professor USA
Rosa Maria Preparata Biologist USA
Andrew Preston Student/Musician Canada
Sigal Primor  Artist Israel
Jim Prues  video director  USA
Trevor Purvis  Professor  Canada
Lawrence Pushee Canada

Signatories Q-Z

SawsanQaoudFilmmakerPalestine
OsamaQashoo Director/Producer Palestine/UK
RichardQuaintance Professor USA
CharlesQuestenbergWriter USA
RicardoQuinonesUSA
Mazin QumsiyehProfessorPalestine
NazerREngineerCanada
JaredRaab Filmmaker Canada
KathrinRaab-QuestenbergSculptorUSA
NihalRabbani Documentary maker Netherlands
PeterRachleffUSA
HussiniRadwan,Palestine
McKinley J.RahamMusicianCanada
ElianeRaheb filmmakerLebanon
TalalRahmehCanada
SaeedRahnemaProfessorCanada
AnumitaRajIndia
AneilRallin Professor USA
JanRalske filmmaker Germany
DinaRamadanEgypt
TijanRamahiNetherlands
Reverend Martin Rambow Human Rights Observer in Israel and the Occupied Territories, Jan-Apr 2009Germany
Gene RamsbottomRetiredUSA
DenisRancourtProfessorCanada
SafiyaRanderaFilmmakerCanada
SimoneRapisarda-Casanova Filmmaker Canada
JudyRebick Professor Canada
DavidReeb Artist Tel Aviv
MaurizioRegondiItaly
TayieRehem Founder of SoulTV
RushRehm Theatre Director/Professor USA
MatthiasReichl journalist Free Radios Austria
LeoReichmanisRetiredCanada
SteveReinke Artist and Writer Chicago/Canada
AuroraReinlein video editor Spain
Fanny-MichaelaReisin Professor Germany
Anne G.RemleyWriterUSA
AlessandraRenziResearcherCanada
JackoRestikianVisual ArtistCanada
AndreaReye Elizondo Designer Mexico/Netherlands
DavidReynoldsLibrary TechnicianCanada
B. RubyRich Critic and Professor USA
PriscillaRich writer/documentarian USA
GlenRichards video maker Canada
NormanRichmondRadio Producer/JournalistCanada
AndreaRideout Theatre Artist Canada
Yvonne RidleyJournalist, film-maker and author
EstherRiley Author USA
AminaRimmawiPalestine
VelcrowRipper Filmmaker Canada
SarahRitterUSA
philipRizk filmmaker egypt
HasnainRizviProfessorCanada
S. WaqarRizviAccountantIran
SanaRizviUSA
CrystalRobert Ballet Dancer Canada
JohnnyRobertsRetiredCanada
CampbellRobertsonRetiredCanada
StewartRobinsonProfessor (Rt)USA
WendyRofiheDesigner/WriterCanada
EllenRohlfsGermany
MateenRokhsefatStudentCanada
RogerRolfeResearcherCanada
RichardRomanus Actor/writer Greece
AlejandroRomeroSpain
DeborahRoot Writer Canada
JosephRosen Professor Canada
CarlRosenbergEditorCanada
HermanRosenfeld Writer and teacher Canada
EmmaRosenthal Artists/Writer/Educator USA
Naila Kamel ElieRosenthalJournalist/WriterEgypt
PennyRosenwasserWriter/Pr0fessorUSA
GraftonRossPublic servantCanada
StephenRossProfessorCanada
EllinRossbergUSA
ReubenRoth Professor Canada
MartyRothEmeritus Professor of Film StudiesCanada
MarthaRothFreelance WriterCanada
TimothyRothermelPalestine
JillRowanCommunity WorkerScotland
ElizabethRowleyCanada
AmudhanRp Filmmaker India
MariviRuiz Graphic Designer Spain
CorvinRussell Activist/Writer Canada
Curtis RussellHomemakerUSA
PaulRuttenInternational Trade ConsultantCanada
KimRygielProfessorCanada
DohaSaadPalestine
NadiaSaah Producer USA
DimaSabiPR ConsultantUSA
AdamSabra Professor USA
Bee SackFilmmakerCanada
YousefSaedPalestine
Safdar RahatSaeedSocial ActivistPakistan
Axel SaffranArtistNetherlands
Hicham SafieddineJournalistCanada
RoulaSahyounReinsurance ClaimsCanada
MohamadSaid Ali BazziArtist & Art Educator USA
BenSaiferStudentCanada
Mucie SaitowitzArtistCanada
Kerri SakamotoWriterCanada
Trish SalahWriter and EducatorCanada
HalaSalamehCanada
BabakSalari Photographer Canada
SandySalemEngineerSyria
MohammadSalemy Visual Artist Canada
Dr. M.I. SalikGermany
NiazSalimiArtist/FilmmakerCanada/Iran
JayceSalloum ArtistCanada
RashaSalti film curator free-lance writer.
LubnaSamaraUK
NicholasSammond Professor Canada
Julian SamuelArtistCanada
E.San JuanProfessorUSA
LucasSanchis MonsalveSpain
JaspreetSandhuFilmmakerCanada
AnickSandian Réalisatrice L'Ile Maurice
Renee M. SarackiUSA
KayvonSarfehjooy Music Entrepreneur USA
BhaskarSarkar Professor USA
BeenaSarwarFilmmakerPakistan
DonaldSassoonProfessorUK
NabilSaterUSA
ReneeSaviourTeacherCanada
NicolasSayeghColumnistCanada
NicolasSayeghCanada/Palestine
Emily W. SchaefferIsrael
CraigSchafferChoir DirectorUSA
AlanSchechner Artist England
EricSchechter Professor USA
MichaelScheinbergEducator USA
GailSchenbaum Producer/ Creative Consultant USA
JosefSchickIsrael
KiraSchlesingerSouth
DanielaSchmidArtistGermany
HildegardSchmidAustria
SharonSchnappManagementUSA
ChristianeSchomblond Professor Belgium
MichaelSchreierArtistCanada
MichaelSchwalbe Professor USA
SteveSchwartzBusinessUSA
AlanSears Professor Canada
SaritaSee Professor USA
MosesSeenarineFilmmakerUSA
EvalynSegalUSA
GarethSeltzer Designer Canada
ShikhaSen Video Editor India
SorayaSepahpour-UlrichUSA
SophiaSepperer Professor Germany
Ki Seung Rheeactor, writer, and filmmakerUSA
Aharon ShabtaipoetIsrael
AmjedShackerSaudi
John ShaferCanada
MayaShahidStudentCanada
KhalilShahin,Palestine
NoaShaidlingerStudentCanada
HatimShakfaPalestine
SallyShalabiJordan
SarahShamash Media Artist Canada
YomShamashCanada
SallyShamiPalestine
AntonShammas Professor/Author USA/Palestine
AyalaShani Film School Student Israel
MaiaShaniIsrael
TalShapira Artist Israel
PeterShapiroAikido Instructor/MusicianSwitzerland
RashaSharifPalestine
JohnSharkeyWriter/ProgrammerCanada
NanditaSharmaProfessorUSA
PoonamSharmaWriterCanada
RowithaShawCanada
WallaceShawn Playwright Actor
Ben-Z.Shek Professor Canada
PaulSheldon Foote Professor USA
AminaSherazee
BonnieSherr KleinFilmmakerCanada
MagidShihade Professor Pakistan
SidShnaidUnion ResearcherCanada
KianShokouhiIT/Database/Software DeveloperCanada
EricShragge Professor Canada
Dafna ShveidMexico
MichèleSibonyTeacherFrance
SaadSiddiquiActorCanada
MuhammadSiddiquiCanada
AllanSiegel Filmmaker/Writer/Teacher USA
MarcSiegelGermany
AllanSiegel,Filmmaker/Writer/TeacherHungry/USA
AlanSilverman professor Canada
RichardSilversteinUSA
AlvinSimonsonUSA
MarilynSimonsonUSA
Nadia SindiProfessor/Interpreter/TranslatorUSA
JackSingerSouth
BikrumSingh
Wisam KazalehSirdenisEducator/WriterUSA
EyalSivan Filmmaker and Scholar Paris/London/Sderot
BillSkidmoreProfessorCanada
Åsa SköldUK.
OrestSlepokuraCanada
DrewSmallCanada
NeilSmith Professor United States
GenevieveSmithStudentCanada/USA
SamSmithVideographerUSA
BrittanySmithStudent/ActivistCanada
KobiSnitz
ErikSnyder
Nancy SnyitarActress/MusicianCanada
KerstinSodergren
NormanSolomon Author and Media Critic USA
Frances-AnneSolomon filmmaker Canada
JenteSomersBelgium
Lucia SommerArtistUSA
NecatiSonmez Filmmaker Turkey
YongSoon Min Artist
AhdafSoueif writer Egypt/UK
FatemaSowaidAustralia
StanSquiresFactory WorkerCanada
RoderickStackelberg Professor EmeritusUSA
Martin StarkmanCanada
KaylaStarrJewish peace activistUSA
GregStarrCanada
DaivaStasiulis ProfessorCanada
SteveStaso Director USA
JuliaSteinWriterUSA
FelixStelzerBooksellerAustria
ElisabethSterkenCanada
SophieStern Filmmaker UK
Luis Stern AdlerMexico
PaulStevensProfessorCanada
ErnestStewart writer/producer U.S.A.
Philip J.StewartAuthorUK
StefanSt-Laurent Video artist/Curator Canada
Jason St-Laurent Curator and ArtistCanada
CarolStoneCanada
RichStoneUSA
Patricia StoraceWriterUSA
PaulaStoyanoffCanada
JordanStrom Curator/Editor Canada
FfarooqSulehriaJournalistSweden
EliaSuleiman Fimmlaker Nazareth/Paris/New York
RaoulSwartSouth
DonaldSwartz Professor Canada
NajeebSyed
HeatherSykesProfessorCanada
VeraSzokeTeacherCanada
UlaTabari Filmaker Palestine/France
NabilTabbaraProfessorCanada
WaelTadrosScientistCanada
RominTafarodi Professor Canada
RandahTaherLecturerCanada/UAE
DalaTaherManagerCanada
AhmadTahirStudentUSA
BisanTaijournalistLebanon
SyedTalat AliPakistan
Rachel TalitmanCanada
VeraTamariVisual ArtistPalestine
AshwiniTambeCanada
HoangTan Nguyen Videomaker and Professor USA
JillTanenbaumUSA
NicoleTanguay Musician/Writer Canada
JaseTannerFilmmakerCanada
ArturoTapia Journalist and Sociologist Mexico
ManuelTapial Producer/Filmmaker Spain
SandraTarlinProfessor/PoetUSA
TirtzaTauberPalestine
HelgaTawil-Souri professor and documentary film-maker USA
ElkeTaylor Director Australia
LisaTaylorProfessorCanada
ErwinTegtmeierGermany
Jose TeitelnaumCanada
Kris TemplinCanada
AmirTerkel Director of Photography Israel
JakeTerpstraUSA

Martin
TerronesUSA/Mexico
SeydanurTezcanStudentTurkey
FadiTheodoriPalestine
SuneraThobani Professor Canada
NoelThomas Journalist Canada
GeorgeThompsonSystem EngineerUSA
Vincent JamesThompsonCanada
Mary AnnThompsonCanada
JordanThorntonCanada
MarceloTobarFilmmakerMexico
HarleyTompkinsHumanistUSA
ArthurTopham Publisher Canada
EranTorbiner Filmmaker Israel
Lucinda TorreFilmakerSpain
OsnatTrabelsi ProducerIsrael
PeterTrainoStudentCanada
AlmerindaTravassosVideo ArtistCanada
BetsyTrowellAttorneyUSA
MikeTulleySound RecordiswtCanada
BobTurcotteRetired TeacherCanada
KevinTynerTeacherCanada/Viet Nam
ColinTynerProfessorCanada/Japan
HowardTynerTeacherCanada
JeanTynerNurseCanada
Lilyvan den BerghFilmmakerNetherlands
Fransvan den Muljsenberg PublisherNetherlands
Dirkvan LoonPublisherCanada
Rolenevan ZyiSouth
WandaVanderStoopDistributor/MusicianCanada
ChiaraVarese Cineaste Peru
NataliaVarevacCanada
DonaldVeach Producer/Activist USA
MiguelVentura Artist Mexico
PeterVickers Writer/political analyst Canada
JensViggo Fjord Musician Spain
PatriciaVillavicencio CarrilloClinical PsychologistSpain
KarlVischerUSA
NizarVisramJounralistTanzania
Andreavon SchoeningCanada
StephenVon SychwskiCanada
Tam-CaVo-VanArts AdministratorCanada
Bernadette L. WagnerPoetCanada
AmarWala Filmmaker Canada
RinaldoWalcott professor Canada
AngelaWaldegg ArtistAustria
AbdulhadiWalid Ayyad writer Abu Dis/London/Kuwait
AliceWalker Writer USA
JessicaWalkerTeacherCanada
SarahWalkerArtistCanada
SimonWallaceStudentCanada
DonnaWallachUnited
MarthaWallner Media Justice History Project USA
ShannonWalshFilmmakerCanada
ViktoriaWaltzGermany
PeterWatson CEO of Recorded Picture Company & Hanway Films UK
ThomasWaugh Professor Canada
AllanWebsterTracherCanada
JudithWeismanCanada
RobinWeissCSR - EU FraudGermany
SuzanneWeissWriter/ActivistCanada
EinatWeizmanActor Israel
ElianWeizmanUK
MaryWells Filmmaker Jamaica/USA
RobertWendtMucisianUSA
GeorgeWheelerCivic WorkerCanada
RyanWhite Filmmaker USA
AndrewWhiteman musician Canada
RolfWienekeGermany
ChristianWiener Freso President – Union of Peruvian Filmmakers Peru
RichardWigtonUSA
MichaelWilesAdvertiserCanada
Travis Wilkersonprofessor and documentary filmmakerUSA
AnnaWillats Professor Canada
DougWillbanksUSA
RaymondWilliam Baker Professor and Author USA
JacquelineWindhWriter/BroadcasterCanada
Mat.WindrumRetiredUK
KarenWirsig Media union staffer Canada
JosephWongFilmmaker/Youth WorkerCanada
BrianWoodsCanada
MizukoYakuwa Artist Japan
EzgiYalinalp Program Coordinator of Ankara International Film Festival Turkey
MahnoorYar KhanIndia
TamarYaronIsrael
Chi BunYauStudent/Office WorkerCanada
BilalYousef Filmmaker Palestine
MarcusYoussef,PlaywrightCanada
ZohraYusufHuman Rights ActivistPakistan
SaedZahranPalestine
HasanZaidiFilmmaker and Film Festival DirectorPakistan
HasanZaidiKaraFilm FestivalPakistan
AnnaZalik Professor Canada
VaziraZamindarHistorianUSA
KathyZarurUSA
CharoZayas Designer Spain
IsmailZayidPhysicianCanada
IsmailZayidCanada
AndyZeeUSA
VivianZelayaUSA
OliviaZémor journalist Paris
MarjorieZimmer
MaxZimmer
SophieZimmer
DebraZimmerman Executive Director Women Make Movies USA
JesseZimmermanCanada
MahaZimmoWriterCanada
JasminZineProfessorCanada
HowardZinn Writer USA
SlavojZizek Professor Slovenia
ShadiZmurdPalestine
Gale Zoë GarnettAuthor, actor, film-workerCanada
RachelZolf PoetUSA/Canada
ManarZuabi Artist Palestine
AnisZuberiPoetCanada
SairaZuberiCanada
EliaZureik Professor Canada
MarthaZweigPoet USA

Adding Your Name

The deadline to sign has passed and we are no longer able to collect signatures. Thank you all for the tremendous support!

For further reading on this issue:

Letter by Canadian filmmaker John Greyson on withdrawing his film from the Toronto International Film Festival in protest against City to City:

http://tiny.cc/tiff_open_letter

Response by TIFF co-director Cameron Bailey to Greyson’s withdrawal and this petition:

http://www.tiff.net/livefromthefestival/openlettercitytocity

Report in Israeli daily Haaretz:

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1110750.htmlspages/1110750.html

Report in Guardian newspaper, UK:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/sep/01/israel-palestine-boycott-film

Statement by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel

http://www.pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=1085etemplate.php?id=1085


Palestine House Responds to False Media Reports

Palestine House Educational and Cultural Center congratulates the filmmakers, artists and cultural workers who drafted and endorsed the Toronto Declaration – No Celebration of Occupation protesting the Toronto International Film Festival’s City to City Spotlight on Tel Aviv. Their efforts are very much appreciated by the Palestinian community in the Greater Toronto Area.

We would like to briefly respond to some accounts about the media phone number being used for the Toronto Declaration. Today, Jonathan Kay of the National Post reported that the media phone is a Palestine House number and that the organization behind the protests is Palestine House. That is not true.

The artists, filmmakers and cultural workers who drafted the statement did so on their own initiative. Palestine House can only commend them for their efforts to break the silence around the crimes of the Israeli state against the Palestinian people.

Unlike other organizations and politicians who have direct connections to the Israeli state, Palestine House is an independent community organization with no ties, financial or political, to the Palestinian Authority. In Canada, the general delegation of Palestine, located in Ottawa, represents the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority. The Canadian government deals with it as such.

It is very disappointing to see that journalists such as Mr. Kay, would publicly threaten Palestine House with taking information to minister Jason Kenney. Our positions in support of Palestinian human rights are very clearly stated on our website and we stand by them. We are not afraid to speak for international law and human rights, last time we checked Canada was a free country and Canadian-Arab Palestinians have a right to freedom of expression.

It is unfortunate that instead of focusing on the real issues raised by the Toronto Declaration and truly opening up the debate on the question of the “Brand Israel” initiative, some are trying to create a story to delegitimize the protest. We urge Mr. Kay and others in the media to seriously address the questions brought up by this important protest, rather than resorting to thinly-veiled threats against the Palestinian community and its supporters in Canada.

Finally, for the record, the cell phone number that Mr. Kay is referring to is registered to an individual (not to our organization). Mr. Kay would do well to fact-check his article and not rely on anonymous bloggers as his source. Palestine House did not receive a call from Mr. Kay to verify the information before he published it.

National Post uncovers the mystery of a Jewish-Canadian with a cell phone

On September 15, 2009, Jonathan Kay of the National Post reported that Palestine House is the real organization behind the Toronto Declaration. His explanation is based on the discovery that the media contact number that was used for the Toronto Declaration was also used for several pro-Palestine events, including the Toronto protests against Israel's assault on Gaza. While this story is filled with lies and absurd accusations, it is true that the same number has been used as a media contact for all these events - I should know because it is my phone.

I am a Jewish-Canadian who is involved in the Palestine solidarity movement in Toronto. Despite Kay's accusations, I am not affiliated with Palestine House, the Canadian Arab Federation or The Palestinian Authority. I have however, on various occasions, offered the use of my extra cell phone as a media contact for local events that I happen to support.

The real issue behind this newest attack on the Toronto Declaration and Palestine House is that there are those in this country, including Jonathan Kay and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney, who believe that nobody, especially Arabs, have the right to talk about Palestine in Canada. Kenney made headlines in March when he pulled funding from the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF), because of CAF's involvement in protests against Israel's assault on Gaza. Jonathan Kay is now hoping that Kenney will do the same to Palestine House. If Kenney decides to go after Palestine House for taking a position in support of Palestine, then the state of freedom of speech in this country is far worse than I imagined.

- Jenny Peto

Sunday, August 9, 2009

A CELEBRATION OF SOLIDARITY: A Different Kind of Spotlight


A CELEBRATION OF SOLIDARITY: A Different Kind of Spotlight

Monday, September 14th at 7:00 p.m.
Rogers Communications Centre, Ryerson University
80 Gould Street, Toronto
(northeast corner of Church Street)



The Toronto Declaration is unstoppable. Over 1,000 filmmakers, actors, writers and other cultural producers from around the world -- including Israel and Palestine -- have signed on to the statement objecting to the Toronto International Film Festival's celebratory spotlight on Tel Aviv.

New signatories include music and cinematic legends Harry Belafonte and Julie Christie. Actor Viggo Mortensen, who will be attending this year's festival, just added his name. Leading intellectual figures Noam Chomsky, Judith Butler and Anne McClintock have also recently endorsed the declaration, along with prominent Canadian writers Rawi Hage, Joy Kogawa, Dionne Brand and Kerri Sakamoto. Celebrated local filmmakers Velcrow Ripper, Min Sook Lee and Lynne Fernie have also signed the letter.

International support for the declaration continues to grow despite denunciations, unfounded personal attacks on earlier signatories Jane Fonda, Danny Glover, and Naomi Klein, and despite an aggressive campaign of misinformation regarding the letter’s content.

Come out this Monday, September 14th at 7:00 p.m. to see some of the names behind the Toronto Declaration, with messages of solidarity and responses to their critics.

Visit us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137063541910&index=1

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