Palestinian journalist Ziad Abbas will speak in Albuquerque on Saturday to ask New Mexicans to stop supporting occupation in the Middle East.
"We would like to raise awareness about what is going on in the Middle East and especially in Palestine, because we think that often Americans are not aware because the media here does not cover what is happening on the ground," Abbas said.
The Albuquerque Mennonite Church, at 1300 Girard Blvd. N.E., will host the event, which will start with a reception at 6:30 p.m. Abbas' presentation will begin at 7 p.m.
Abbas was born and raised in a refugee camp.
He said his family was forced out of their home in 1948 when Israelis attacked Palestinian villages, uprooted more than 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and destroyed 531 villages.
This geographical area is now Israel.
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Abbas said he is saddened by what his village has become.
"To be there on the ground and to see how they have changed the reality and tried to hide the history," he said. "They gave my village a Hebrew name."
Abbas said he hopes he will win the support of the American people by telling them stories of Palestinians.
"We Palestinians are not na've. We know America's foreign policy, and American government is not the same as the American people," he said.
Abbas said the American people have a responsibility to put pressure on the government to stop supporting Israel.
UNM professor Lori Rudolph said she has worked with Abbas for more than five years to help raise awareness.
Rudolph was in the West Bank in December 2008 when the Israeli assault on Gaza began.
"The Palestinians that live on the West Bank were devastated to see their brothers and sisters massacred," she said.
Rudolph said the quality of life for Palestinians has not improved since the cease-fire in Gaza, and she wants Abbas' visit to spread the word on the seriousness of the situation.
"We tend to overlook the fact that the Palestinian people are the occupied people. They are stateless and do not have an army," she said. "We want people to be aware of the injustices that are taking place on a daily basis."
Senior Louisa Sena said she would like to hear Abbas speak and would like to hear the stories of Palestinians.
"They should come here and tell their stories," she said. "I think it is important for Americans to learn about and understand foreign affairs. There are a lot of people out there that need help."
Abbas said he still has the key to the house his family left behind in 1948.
"Most Palestinian refugees have the keys of their destroyed houses. We keep the key as a symbol of the right to return," he said.
UNM professor Nagesh Rao said Americans have heard the Israeli perspective for a long time and are slowly starting to see the Palestinian point of view.
"For human interest and political and cultural reasons, we need to have both sides of the story," he said.
Rao said this event is a good place for UNM community members to start forming well-rounded opinions.
"Expose yourself to media from different areas," he said. "Learn more and open yourself up to multiple perspectives."
Rudolph says everyone is welcome to attend, but a $20 donation is suggested to raise funds to support programs for women and children in refugee camps as well as to aid Gaza.
Lecture by Ziad Abbas
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Albuquerque Mennonite Church
1300 Girard Blvd. N.E.
