Military and globalization expert Jimmy Johnson will speak at the Albuquerque Peace and Justice Center about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on May 18.
Janice Hart, who helped organize the event, said Johnson is a distinguished member of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, and he will talk about the origins of the dispute.
"He is going to speak about the root of the conflict starting from 19th-century Eastern Europe up to the attack on Gaza," she said. "This affects all New Mexicans because a lot of our taxes go to Israel, and we should make sure we understand the situation."
Attendees can donate money at the event to support ICAHD.
Johnson said ICAHD got more organized after looking at the Israeli-Palestinian controversy from a wider perspective.
"As we gained more experience in the occupation, we broadened our focus and started to look at other elements of the occupation," he said. "We observed how they work as an interlinking network forming a system of control in which Palestinians live."
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Johnson said ICAHD started with direct action on the ground.
"We put our bodies in between bulldozers and houses," he said.
ICAHD is now researching the conflict's effect in the world, Johnson said.
"We are investigating the role that the occupation plays in the international community, the arms trade, the security trade," he said.
Doctoral candidate Una Medina said problems in the Middle East should be of interest to students, because these kinds of international conflicts affect Americans.
"Students, like anybody else, find these topics relevant," she said. "We should be discussing and thinking about these issues and focus on resolutions."
Johnson said he is meeting with various organizations during his tour of America, but meeting with non-government groups can sometimes be difficult.
"We have had much success with Congress and foreign governments, but this success is not translating onto the ground," he said. "We have met with the British parliament in (session at) parliament, but we have trouble meeting with high schools in Israel."
Senior Bill Roe said it is important for students to learn about America's stance on international issues like the one Johnson addresses.
"Understanding what our involvement in the Middle East is and what is expected of us, as far as our allies goes, we must understand what the repercussions are," he said.
Roe said events like this are good for students only if students make an effort to get all perspectives of a particular issue.
"We should be exposed (to) every aspect of things," he said. "You can't have a good view or opinion unless you know both sides of the story and can make an educated assumption."
Johnson said ICAHD aims to educate students and to start a conversation about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"We are hoping to provoke a dialogue with people that are not already active on this issue," he said. "We want them to investigate what role they can play in helping end the occupation."
He said he wants to emphasize the need for equality in the Middle East.
"What we care about is the principles and rights of self-determination, the right to have a life with dignity," he said.
Jimmy Johnson on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Monday, May 18
7 p.m.
Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice
