Episode 20 - Remembering Rachel Corrie

March 16, 2012 marks the nine year anniversary of the death of Rachel Corrie. Rachel was killed in the Gaza Strip when, as an international activist with the International Solidarity Movement, she stood between an Israeli bulldozer and a Palestinian home. Rachel's back was broken by the bulldozer, and she died shortly thereafter from her wounds.

On this week's program, DJ Ev Daddy and DJ Matt Graber are joined by the parents of Rachel Corrie, Craig and Cindy Corrie, who called in from Olympia, Washington.

Craig and Cindy tell the story of an intelligent, caring young daughter who laughed, danced, played and taught with the people in the Gaza Strip, giving them hope and joy in the midst of war and suffering; and they update us on their continued efforts to find justice and hold the Israeli government and military accountable for the murder of their daughter and continuing crimes against the Palestinian people.

From the interview:

Craig Corrie: "She was killed there that day, but also, there were 5 children and 4 adults that were behind that wall that Rachel stood in front of. Those people have become our friends; we've watched those children grow up. And that boy that was learning English, we saw him in the spring of 2009 - he was in college by then - he switched his major to English. So that was a huge thing for us to be able to watch those children grow up."

Also on the program: news from South Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Palestine News Network reports on the latest assault on the Gaza Strip, which left 26 dead and over 70 injured.

A massacre last Sunday by an American soldier in Afghanistan. In the early hours of Sunday morning, one soldier (or multiple soldiers, according to village accounts) left his military base near Kandahar and massacred 16 civilians, including 9 children.

US and Yemini airstrikes beginning late Friday have killed at least 45 according to varying reports from the region. The US has increased its drone attacks in Yemen as tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced in recent violence there. 

March 15 marks the one year anniversary of the start of the Syrian revolution to overthrow the Assad government. On March 15, 2011, Syrians took to the streets for the first public demonstration since 1968. There will be events and demonstrations throughout the world to commemorate the advances and to remember those we have lost in the past year. Check out the Alliance for Syria for events near you.