Accolades to Omar Barghouti and Ralph Nader

posted on: Apr 26, 2017

Ralph Nader, left, and Photo Credit: Don LaVange and intal 

Compiled by Arab America

Palestinian activist Omar Barghouti and Arab American consumer rights crusader, Ralph Nader received the 2017 Ghandi Peace Award from the Connecticut group, Promoting Enduring Peace. Barghouti was honored for his work as the co-founder of Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) and Nader for his five decades of work regarding consumer and civic activism and his human rights advocacy for the Palestinian peace movement.

Barghouti was initially banned by Israel to travel to the U.S., but on Sunday, he was allowed entry to the U.S after winning a temporary suspension of the ban.

Barhgouti dedicated the award to the more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners who are on a massive hunger strike in Israeli jails.

At the ceremony, he stated, “As I humbly accept the Gandhi Peace Award for 2017, I dedicate it to the heroic Palestinian political prisoners on hunger strike in Israel’s apartheid dungeons and to every Palestinian refugee yearning to return home to Palestine to reunite with the land and the homeland.”

Barghouti leads the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions National Committee, which organizes the BDS movement worldwide. The committee demands an end to Israel’s occupation, calls for ending racial discrimination and advocates the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland.

Nader is the founder of the Center for Study of Responsive Law, which focuses on environmental issues, consumerism, and safety. In addition, the center hosts numerous conferences, focusing on government and corporate accountability empowering citizens.

In his remarks, Nader spoke of “state terrorism”, saying it was more widespread than terrorism by individuals. He added that U.S. forces can kill anyone; as well as, U.S. presidents can commit “state terrorism” with no declaration of war by Congress.

Arab America congratulates Palestinian activist Omar Barghouti and Arab American consumer rights crusader, Ralph Nader for receiving the 2017 Ghandi Peace Award.