Sarah Wellington (left) and Laurie Arbeiter. (Photo: Occupy the landscape)
This weekend activists Laurie Arbeiter and Sarah Wellington, iconic figures in the Palestine solidarity movement best known for selling their "we will not be silent" t-shirts, are heading upstate to take part in a 22-mile fundraiser trek from Woodstock to Catskill. While walking, they and 198 companions will "occupy the landscape" by carrying signs plastered with human rights catch phrases.
The event will take place this Saturday, May 26, 2012, and in the meantime, Arbeiter is looking for more sponsors. Donations made will benefit the Community Radio Station WGXC and the Green County Council of The Arts.
The pitch, straight from Laurie Arbeiter:
Dear friends,...I will be walking 22 miles through upstate NY, with others, carrying signs emboldened with Human Rights. We have 200 signs and our aim is to have 200 humans carrying 200 rights by the last mile, as we enter the village of Catskill. Some of the rights we will hold high are supposed to be upheld by law such as
THE RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE, THE RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT, THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS, while other signs present poetic rights such as THE RIGHT TO MEMORY, THE RIGHT TO SEE THE HORIZON, THE RIGHT TO COME AND GO and THE RIGHT TO SLEEP IN PEACE... and of course we will hold up economic, health, social and environmental rights as well...Those of us who are walking are asking others to sponsor us for each mile we will walk. The money raised will be donated, half to the Community Radio Station WGXC in Catskill and half to the Green County Council of The Arts, institutions that foster open communication and creativity in the community.
I am asking, if you can, to sponsor me for 22 miles at a level you choose... it could be at $1, or $2, or $5, or $10 or more if you can... any donation will be appreciated and help to support this effort.
You can click here to donate on-line, or by check, made out to Green County Council of The Arts and sent to me, or by cash if you see me in person.
Please let me know by email that you will be sponsoring this effort and for how much. I do appreciate your support.
All the best,
Laurie
