Back to PLO Bulletin 1 November 1978

PROTEST RALLY IN NEW YORK AGAINST CAMP DAVID

Demonstrators against the Camp David accords delivered messages to the U.S., Israeli and Egyptian missions to the United Nations during a protest march in New York City on September 23. The messages criticized the pact for ignoring the central issue in the Mideast conflict, the Palestinian national question, and declared that this question can only be solved by realization of Palestinian national rights.

The demonstrators protested in particular the role of U.S. President Jimmy Carter in the negotiations; the marchers chanted "Carter, your Camp David Pact won't bring peace and that's a fact." In banners, placards and speeches they demanded that the U.S. government stop its aid to Israel.

The march began with a rally in front of the United Nations, where Hassan Abdul Rahman of the Palestine Liberation Organization's U.N. office told some 200 demonstrators that only the PLO represents the Palestinian people, and that peace is not possible until the people have their national rights.

Pro-Palestinian Demonstration in New York

Sheila Ryan, speaking for the Palestine Solidarity Committee, which organized the event in coordination with Arab community groups, declared that if Carter were genuinely interested in peace in the Middle East, he would stop U.S. aid to Israel and arms shipments to the region. "Carter is a false prophet of peace," Ryan said. "This is not a peace but a pact for a new kind of war against the Palestinian people."

The demonstrators bore Palestinian flags and colorful banners, including one proclaiming, "No to the Camp David Pact; Yes to Palestinian National Rights." As they marched through crowds of Saturday shoppers the protestors chanted, "Carter, Carter, we're no fools: Sadat and Begin are your tools."