Raton Radicals — Come Learn About Palestine

MFP funding helped to bring speaker Rob Prince, a former professor of International Studies from University of Denver and current expert and lecturer on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict to Raton, New Mexico to inform and educate on the Hamas/Israeli Conflict. This grant was submitted by grassroots activists who wanted to learn and educate about the tragedies unfolding in Israel, the Gaza strip, and beyond.

Report

The Rob Prince “Come Learn About Palestine” Forum was better attended than we thought it might be. Having lived in Raton for not quite 3 years, we had no idea what to expect. We had 30 attendees plus the seven “radicals”, three from the Raton Media Works who filmed, and Kayvan Khalibarti, owner of the El Raton Theater. We were pleased!

Will Weir sat on stage with Rob Prince, introducing, welcoming and prompting questions from the audience. Rob, retired DU professor and current lecturer on Palestinian/Israeli affairs provided facts and perspectives which helped open the hearts and minds to the continued bombardment and mass murders of the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. He spoke to the importance of an immediate ceasefire for the sake of the Palestinians, Israel and the United States.

When talking with some of the people post forum, I was encouraged by the awareness of most. We provided a sign-up sheet for participants to encourage continued involvement with our newly founded group. Dennis Duckett has invited the 10 who did sign up to participate in our demonstrations and future programs. We handed our fact sheets with data on the shrinking of Palestinian lands over the last 80ish years and phone numbers for Representatives to contact.

We will be on the main crossroads this Saturday with our signs and will be carpooling to Taos for a demonstration there with fellow New Mexicans, in response to the devastating reports of the numbers of atrocious deaths, mostly children and innocents. 

Attached is a link to the video and a photo of some of the crew in front of the theater. Rob Prince was not the most polished of speaker’s (he attributes to his aging process) but his knowledge is profound and his heart is with the suffering. The theater itself was not quite ready for prime time, as it is still a work in progress, but all in all the program was a success.

-Las Animas/Colfax County Forum for Peace and Justice (Raton Radicals), April 11, 2024