Santa Clara protest targets Zionist AIPAC dinner

Some 75 people turned out to protest at the Santa Clara Convention Center on Dec. 3 as AIPAC, the American Israel

Public Affairs Committee, held its annual dinner “to support AIPAC and their work supporting Israel.”

Passing motorists and dinner guests arriving at the convention center were met with chanting protesters holding banners with slogans such as, “Tear down apartheid walls in Palestine and Mexico,” “No U.S. tax dollars to Israel,” and “Israel, return $500 million Palestinian tax money now.”

AIPAC is the largest pro-Israel lobbying organization in the United States. On its website, AIPAC claims, “Through more than 2,000 meetings with members of Congress—at home and in Washington—AIPAC activists help pass more than 100 pro-Israel legislative initiatives a year.” Prominently displayed on its website banner is this designation by the New York Times: “The most important organization affecting America’s relationship with Israel.”

The protest was initiated by South Bay Mobilization. Activists from Veterans for Peace, Friends of South Asia, Think First, the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), the Party for Socialism and Liberation and other organizations also participated.