It occurs to me that it is worth mentioning that my friends and I have been in morning these last couple of weeks as our college friend and activist colleague Rita Hamad has confronted the news of her father’s death near his home in Texas. He was a middle school teacher and an ardent Pro-Palestine activist who worked tirelessly for the Palestinian Children’s Welfare Fund (http://www.pcwf.org/).
For his activism, Riad Hamad was most likely murdered. By who, we have no idea, and we may never know. He was found drowned in a lake, with both his face and arms bound in duct tape. Somehow, the police are still miraculously saying there is no evidence of foul play and are attempting to rule it a suicide.
Rita, who is a medical student, is devastated.
Anyway, here are some stories on the events. Please get the word out if you can.
http://pupaganda.com/2008/04/18/did-palestinian-activist-riad-hamad-commit-suicide.aspx
http://windowintopalestine.blogspot.com/2008/04/fallen-comrade-riad-hamad-1952-2008.html
Here is the link to a facebook group created lovingly by his former students:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31036710568
Anyway, I thought this was a story everyone should hear.
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I’m so sorry to read of this. I hope that justice comes for Mr. Hamad, and for the Palestinian children he championed.
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