Lufkin, TX – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) in Lufkin organized a forum, April 20, to inform the community about the case of Palestinian activist, Rasmea Odeh. Odeh is a 69-year-old Palestinian American activist who was brutalized and tortured by the Israeli government and is now being targeted by the U.S. because of her activism.

They opened the event with some background on the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and then discussed Rasmea Odeh's activism, as well as the U.S. government's attempts to silence her with a trumped-up immigration charge. Many people in the crowd were hearing about Odeh’s case for the first time. At the same time they were learning about the crimes committed by the U.S.-sponsored state of Israel and the struggle of the Palestinian people.

Afterwards there was a lively discussion that lasted for nearly 45 minutes, in which the students and professors in the audience expressed anger and outrage at the government's attempts to jail and deport her.

Angelica Hernandez, a member of SDS in Lufkin, said, “It is very clear that Rasmea Odeh is innocent of the crime she is accused and it is up to people around the U.S. and the world to defend her and help her receive the justice she so deserves. Long live Rasmea Odeh!”

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