Photo by MacGregor Eddy
By California for a World BEYOND War, December 30, 2024
Angeline’s hunger strike was a direct response to the catastrophic conditions in Gaza, where over two million residents endure starvation, bombings, and displacement under an Israeli blockade backed by U.S. military aid. Despite President Biden’s 30-day warning to Israel to improve conditions, the siege persisted, with humanitarian aid largely blocked and violence escalating. Angeline, a resident of Marin County, said, “The U.S. and Israeli governments are complicit in this genocide.”
Reflecting on her experience, Angeline described the physical toll of her fast: “I’ve lost 17 pounds, feel constantly cold, and my immunity is low. But my suffering is nothing compared to what the people of Gaza endure daily.” She highlighted the dire consequences of prolonged starvation, particularly for Gaza’s children, who face hunger as a form of systemic torture.
Angeline’s activism extends beyond her fast. She joined the Freedom Flotilla in Lisbon last summer to challenge the blockade and spent seven months in Washington, D.C., advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. Her Representative, Jared Huffman, declined to meet her during the fast, further fueling her resolve to hold elected officials accountable.
On December 19, CODEPINK Bay Area and a coalition of activists held a rally at the Phillip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco to support Angeline and announce the lawsuit. The plaintiffs, including over 500 constituents, allege that Huffman and Thompson’s votes to fund Israeli military actions force them into complicity with war crimes. Attorney Dean Royer stated, “We’re asking the court to say taxpayer dollars cannot be used to fund genocide.”
Carol Bloom, a plaintiff from Sonoma County, described the emotional toll: “The moral injuries caused by our representatives’ decisions are immeasurable.” Laurel Krause of Mendocino County added, “Elected officials have remained unresponsive to public demands to end the genocide.”
The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, aiming to halt military aid to Israel and hold U.S. representatives accountable. For Angeline, the fight continues: “I put my body on the line for justice in Gaza. It’s time our government stopped funding atrocities.”
Leslie was arrested with Daniel Ellsberg, Fr. Louie Vitale, Judy Talaugon, and 11 others protesting the launch of a Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California, to land in the missile test range in the Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands.
Leslie Angeline has a vision that another world is possible.
Credit to Common Dreams and CODEPINK.
