• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
  • WORLD DEMOCRACY
  • POLITICAL ART
  • more
    • election technology
    • money politics
    • political dissidents
    • THIRD PARTY
      • third party central
      • green party
      • justice party
      • libertarian party
    • voting methods
  • DC INFO
    • author central
    • about
    • advertise with DC
    • contact
    • privacy policy

Democracy Chronicles

PHOTOS: The Freedom Flotilla in Cascais, Portugal

by Cat Watters - July 11, 2018

Facebook3TweetLinkedInPinShares3
On June 19th, the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza arrived in Cascais, Portugal

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is sailing in a peaceful effort to break the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza and for the ideals of freedom of movement and the right to a decent future. This is second of several articles I will post reporting on my time in Spain volunteering to help on the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to Palestine’s Gaza. Thank you again for all who supported my trip through donations!

We arrived in Cascais, Portugal from Gijon, Spain after leaving Norway in mid-May. The flotilla is expecting to arrive in Gaza July 29. Traveling with me were other participants and crew of the boat named Al-Awda. They were Mikkel Gruner, Charlie Andreasson, Daniel Ross (UK/Spain), Zohar Chamberlain Regev (Israel/Spain), Bullit Bourbon (USA), Ron Badger Rousseu (Canada), Awni Farhat, Dr. Carlos Ponte-Mtitelbrun (Spain), Angela Vallina (Spain), Lasse Vestergren Asthøy (Norway), and Muaz Rusian (Malaysia).

Captain Charlie Andreasson and Mikkel Gruner from the cabin preparing the Al-Awda for docking.
Captain Tomas Morate and Zohar Chamberlain Regev on the Al-Awda as it arrives in Cascais, Portugal.

Zohar Chamberlain Regev is an impressive Israeli citizen who was born and raised in Kibbutz Kfar Hahoresh, near Nazareth. Zohar is the owner of the famous ‘Women’s Boat to Gaza’ known as the Zaytouna-Oliva that was seized in 2016 and still the object of court proceedings in Israel. Currently, she represents the Rumbo a Gaza organization on the “Right to a Just Future for Palestine” Steering Committee and is the Freedom Flotilla’s boat leader on board Al Awda (The Return).

Mikkel Gruner overseeing docking at a gasoline dock to then be moved to the Al-Awda’s parking space for the next couple of days. During that time the participants and crew engaged with local groups to hold events and marches in support of lifting Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
Al-Awda docked in Cascai, Portugal on June 19.
Meeting on board the Al-Awda with, from left to right, Daniel Ross, Ron Badger Rousseu, Bullitt Bourbon and Charlie Andreasson.
Dr Carlos and Angela Vallina.
“Chris”

“Chris”, a Frenchman living in Spain, explained to me why he supports the people in Palestine and has come to see the Flotilla and participate in events, “All over the world we’re in the same war, rich against the poor, the government against the population. Money is in power and making war against the people, the human being. So, I am poor human being.”

Chris went on to say that when people are fighting over money they don’t make time to have peace, freedom and brotherhood. I asked Chris about the spin in the US that portrays the Palestinians as the “terrorists”, he said a lot of money is spent to make the Palestinians look to be terrorists. “It works, some people believe that. Most of the population knows what’s going on.”

For more of video of my interview with Chris see the April Watters YouTube Channel.

There was not as much support in Cascais as there was in the Flotilla’s previous stops in Gijon and in Cadiz. The security at the marina told the Flotilla and activists to not have cameras in the marina area. There was supposed to be a rally and march in the marina area that was not allowed to happen. The reason was that the people who had expensive yachts in the marina did not want their privacy compromised. Supporters of Palestine were not allowed to bring or hold banners inside the marina so the small crowd of about 50-60 went just outside the marina where a lot of people would be passing by.

Outside the marina.
Marny Kittredge, one of the groundcrew for the Flotilla to Gaza, holding the Palestinian flag at the rally in Cascais, Portugal.
One supporter of the Palestinians shared with me in Portuguese why we came to rally today. His interview will be posted on my April Watters YouTube Channel soon.

While some people were rallying, Zohar was being interviewed by Portuguese TV SIC about the mission of the Flotilla and what is expected to happen when it gets close to the port in Gaza.
Due to some confusion, the Flotilla sailboat named “The Freedom” was delayed in docking. This is a photo of it waiting to be allowed to dock.
The Freedom sailboat finally docked around 11:30 am in a spot next to the Al-Awda in Cascais, Portugal.
Trip to Lisbon for an event and talk.
Portuguese politician Ivan Goncalves

Portuguese politician Ivan Goncalves spoke at the talk with other members of the Flotilla to Gaza. He is currently the director of the powerful Socialist Youth movement in Portugal. The Socialist Youth movement is part of the Portuguese Socialist Party whose leader, António Costa, is the current Prime Minister of Portugal.

Ron Badger Rousseu on the right and Awni Farhat next to him spoke about what is going on in Palestine and how people can help spread awareness and action to help end the blockade of Gaza by Israeli forces.
Daniel Ross sharing at a press Conference on the second day in Cascais, Portugal. Born in the UK but living in Spain, Daniel spoke of being the son of a Jewish soldier who fought for the British army in World War 2 who liberated concentration camps and helped found Israel as a Zionist state. “It’s very important to point out that the people wearing uniforms in the streets of Palestine with the Israeli flag on, they are not soldiers”.
Bruno Dias

Bruno Dias, the President of the Portugal-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group, joined the press conference too. Dias was also recently interviewed by The Real News Network’s Dimitri Lascaris:

Members and crew of the Flotilla and Bruno Dias holding the Palestinian flag.

Bruno Dias visited the marina and the boats spoke wit Jena Marklund, the captain of the Freedom sailboat.
Local artists painted pictures on the side of the Al Awda using a stencil and then coloring the rest. Here the artist is seen filling in a military drone with spray paint.

Facebook3TweetLinkedInPinShares3

Filed Under: DC Authors Tagged With: Democracy Charity, Democracy Protests, Israel, Palestine, Spain

About Cat Watters

Cat Watters is a journalist, blogger, videographer, photographer and radio host on Peoples Internet Radio. She is an expert at photographing, filming and editing footage of street protests, street actions, political rallies, and other events. Cat writes for Democracy Chronicles from Brooklyn, New York and you can tune in to her radio show at Peoples Internet Radio every Tuesday from 6 to 8pm EST.

Some highlighted Democracy Chronicles topics

Africa American Corruption American Local Elections American State Elections Asia Capitalism and Big Business Celebrity Politics China Democracy Charity Democracy Protests Democrats Dictatorships Education Election History Election Methods Election Security Election Transparency Europe Internet and Democracy Journalism and Free Speech Middle East Minority Voting Rights Money Politics New York City and State Elections Political Artwork Political Dissidents Political Lobbying Redistricting Republicans Russia Socialism and Labor Social Media and Democracy South America Spying and Privacy Supreme Court Third Party Voter Access Voter ID Voter Registration Voter Suppression Voter Turnout Voting Technology Women Voting Rights Worldwide Worldwide Corruption

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David Anderson says

    July 17, 2018 at 12:55 pm

    Great reporting, and excellent pic as usual from you C.W.
    Adult criticism of Israel is more than needed, particularly in this day and age given the situation there.
    I fear the boycott/divest mvt is doing more harm than good though, for the Pal people. Additionally, Israel is in a difficult place being a democracy in a sea of intolerance and genocidal violence.
    Its hard to have a rational discussion with an enemy who wants to kill you (Hamas).
    Israel needs a nudge, for sure, but sometimes the Pal Mvt seems to get carried away.

    Your reportage, however, on this neglected part of protest in that part of the world is very valuable. Thank you Cat.
    D.
    NYC

    Reply
    • Cat says

      July 17, 2018 at 8:32 pm

      We need emotional health. Real adults. We’re in an raging health crisis like environmental pollution. Thank you for your comment.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Home | DC AUTHORS | PHOTOS: The Freedom Flotilla in Cascais, Portugal

Primary Sidebar

Advertise button

The Christian Evangelical Church

By Jack Jones January 22, 2023

I am not against Big Business having a voice, just not all the voices, and especially not an impersonator pretending to speak for God.

No One In Monterey County Is Good Enough To Serve In Legislature

By Joe Mathews January 9, 2023

California’s “democratic reforms” have left a place as… [key] as Monterey County without any state representation from one of its own.

democracy chronicles newsletter

DC AUTHORS

In America, the Joe-mocracy Rules

By Joe Mathews December 27, 2022

A republic? A democracy? No, our country is an avuncular autocracy run by old guys named joe.

Property Rights, Indiana-Style

By Andrew Straw December 24, 2022

Indiana’s justices have replaced constitutional property rights with ad hominem politics. Replacing them starts with better governors.

To The American Oligarchs: Lay Off Us

By Jack Jones December 21, 2022

No matter how many jobs are ruthlessly pulled out from under us, we are still going to do what it takes to put food on the table.

Indiana’s Irrational Ballot Access System

By Andrew Straw December 4, 2022

Opposing the potential 2024 retention of the Chief Justice Loretta Rush will be key to preventing disability discrimination bad blood in Indiana courts.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Biden’s Loan Forgiveness program

By Jack Jones November 24, 2022

What is unlawful is the Texas federal judge’s decision to strike down President Biden’s loan forgiveness program, not the program itself.

DeSantis Battles Trump in Florida Steel Cage Match

By Steve Schneider November 20, 2022

We take you now to the much-anticipated DeSantis-Trump steel cage match, in which “DeSanctimonious” has promised to “kick Trump’s ass.”

Why Gambling Can’t Really Lose In California

By Joe Mathews November 2, 2022

When state voters approved an expansion of casino gaming, gaming interests assured us that gambling here would be governed by strict limits.

MORE FROM OUR AUTHORS

VISIT OUR POLITICAL ART SECTION:

dc political art

DEMOCRACY CULTURE

Russian Wagner Boss Acknowledges Comparison With Rasputin

Russian Wagner Boss Acknowledges Comparison With Rasputin

January 30, 2023

Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin responded to comparisons [with]…Rasputin who treated the son of the last tsar for haemophilia.

ChatGPT Is Changing Education, AI Experts Say

ChatGPT Is Changing Education, AI Experts Say

January 30, 2023

Newly-launched AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT is changing the internet landscape. It presents several opportunities, including in education.

Girl Scouts Earn Democracy Badge At Workshop In Salina

Girl Scouts Earn Democracy Badge At Workshop In Salina

January 26, 2023

The workshop assisted Girl Scouts in grades K–10 in earning their Democracy Badge through learning activities on democracy.

Study: Media Can Reduce Polarization By Telling Personal Stories

Study: Media Can Reduce Polarization By Telling Personal Stories

January 26, 2023

Sharing personal experiences and pairing them with facts reduces political dehumanization and increases political tolerance.

Study: 2020 Election Resulted In Increased Anxiety And Depression

Study: 2020 Election Resulted In Increased Anxiety And Depression

January 7, 2023

A review of 2020 Household Pulse Survey data reveals that as an election nears, people in [America] report more depression and anxiety.

MORE CULTURE

VISIT OUR US DEMOCRACY SECTION:

American Democracy