By Halil Ibrahim Ciger, Zehra Nur Duz
ANKARA (AA) - Cindy Corrie and her husband Craig Corrie, the parents of American activist Rachel Corrie, who was crushed to death by Israeli bulldozers in Palestine 20 years ago, expressed their profound grief over the recent violence in Gaza.
“We know the pain of losing” a family member, Craig Corrie told Anadolu Talk Zone, Anadolu’s English-language podcast.
The family said that soon after Rachel's killing, Israel attempted to create misinformation through a PowerPoint presentation with incorrect and incomplete information. However, they stressed that the truth was revealed through the testimonies of Rachel's friends and some Israeli soldiers.
Cindy Corrie, for her part, underlined the need to prevent the US government from providing aid to Israel.
Cindy and Craig Corrie are engaged in activities in the US, where they explain to senators and government officials that the aid provided to Israel is unfair and wrong.
Cindy Corrie said that their daughter, Rachel, was deeply affected by the events of Sept. 11 and wanted to work in Palestine to prevent the loss of innocent lives. That's why she went to Gaza as a UN human rights observer.
They told Anadolu Talk Zone that they are still active in the Olympia region of Washington to advocate for a change in the US' policy toward Israel.
"You know, 911 was a huge and enormous event in the lives of young people, certainly the lives of all Americans, but the lives of young people who had never experienced something like that and so she became very connected to the peace movement here'
“Here in the United States, we feel that what needs to happen most is to change the US government's policy toward that area towards Israel and Palestine,” Craig said, adding that they have been striving to for this change.
The family continues their awareness activities by establishing the Rachel Corrie Foundation to bring an end to the conflicts between Israel and Palestine and to minimize the impact on innocent civilians.
- Rachel Corrie
On a Friday 20 years ago, the 23-year-old American woman Rachel Corrie was killed by an Israeli bulldozer while protesting the demolition of Palestinian homes in the southern town of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Since then, she has become an icon of solidarity with the Palestinians.
Born on April 10, 1979, in Olympia, Washington, Rachel Corrie had dedicated her life to human rights, defending Palestinian rights in particular.
She was the youngest of three children of Craig and Cindy, who described their family as "average American, politically liberal, economically conservative, middle class."
In 2003, she traveled to Palestine for her senior-year college assignment – to connect her hometown with Rafah, as part of a sister cities project.
During her stay, she engaged with members of the International Solidarity Movement, a pro-Palestinian NGO.
There, on March 16, she stood in front of an Israeli bulldozer, staging a peaceful protest to protect the home of a Palestinian family from demolition. She was crushed to death when the bulldozer driver ran her over, according to witnesses.
Gazans received news of her murder with grief and horror, describing her as a "martyr" and staging a massive funeral for the American activist.
Near the home that Corrie was protesting to save, Palestinians launched an annual sports championship in her memory.