Members of the Global Justice Project from Boston College staged a street theater demonstration outside the Israeli Consulate in Boston to commemorate the death of Rachel Corrie who was crushed by an Israeli bulldozer in the Gaza Strip. The demonstration also included participation by “the pro-Palestinian educational and advocacy group, Boston to Palestine, [who] handed out informational fliers to people passing by.”

“As privileged college students, we can relate to this woman, who translated what she learned into action,” said Ben Fuller-Googins, member of the GJP and A&S ‘09. “She physically put herself in harm’s way to stop occupation.”

At 1 p.m. Thursday, 23 GJP members began the demonstration that sought to recreate a checkpoint like the ones that exist in occupied territory. In an effort to make the spectacle as realistic as possible, Fuller-Googins said the student-actors role-played Israeli army soldiers, injured Palestinian civilians, and Red Cross medical personnel. Some students also held large canvas banners representing the separation wall between Israel and Palestine. “We portrayed what might actually go on at a checkpoint,” he said.

Seif Ammus, member of the GJP and A&S ‘08, said the demonstration took the cooperation of participating members to find appropriate costuming and props. “It was a potluck effort,” he said. “We met the night before to get into our roles. The Israeli soldiers were particularly convincing.”

Drawing the attention of passersby and people within the consulate, the demonstration aimed to educate and focus awareness on the oppression of the Palestinian people, said Katrina Quisumbing King, member of the GJP and A&S ‘07. “A lot of people passing by thought it was a real event,” she said. “That was a testimony to how great the actors were.”

…Fuller-Googins made clear that the demonstration was not a protest against the Israeli people, but rather against the Israel government. “We are critical of the state of Israel and its process of colonization,” he said. “There is a distinction between its citizens and the state hegemony. Israel has a right to be criticized like any other nation without its critics being called anti-Semites. There are definitely groups within Israel who share our views.”