DEARBORN — Two weeks after a month-long journey leading a 100-vehicle aid convoy into Gaza, George Galloway is to speak to an eager crowd in Dearborn on March 27 at a major student-led fundraiser for the battered Palestinian territory.

British politician George Galloway (C) sits with Palestinian students near their school, the al-Fadelah Islamic school, destroyed during Israel’s 22-day offensive that ended in January, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, March 11, 2009. Galloway left Gaza on March 11 after a three-day visit with an aid convoy loaded with humanitarian supplies organized by a British aid group. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

University of Michigan-Dearborn student group Humanitarian Organization for Palestinian Equality (HOPE) has generated much buzz and sponsorship for its third annual fundraising dinner, in large part by landing Galloway as keynote speaker.
The British Member of Parliament, known for his outspoken, fervent advocacy for Palestinian rights, will address an emotional crowd at the event, 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency-Dearborn, 600 Town Center Drive.

HOPE president Omar Abdolkarim said that even though the community is a little tapped out for funds after dozens of Gaza aid benefits since the the December-January 22-day Israeli military offensive in Gaza, support for the event hasn’t slowed.

As long as there’s occupation in Palestine, Abdolkarim said, the community will stay active and willing to aid humanitarian efforts, and the effect of the recent war in Gaza remains fresh on the minds of local Arab Americans and peace activists.

“What happened — it was ridiculous. All those deaths, it made a lot of people angry,” Abdolkarim said.

The group expects Galloway to draw the event’s largest crowd ever.

“When he speaks, people listen,” Abdolkarim said. “He’s a dynamic speaker… He can rile up a crowd, that’s for sure. Hearing him speak is a big motivator.”

“We thought it would be a longshot,” he said about getting Galloway to attend.

“We were actually surprised by how excited he was to do it.”

Known for his outspoken opposition to the Iraq War and harsh criticism of Israeli policy toward the Palestinians, Galloway is perhaps best recognized locally from a popular YouTube video of an August, 2006 Sky News TV interview in which he passionately attacks what he called biased media coverage of Israel-Palestinian and Israeli-Lebanese conflicts.

“He’s probably one of the biggest advocates,” said Kim Kasham, a U of M-Deaborn alumnus and former HOPE president who remains active in organizing the annual benefit.

“He’s world renowned. He’s been working for Palestinian rights for about 35 years.”

Performers, students and community advocates for the Palestinian cause dance during HOPE’s 2008 annual benefit in this TAAN file photo.

Kasham said all proceeds from the event are to go to food, water and shelter supplies in Gaza through the group American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) a 40-year-old provider of development programs to Palestinian communities and poor families throughout the Middle East.
Kasham said HOPE serves as a sister organization to the Arab Student Union on campus, with a specific focus on humanitarian efforts.

Galloway is the only high-profile name expected at the March 27 event. The dinner is also to feature Houston comedian Mo Amer, best known from the film “Allah Made Me Funny,” and New York writer Remi Kanazi, editor of the book “Poets for Palestine.”

Abdolkarim said that despite serious intentions and a somber tone at times, people have been able to laugh, dance and have fun at the event in past years.

“Even though they were there to do something and raise money, they had a good time,” he said. “We want to make sure that they don’t just come and donate money. We want to make sure that they have a good time.”

Contact Abdolkarim at 734.620.5605 or Kasham at 313.282.4919 for more information or tickets.