Rachel Corrie
Rachel Corrie (1979-2003) was the "23-year-old American peace activist and student who was run over and killed by [an Israeli] Caterpillar D9 [armored] bulldozer on March 16, 2003." She stood in front of the bulldozer trying to protect the houses of her Palestinian friends. A lawsuit has been "filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western Federal District of Washington, [alleging] that Caterpillar, Inc. violated international and state law by providing specially designed bulldozers to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that it knew would be used to demolish homes and endanger civilians." Furthermore, Caterpillar's actions even violate its own stated "corporate responsibility charter".
"Plaintiffs Craig and Cindy Corrie are represented by lawyers from the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Ronald J. Peterson Law Clinic at Seattle University Law School, and the Public Interest Law Group PLLC in Seattle, Washington." [1]
Background
Born in Olympia, Washington, in 1979, Corrie was a keen poet and painter and kept a diary of her observations on the outside world.
She became interested in the Middle East after taking a course in the politics of the area while at Evergreen State College, a liberal arts college also in Olympia.
In January 2003, she travelled to Rafah, a border town on the Gaza Strip, where she joined other members of the International Solidarity Movement, a Palestinian-led movement which, according to its website, is committed to ‘resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land using non-violent, direct-action methods and principles’. [2]
‘My Name is Rachel Corrie’
‘My Name is Rachel Corrie’, is a play that tells the story of Corrie (acted by Megan Dodd). The play is directed by British actor Alan Rickman. Rickman also co-edited the production with Katharine Viner, editor of the Guardian Weekend magazine.
Viner was asked to edit Corrie’s writings — diaries, notebooks, poems, emails and letters — by the Royal Court Theatre and, having heard about her story, wanted to get involved. [3]
SourceWatch Resources
External links
- Rachel Corrie Memorial Website.
- "Family of American Woman Killed by Military Bulldozer Files Suit Against Catepillar, Inc.," Center for Constitutional Rights, March 15, 2005: "Family of Rachel Corrie Charges Bulldozer Manufacturer Knowingly Sold Machines Used to Violate Human Rights."
- "Family of Rachel Corrie files suit against Caterpillar, Inc.," Press Release, Center for Constitutional Rights, March 16, 2005.
- Laurie King-Irani, "The passionate minority and the silenced majority," The Electronic Intifada, March 22, 2005. King-Irani contrasts the media coverage of Terri Schiavo with that of Rachel Corrie. In one case, a media frenzy, in the other neglect.
- Final report filed by Corrie
