DETROIT- Rasmea Odeh is an important figure and leader in the Palestinian-American community and this was especially made clear on Sept. 2 in Detroit.
Odeh was accused of lying on her immigration forms in 2013 by failing to disclose a criminal conviction meted out by an Israeli military court in 1969. The original judge on the case proved to have Israeli ties and finally stepped down and allowed a less bias judge to be randomly appointed, the Electronic Intifada reported.
Rasmea Odeh addressed her supporters and journalist across the street from the Theodore Levin United States Courthouse in Detroit on Sept. 2.
Odeh’s supporters arrived at Theodore Levin United States Courthouse in Detroit for her hearing in vans and cars from several states around the country on September 2. I road with with a group of Arab-American activists from Bridgeview, IL to cover the mobilization effort on behalf of Rasmea for Electronic Intifada. Even though journalists and the public were not allowed in the hearing Odeh’s lawyers said the supporters presence was felt by the judge and them being there was “critical.”
According to Odeh’s defense attorneys her trial will be on Nov. 4 with a few hearing in Oct. before then.
A more detailed report from my trip will be posted on Electronic Intifada soon. For now, here are some photo’s and a short clip from the demonstration that occurred before the trial.
Arab-American activists met at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, IL before boarding two vans and driving to Detroit for Rasmea Odeh’s hearing.
For a detailed account of the court hearing itself read Ali Abunimah’s report on EI.
