Rasmea’s defense raises money, awareness in Dearborn

Rasmea Odeh‘s Defense Committee raised approximately $4,ooo at a Nov. 2 fundraiser in Dearborn, Mich.

The fundraiser, hosted at the Beit Hanina Outreach and Community Center, came two days before Odeh’s trial is set to begin in Detroit and was used as a late push to encourage supporters to fill the court room all week. Odeh told supporters at the event that their presence gave her strength in the days before the Nov. 4 trial.

The Arab American Action Network expects nearly 100 people to be at the first day of the trial. Sources familiar with the case said the trial should be over by Friday.

Fifteen-minute demonstrations will take place Nov. 5–7 starting at 8 a.m. outside the Theodore Levin United States Courthouse.  US District Judge Gershwin A. Drain stipulated that protesters are not to be outside on the first day of the trial to prevent potential jurors from seeing Odeh’s supporters.

Judge Drain delivered a major blow to Odeh’s defense, the Electronic Intifada reported last week, but Hatim Abudayyah, director of the Arab American Action Network, is still confident she can win the case.