I Saw it in Palestine

For Immediate Release

What: A Free Reading of Extended Excerpts From:
My Name Is Rachel Corrie

When: Thursday, March 16, 7:00 PM

Where: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church,
330 SE 11th Ave.
Portland, OR 97214

Contact: Francesca Sanders
arpius@comcast.net
(503) 493-2955

Local Actors and Community Members To Present Reading
of Controversial Play My Name Is Rachel Corrie

Portland, Oregon Local playwright Francesca Sanders, director Trish Egan and local activist, Joy Ellison are among those who will present a staged reading of extended excerpts from the controversial new play, My Name Is Rachel Corrie. The play recently gained national attention after the New York Theatre Workshop postponed indefinitely its planned production of the sold-out London hit. Area actors and community members will collaborate to bring the play to the Portland arena on March 16th, the anniversary of Ms. Corrie’s death.

Rachel Corrie, an activist working with the International Solidarity Movement in Gaza, was killed by an Israeli bulldozer on March 16th, 2003. Noted actor Alan Rickman worked with Katharine Viner and the Royal Court Theatre in London to develop My Name Is Rachel Corrie, and brought it to the stage in 2005. The play, drawn from Corrie’s journals and emails, follows Corrie’s journey to the Middle East and her growing understanding of the Palestinian – Israeli conflict interspersed with her writings as a child.

Rachel's parents, who have been speaking out across the country and who spoke at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Portland last Fall, have asked that Rachel's words be read worldwide on March 16th to commemorate the third anniversary of their daughter's death. Large-scale events are also planned in New York and around the world on March 22nd, the day the play was to have opened at New York Theatre Workshop. We'll be sending along photos from Portland to include in those
events.

Joining us at the event and reading one of the passages will be local peace activist, Joy Ellison. Last summer, the 21 year old, spent two months in the West Bank working for human rights using the same methods as Rachel Corrie. Joy volunteered with Christian Peacemaker Teams, the organization that helped found the International Solidarity Movement.

While in Palestine, Joy accompanied Palestinians as they attempted to stand between bulldozers and olive trees that were being uprooted to make way for a 25 foot high wall constructed by Israel inside the West Bank. Since Joy has returned home, she has shared her experiences with more than 500 people. She will return to Palestine again this summer

For more information on the events in New York or worldwide, go to: www.rachelswords.org