Former Congresswoman and 2008 Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney will appear at the New York Society for Ethical Culture on Jan 13.  Ms. McKinney is expected to tell in her own words what she experienced during the week of Dec. 29, 2008, while attempting to deliver relief aid and three tons of hospital supplies to Gaza. She was accompanied by one pediatrician, two surgeons, and professional journalists from CNN and Al Jazeera.

In daily emails during the incident, Ms. McKinney described what happened: “We were rammed and rammed again and rammed again the last one throwing me off the couch, sending all our food up in the air; and all the plastic bags and tubs--evidence of sea sicknesses among the crew and passengers--flew all over the cabin and all over us. We'd been rammed by the Israelis. How did we know? Because they called us on the phone afterwards to tell us that we were engaging in subversive, terroristic activity. And if that if we didn't turn around right then and return to Larnaca, Cyprus, we would be fired upon.”

With the boat taking on water and low on fuel, Ms. McKinney credits Lebanon with saving her and all those aboard the Dignity.

Ms. McKinney sent a copy of a statement from the Israeli consulate in Atlanta which said in part: “Unfortunately, former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney has taken it upon herself to commit an act of provocation, leading a small boat of supposed assistants into the conflict zone. She endangered herself, her assistants, and the vessel's crew. The Israeli navy hailed Ms. McKinney but the former Congresswoman failed to respond, thereby leading to the incident. We regret that during this time of crisis, while Israel is battling with the terrorist organization of Hamas and defending its citizens, that we are forced to deal with Ms. McKinney's irresponsible behavior.”

Ms. McKinney respectfully disagreed. Since she has returned home, she has attended several Free Gaza events, including one in Washington D.C. this past Saturday.

On Tues, Jan 13, 7pm, Ms. McKinney will be at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th St at Central Park West.