Audacity of Hope -- Stay Human!

In June 2011, St. Louisan Hedy Epstein took part in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla II, a humanitarian effort to break the naval blockade of Gaza.

Aaron Maté, a reporter for Democracy Now! at the time, interviewed Hedy Epstein aboard the ship Audacity of Hope as she waited in a Greek port to set sail for Gaza in the summer of 2011. The Audacity of Hope, along with nine other boats, formed a humanitarian fotilla that intended to break through Israel’s naval blockade.

Ultimately the sailing to Gaza did not take place. But Hedy’s determination was not daunted in the least.

In a recent mainstream interview, Norman Finkelstein surprised his interlocuteur when he mentioned the total lockdown of Gaza that prevents anyone from coming or going. “What? Are you serious?” Here was an otherwise sympathetic conversation partner who was ignorant of the basic fact that Israel has maintained a complete blockade of Gaza for fifteen years, controlling every aspect of life in Gaza.