Former US Colonel Ann Wright speaks on her activism for Palestinian rights

Baker Institute for Public Policy- ...The Baker Institute Student Forum recently hosted Colonel Ann Wright at an event. Colonel Wright had most recently organized the passage of the Gaza Flotilla. Colonel Wright was a dedicated State Department diplomat and former Army officer who resigned following the U.S. invasion of Iraq, putting an end to her years of government service to champion her own principles.

At Rice, Colonel Wright discussed her opposition to the violence used by the Israeli Navy to seize the six ships of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on May 31. She gave an explicit, first-hand account of her experience on board 'The Challenger,' a ship which was filled with journalists who attempted to document Israeli soldiers' raids on the flotilla.

Passengers were attacked by Israeli soldiers who occupied the ship. She strove to give the audience an alternative view of the Israel-Palestine issue. In addition, Wright discussed some of her experiences protesting the U.S. government's actions in Iraq, including protesting outside of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. Read more