We Demand Safe Passage for Austinite on Aid Flotilla!

URGENT OPEN LETTER: Texas Organizations Call for International Protection for American Veteran Greg Stoker! 9/4/2025

Organizations, Institutions, and Individuals of Note: Sign On and Endorse Open Letter Here
Community Members: Call to Action Template to alert your Reps
Download Social Media Images to Show Support
Track Greg’s ship, the “Ohwayla”, here
Community Members: Sign Petition

To Whom It May Concern:

Austin-based veteran Greg Stoker is aboard one of over 50 vessels participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian-led maritime mission carrying critical humanitarian aid to Gaza. The flotilla’s mission comes amid severe humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where international organizations, including the UN, declared widespread famine and medical collapse under the ongoing blockade.

The flotilla originally launched on August 31, 2025, paused for weather and mechanical issues, and is expected to be intercepted by Israeli forces within the next two weeks.. Any obstruction as such would breach the international laws that guarantee the right to deliver humanitarian aid, obligating State and individual liability under the Rome Statute, the Geneva Conventions, and the Genocide Convention. Specifically, the Fourth Geneva Convention (Articles 23,55, and 56) impose an obligation to permit the free passage of humanitarian aid and prohibit interference with relief operations. UPDATE: Two of the ships have been hit by suspected Israeli drones off the coast of Tunis. It is more urgent than ever to call for protection.

The Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has threatened to label participants in the mission as “terrorists” and to forcibly block the delivery of aid. He intends to hold activists in prisons and deny “privileges” such as television, radio, and specialized food.

This situation has heightened urgency following the detention of another American, Chris Smalls, just six weeks ago during a separate flotilla attempt. Smalls, a prominent labor leader, was beaten by the occupying forces and held in custody. He was among the last detainees released — and the United States was the only country that did not send delegates or intervene on his behalf.

We call on Texas elected officials, the US government, and American civil society to publicly demand:

  • International protection for Texan Veteran Greg Stoker,
  • Safe passage and safe return for the Global Sumud Flotilla,
  • Intervention if Americans are detained, harmed, or criminalized,
  • Rejection of any attempts to designate humanitarian activists as terrorists.

Additionally, it is imperative that media outlets cover the Global Sumud Flotilla fairly and thoroughly, ensuring it receives the necessary attention and support for the protection of its participants.

About the Global Sumud Flotilla
The Global Sumud Flotilla is a coalition of international human rights and humanitarian organizations committed to nonviolent maritime missions delivering aid to Gaza.

The all-veteran delegation includes multiple American veterans:

  • Gregory James Stoker – Austin, TX
  • Zue Carole Jernstedt – Gallipolis Ferry, WV
  • Edward Allen Doogan – Glenside, PA
  • Najeh Marwan Abduljalil – Reno, NV
  • McCall Lindsie Nichols – Carmichael, CA
  • Zuleyka Morales Rivera – Brooklyn, NY
  • Philip Kuper Tottenham – Toledo, OH
  • Jessica Kaye Clotfelter – Windsor, IL

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to seeing a strong public statements in the next few days.

110+ SIGNATORIES:

Social Justice Orgs, Pages, Activists

  1. Austin for Palestine Coalition
  2. About Face: Veterans Against the War
  3. US Labor Party – Chris Smalls
  4. Mike Siegel- City of Austin Councilmember, District 7
  5. Zohaib “Zo” Qadri– City of Austin Councilmember, District 9
  6. Vanessa Fuentes– City of Austin Councilmember, District 2
  7. Jose “Chito” Vela– City of Austin Councilmember, District 4
  8. Krista Laine– City of Austin Councilmember, District 6
  9. National Nurses United- (NNOC Texas) National union for registered nurses, including 1000 in Austin, TX.
  10. Austin Lawyers Guild – Austin chapter of the National Lawyers Guild (austinlawyersguild.org)
  11. University Democrats- UT Austin – oldest college political organization in Texas
  12. People Organized in Defense of Earth and her Resources (PODER)- grassroots org seeking to increase the participation of residents of East Austin in decisions related to economy and environment 
  13. Hands Off- Central Texas (Sophie Mirto)
  14. Jewish Voice for Peace – Austin (JVP) Jewish anti-zionist advocacy organization 
  15. Never Again Action- Austin- Jewish-led mobilization against persecution of immigrants in Austin
  16. Doctors Against Genocide– Austin
  17. ​​Austin Justice Coalition – Chas Moore
  18. American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC – Austin)
  19. Green Party of Texas– propositions and candidates that prioritize people, planet, & peace on to Texan ballots
  20. Festival Beach Food Forest – Community-led edible forest garden on public land
  21. United Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW)
  22. Palestinian Youth Movement – Central Texas (PYM)
  23. Austin Against Apartheid – Austin DSA Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign
  24. Austin Sanctuary Network
  25. Kolby Duhon – Texas Democratic Party Vice Chair for Finance
  26. Mariana Krueger – Precinct Chair for Travis County Democrats, Austin Bat Cave Executive Director
  27. Julie Ann Nitsch– Austin Community College (ACC) Trustee
  28. Bennett Kirschner – Playwright (@bennett_here)
  29. Maggie Freleng – Pulitzer Prize winning journalist (@maggiefreleng)
  30. Students for a Democratic Society – UT Austin
  31. Democratic Socialists of America – Austin (DSA)
  32. Writers Against the War On Gaza (WAWOG – Philadelphia Chapter)
  33. Muslims United PAC (@muslimsunitedpac) 
  34. Texas Roller Derby (@texasrollerderby) Austin’s first banked track roller derby league
  35. Interfaith Community for Palestinian Rights (ICPR)
  36. Palestine Solidarity Committee – (PSC) UT Austin
  37. Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR Austin)
  38. Watermelon Run Club – Austin
  39. Susanna for Commissioner PCT4– Del Valle ISD (Susanna Ledesma-Woody)
  40. Queertopia– providing support for LGBTQ+ Unhoused people in Austin
  41. Party for Socialism and Liberation – Austin (PSL)
  42. Street Forum ATX – (@streetforumatx)
  43. VOCAL-TX– Organizing to end homelessness, mass incarceration, HIV/AIDS, and the war on drugs
  44. Clear the Air ATX – air purifier lending library (@clear.the.air.atx) 
  45. A Better Force – Austin, equity-focused leadership development programs (@abetterforce) 
  46. SPARK Equity in Action– (@sparkequityinaction)
  47. Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera (@austintancerca) 
  48. Woori Juntos TX (@woorijuntostx)
  49. Joon Community– a mutual aid & public transit-focused 501(c)3
  50. Texas Green Workers (@txgw_ma)
  51. All My Leftists Live In Texas
  52. Deed Not Words – Austin, youth-led gender justice org
  53. Chúng Mình Collective– celebrates the diaspora through community building
  54. 50501ATX (Austin)
  55. 50501KY (Kentucky)
  56. 50501HTX (Houston)
  57. About Face South Texas (@aboutfacevawsouthtx)
  58. Industrial Workers of the World– organizing Austin workers to take on direct action (@iww.atx)
  59. Silk Club– empowering Asian women and queer people in Austin
  60. Saadia Mirza– activist, content creator (@saadia__m) 
  61. Geoff Peveto– designer, founder of Flatstock (The Decoder Ring)
  62. Megan Thuy – activist, content creator (@_meganthuy)  
  63. Urb Garden (@urb.garden) 
  64. Shane McCormick– Austin-based Documentarian, photographer (@portrait_god) 
  65. Falasteen Book Club – Austin
  66. Austin With Palestine (AWP)
  67. Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (KY Alliance)
  68. Sim Kern– Author of “Genocide Bad”
  69. Bridgitte Bandit – LGBTQ+ activist (@brigittebandit)
  70. Garrett Neaves– Democratic Party Precinct Chair Precinct 449
  71. The Gay Liberal (Ricky Longoria @thegayliberal) 
  72. Democrasexy (@democrasexy)
  73. Arshia For Texas (Arshia Papari for Texas State Rep HD 49)
  74. Daniela Silva – Travis County Democratic Party Riverside Super Precinct Chair
  75. Luai Abou-Emara – activist, content creator (@luaionline)
  76. Karen Dale-Wolman – Austin-based grant manager for NGO
  77. Reese for Travis County (Reese Armstrong)

Places of Worship

  1. Wildflower UU Church – Austin
  2. First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin – Rev. Chris Jimmerson
  3. Islamic Ahlul Bayt Association (IABA)- Austin
  4. Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry (TXUUJM)
  5. University Baptist Church – Austin,  a community rooted in faith, progressive in action
  6. Illif School of Theology

Austin Bands/Artists

  1. TC Superstar- (@tcsuperstar)
  2. Rose Ceremony – band
  3. Jackie Venson – musician
  4. Big Bill Band
  5. Hercules Club
  6. Ray Arteaga
  7. Javier Jara (@javijaramusica)
  8. DJ Beatsmode
  9. Julie Slim & RendezVous
  10. Hanna Barakat
  11. Paula Maya
  12. Sad Pajamas (@sad_pajamas) 
  13. Soundmind Productions
  14. Sexcult 

Businesses

  1. Alienated Majesty Bookstore Austin
  2. Double Trouble- Austin coffee shop/cafe
  3. Heritage Seafood – Austin
  4. Dessert Done Right – Austin
  5. Moonstoned Beauty – Austin
  6. Coffeyeh – Cedar Park, coffee shop
  7. Root Leather – Austin
  8. Feral Mother Studio (@feralmotherstudio) 
  9. Nine Moons Piercing LLC
  10. Bookwoman- Bookstore
  11. Reimagine Wealth- Austin wealth management company, helping people divest
  12. Angel Spit – Jewelry shop
  13. Bistro Vonish – Austin vegan restaurant 
  14. Lau Lau– Asian flavor inspired Austin coffee shop
  15. As You Are Acupuncture

SIGN ON TO THE OPEN LETTER HERE