03/08/2025
Ride Against War on GAZA (RAW GAZA), USA X-Country Tour
Purpose
To raise awareness of the horror of slaughter and the injustice of what is going on in Gaza and the West Bank and other Mideast countries. To raise money for humanitarian aid for Gaza and local peace organizations, and to lobby Congress to end the war.
RAW GAZA Supports
An immediate and sustainable ceasefire and release of all hostages.
Suspend all unrestricted military aid for Israel.
Unconditional humanitarian aid
Freeze settlements on the West Bank.
End the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.
Stop all attacks against civilians.
Support the international investigation of war crimes against Israel and Hamas.
Oppose all discrimination against Jews and Muslims but stop using false charges of antisemitism to quell criticism against Israel.
Petition
I will circulate a petition with the above demands in each state I pass through and either hand-deliver them to the local offices of US Representatives and Senators in those states when I pass through, or have that done by the supporters in those states.
The Ride
This will be about a 4000-mile plus ride on a gravel bike (though mostly on paved roads) from San Francisco to Portsmouth, NH. It will be a solo unsupported ride by myself: Bob Sanders, a Jewish 70-year-old former reporter, a founder of Not In My Name, NH, BikingOLD (BOLD) and RAW GAZA. It will be on the 50th anniversary of a similar ride I made while I was in college, (though that was for fun, not a cause) Others are welcome to ride along for all or parts of the ride, but they will be responsible for their own equipment, provisions, expenses and safety.
Money
Half the money I raise will go to humanitarian aid, via AFSC. A quarter will go to Peace Action, and maybe other peace groups, and a quarter will go to Not In My Name and other Jewish peace groups. Those who wish to donate can do so at the Peace Action donation page on their website. Just put RAW GAZA in the note field. There will also be a GoFundMe page. Checks can be made out to BikingOld and sent to 99 Warren St., Concord, NH 03301. A go fund me site to come.
Money raised at events will go to the groups organizing the events as long as it’s spent for Mideast Peace and/or humanitarian aid.
What I am hoping for
Endorsement
So I can put down your organization as endorsing the ride on press release, literature etc.. I am not asking for any money, though I will of course accept donations.
Events
Generally, I should arrive at each destination sometime in the afternoon, so a small reception or potluck after 6 pm in any destination should work, but I can also change things around so it could be a morning event the next day, or I can attend an existing event, or join a petition drive at a fair or a vigil. I will just show up and say a few words, or circulate the petition. It will be up to organizations if they want to make this into a fundraiser. They can keep any money raised, or donate some of it for Humanitarian aid or to RAW GAZA. A person who will contact those in the cities I am visiting to set up such events would be helpful.
Hosts
I will pay for the expenses of the trip, but I hope that it will be offset by hosts (this could be you!): friends and supporters along the way who will house and feed myself and any fellow riders. (I will also carry a tent and sleeping bag, so I could camp on a supporter’s property.) If not, no problem, I can make my own arrangements. A host coordinator though would be helpful.
Press. I will attempt to do a press release media in all the cities I’m passing through, but supporters in different cities could send their own releases on events and follow up with the local media that they already have relationships with. A press coordinator would be very helpful
In short, I’m looking for hosts, riders, events, news media contacts, help with publicity, logistics support, fundraising, fellow riders for part or all of the trip, contacts in Congressional and Senate offices along the way. I’m not expecting all of this, but I doesn’t hurt to ask. I’m asking.
I’m currently considering two routes in the middle section of the ride. All things being equal, I’m leading to the most northern route to dodge some of the summer heat. But the route to the South more traces the one I did 50 years ago. So I’m torn. It partly depends on if I’ll get more support (places to stay, events, press) in in one route over the other.
THE ROUTE (IF YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS PLEASE LET ME KNOW)
Here is my tentative itinerary and schedule
(Subject to change)
JUNE: CA, OR, ID, WY
5/28 Fly to SF
5/29 SF, CA
5/30-31 Oakland, CA
6/2 Sacramento, CA
6/10 Adel, OR
6/16 -17 Bosie, ID
6/21 Crater of the Moon National Park, ID
6/25-26 Jackson, WY (Grand Teton)
JULY
July Boulder route detailed 1866 miles
JULY COLORADO/NEBRASKA/IOWA
7/6 -7/7 Boulder-Denver CO
7/18-7/19 Lincoln-Omaha , NE
7/23-24 Des Moise IA
7/27 Cedar rapids, IA
JULY SD, MN, WI
7/8 Pine Ridge reservation SD
7/15-18 Sioux Falls SD
7/21-22 Minneapolis, MN
7/28- Madison, WI
7/29- Milwaukee, Wi
AUGUST IL, MI, OH,PA,NY, MA,NH
8/1-2 Chicago, IL
8/7 Ann Arbor, MI
8/8-9 Detroit, MI
8/10 Toledo OH
8/12 Oberlin, OH
8/1314 Cleveland, OH
8/15 Erie, PA
8/18-19 Buffalo, NY
8/21 Rochester, NY
8/22-23 Syracuse, NY
8/25 Utica, NY
8/27 Schenectady Albany, NY
8/28 Pittsfield MA
8/29-9/30 Amherst, MA
9/1 Keene, NH
9/2 Manchester, NH
9/3 Portsmouth, NH
9/4 Concord, NH
8/2-3 – Chicago, Ill
8/5 -- South bend, Indiana
8/8 – Ann Arbor Michigan
8/9-10- Detroit, Mich
8/11- Toledo, Ohio
8/13- Oberlin, Ohio
8/14 -15Cleavland, Ohio
8/17 Erie, Pa
8/19-20 Buffalo, NY
8/22 Rochester, NY
8/24-25 Syracuse, NY
8/26 Utica, NY
8/28 Albany, NY
8/29 Pittsfield, MA
8/30-9/1 Amherst, MA
9/2 Keene, NH
9/3 Manchester, NH
9/4 Portsmouth, NH
9/5 Concord NH
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