Coloradans head to Mideast to act as 'human shields'
April 3, 2002
A Colorado schoolteacher is among hundreds of foreign "human shields" in Bethlehem acting to protect Palestinians from Israel's military offensive.
"We need to quit being so apathetic, sitting and watching television, thinking we can't do anything," said Nancy Stohlman, 28, her cellphone battery fading. "I'm scared, but that's sort of self-indulgent at this point."
The Denver-based Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace is sponsoring Stohlman and other activists. More peace activists planned to leave Denver this week. They believe their presence can deter Israeli troops.
"What is difficult is to realize that a tragic event is taking place right now and to do something about it," said Beth Daoud, an independent in-home nurse for the elderly in Denver who arrived in Jerusalem on Monday. "As a human being, I have to do something about this."
U.S. State Department officials said diplomats dispatched to help Americans in Bethlehem "haven't been able to get there" and urged would-be human shields to heed a warning against traveling in Israel.
"We can't take responsibility for people who decide against that advice to travel there," U.S. consular affairs spokesman Edward Dickens said in Washington, D.C. "Of course, we will do everything within our power to aid Americans in distress -- even if they have traveled against our advice."
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