Sarri Singer, Director, Speaks at New York City Rally Against Terrorism

Below find Sarri Singer's Speech to over 1000 people who attended the rally on June 9, 2010.

My name is Sarri Singer, I am the daughter of New Jersey State Senator, Robert Singer and I am a victim of terrorism coordinated and executed by Hamas on Bus # 14 in Jerusalem, Israel on June 11, 2003. On that day over 100 people were injured and 16 innocent people were murdered, including everyone seated and standing around me.  It was the day that changed my life forever. The Bus #14 bombing is one of hundreds of terror attacks Hamas committed in and around Israel. This Friday it will be 7 years since that day and I am still witnessing the lifelong wounds and trauma that hundreds of people continue to experience as a result of this.

When I close my eyes I am brought back to the events of that day, which are still fresh in my mind. I remember boarding the crowded bus and a few minutes later seeing 2 empty seats in the front section but instead of taking the aisle seat, I moved in next to the window, a choice that I know saved my life. I remember the sounds of crushing metal and feeling the shockwave as the explosion tore through the bus. I remember immediately shutting my eyes, an instinct that saved my sight.  And then the moment of eerie silence that followed the blast - a silence so frightening, silence of those who were dead in every seat around me. Then I screamed. I screamed so loud that a stranger, who had heard the blast from three blocks away, heard my cries and ran toward the mangled bus and pulled me out. I will never forget the old Israeli woman who stood by my side holding me as I was burned, bleeding and frightened. I will never forget the kindness and love that was shown to me by those I had known my entire life and by those whom I had never met.

Today I stand before you, still carrying the memories of that horrific day. I have pieces of shrapnel imbedded in me in locations that are inoperable. The Hamas terrorist was an 18 years old boy who was the 8th homicide bomber to be recruited by Hamas from a children’s palestinian soccer team for the sole purpose of carrying out terrorist attacks in Israel on innocent civilians like you and me.

I would like to address the supporters of the so called “peace activists”. Shame on you!!! Terrorists do not conduct interviews before they blow you up or try to kill you.  We all want peace but not with those who publicly call for the destruction of Israel and for our people to return to the ovens of Auschwitz.

Shame on the governments of the world that have turned a blind side to the ONLY democratic and friendly nation in the region that do not circumcise women, that do not torture their own people and do not lynch a family who does not worship as they want you to. Israel has the right to defend itself and its citizens … period.

Islamic Terror is not exclusively an Israel problem…it’s a world problem. Whether it is Times Square or a plane to Detroit…. Every day there is news of arrests or investigations of terror within this country, with in this state and just blocks away from where we stand here right in New York City.

Terrorism doesn’t discriminate – it can happen anywhere and at anytime and we have an obligation along with the rest of the world to show that we are not going to stand by while we let those who have little value for human life continue to hurt and murder innocent people. We need to stand strong and for the world to know that Israel has the right to protect themselves just like any other country.

My friends – today when you go home from this rally, we must remember that we can’t just take the experience of today and do nothing as if today didn’t happen. We have to remember why we are here and what we need to be doing each and every day to support Israel and its right to defend itself from terrorism. Hamas is a terrorist organization with one goal in mind -- to terrorize and destroy the lives of innocent people. Let’s send a clear message today to the people of the world that darkness will never extinguish the light. Evil will never defeat good. We will never abandon those that fight against TERRORISM!!!!