Corrie, the subject of “My
Name is Rachel Corrie”,
traveled to Gaza in 2003
to do humanitarian work.
By Miles Davis
Among what seems like the contents of a studio apartment – a sheet, a megaphone, several books, a backpack, photographs – scattered on a bare stage, a lone woman speaks. She spins from one end of the stage to the other, spot-lit. She picks up first this object, then that, often using them to mime the events she’s talking about. The events are the condensed life story, synthesized from journal entries, emails, and letters, of Rachel Corrie, an American diarist, activist, and human rights advocate who traveled to Gaza, Palestine in 2003 to do humanitarian work with other international students. The woman embodying her story with impressive flexibility of expression is local resident Jessica Frederick.
When Frederick was in her early 20s, she never thought her career choice would change the way she experienced world news – and transform her life. “It is haunting,” she muses, “every time I hear reports from a region that was so formative when I was a young adult.”
From 2007 to 2010, Frederick left Chautauqua County to live in the West Bank, doing humanitarian work with Community Peacemaker Teams, much like Rachel Corrie had 5 years earlier. While there, she supported the work of Palestinian practitioners of nonviolent resistance and collaborated with Israeli peacemakers and lawyers to advocate for Palestinian human rights. Because of her experience, reports on the war in Gaza have been hitting close to home.
“Since October 7th, I have heard from Palestinian friends about how the war in Gaza is having a direct impact on their lives and safety. I’ve been so deeply troubled by the news coming out of Gaza” says Frederick, “I had to do something.”
That drive led her to the stage. Frederick, now priest for Children, Youth, and Family Ministry at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown, performed “My Name is Rachel Corrie” with the support of St. Luke’s community drama group, Winged Ox Players, in mid-March at the Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown. This one-woman play, composed of Corrie’s own words, is edited by Harry Potter star Alan Rickman and British journalist Katharine Viner.
“What I love about this play is that it is rooted in the fundamental humanity of Rachel and the people she encounters,” reflects Frederick. “Her articulation of human dignity in the face of overwhelming destruction makes, as Corrie states, ‘bravery seem more possible.’”
The March 15th performance marked the 21st anniversary of Corrie’s death: In an attempt to stop the demolition of a Palestinian home by the Israeli military, Corrie stood in front of an armored bulldozer, which crushed her to death. She was 23 years old.
At the free performances, Saint Luke’s Church collected over $1300 in donations for Gaza relief through the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. For those who wish to contribute to this cause, donations can be made electronically by going to www.tinyurl.com/StLukesGazaRelief, and selecting ‘Gaza Relief’ from the dropdown.
After the performances, audience members were interested in taking action on behalf of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is drafting a letter to our representatives in Congress: Calling for a humanitarian truce, as voted for by the United Nations General Assembly, and to urge members of Congress to push for the creation of a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to allow urgently needed food, water, medical supplies, and fuel to vulnerable people.
Community members who are interested participating and signing this letter can contact the Rev. Jessica Frederick at Jessica.Frederick@stlukesjamestown.org