Israeli forces manhandle EU diplomats, seize West Bank aid

[Jesus Malverde]

24. Rachel Corrie born, raised, educated in Olympia, Washington

Corrie was born on April 10, 1979, and raised in Olympia, Washington, United States. She was the youngest of three children of Craig Corrie, an insurance executive, and Cindy Corrie. Cindy describes their family as "average Americans—politically liberal, economically conservative, middle class".

After graduating from Capital High School, Corrie went on to attend The Evergreen State College, also in Olympia, where she took a number of arts courses. She took a year off from her studies to work as a volunteer in the Washington State Conservation Corps. She also spent three years making weekly visits to mental patients.

While at Evergreen State College she became a "committed peace activist" arranging peace events through a local group called 'Olympians for Peace and Solidarity'. She later joined the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) organisation in order to use non-violent methods for challenging the policies of the Israeli army in the West Bank and Gaza.[1] In her senior year, she proposed an independent-study program in which she would travel to Gaza, join protesters from the ISM, and initiate a "sister city" project between Olympia and Rafah. Before leaving, she also organized a pen-pal program between children in Olympia and Rafah.