Nearly 1000 march in Orlando, demand end to Palestine occupation
Orlando, FL – On October 14, nearly 1000 people gathered at Lake Eola to demand an end to the violent occupation of Palestine and urge U.S. representatives to end U.S. aid to Israel.
“The solution is easy: end the occupation of 75 years,” said Rasha Mubarak, an organizer with the Florida Palestine Network (FPN). FPN organized the rally amid increased attacks on Gaza from the Israeli occupation forces, with a Palestinian death toll numbering nearly 3000 men, women and children.
The rally began at the Lake Eola amphitheater with speeches given by Palestinian and other community activists. They echoed stories of their families trapped in Gaza, Palestine, and the emotional toll of the recent attacks. Speakers highlighted calls to action to stand with the Palestinian people, including signing a petition to urge local elected officials to end their support of Israel. One of these local politicians, Maxwell Frost, once stood with Palestinian activists in the streets before doing an about-face in the run-up to his election. Now Frost supports U.S. funding for Israel.
The rally next marched around Lake Eola before taking to the streets and making its way to city hall. Chants of “Joe Biden what do you say? How many kids did you kill today?” and “Palestine will never die!, could be heard from the large procession.
Once at city hall, the group continued speeches in support of Palestine. One notable speech was given by Ahmad Daraldik, a Palestinian student who was removed from his position as president of the FSU student senate after an anti-Palestinian hate campaign. He highlighted how all oppressed people have a shared interest in fighting for the Palestinian people against Israeli occupation. Daraldik said, “We are all Palestinian!”
After the march back to Lake Eola, the petition signatures had increased by hundreds and the organizers urged attendees to continue fighting for Palestine. The rally closed with chants of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”
The cosponsors of the rally were Las Semillas, FRSO Orlando, Healing our Homeland, Orlando DSA, Orlando Dream Defenders, Samidoun Network, Palestinian Feminist Collective, Unbought Power, REAL, and Orlando for Gender Equality. The rally was counterprotested by fewer than ten pro-Israel reactionaries.
To sign the petition, go to https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/florida-must-stand-with-the-palestinian-people