Dallas, TX – On the last Friday of Ramadan, April 5, the Muslim Congress organized a protest for Al-Quds Day. The demonstration was held in collaboration with organizations such as Palestinian Youth Movement, CAIR Texas, Jewish Voice for Peace DFW, DFW Anti-War Committee and many others.

After community prayers, protesters gathered on the Grassy Knoll in downtown Dallas with picket signs and banners. Demonstrators chanted common pro-Palestine chants, shouting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” as the protest drummer set the chant’s rhythm.

A single unknown Zionist man shouted at protesters, repeating skewed narratives, including those referencing the two-state solution proposed by former Prime Minister Ehud Barak in 2000. This plan would have given Palestinians less than 17% of their previously held territory.

Al-Quds Day is a pro-Palestinian international holiday held on the last Friday of Ramadan. The holiday’s roots trace back to when Iran’s former leader Ruholla Khomeini started Al-Quds Day 45 years ago, established in solidarity with Palestinian resistance and against Israeli occupation.

Dr. Bilal Pirasha, a physician that served the people of Gaza with a team of eight other volunteer doctors, was one of many speakers at the event. They served in Gaza for two weeks during a medical mission from the humanitarian aid organization MedGlobal.

“I learned the meaning of life in Gaza,” stated Dr. Pirasha. “I was there, thinking, ‘What makes them stand so steadfast and so firm?’ There was a man outside the hospital, I asked him what makes them stand so strong. He told me ‘Doctor, every night we go to sleep we are ready to die. We are ready to be martyred. Then the next morning when we wake up, we start our life again with new hope and a new dream.’”

Every year, the Muslim Congress has a resolution they present to the world globally on Al-Quds Day. This year’s resolution, read by Sabah Shah, stated, “We represent all people of conscience, all people who care for the wellbeing of others, and all people who value human rights, freedom, justice, and equality. We detest and reject the Zionist propaganda that has infiltrated the lives of Palestinians for well over 70 years now, as well as the lives of millions of oppressed across the world. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been martyred since October 7, 2023. More than 29,000 bombs have been dropped on Gaza. Nearly 70% of Gaza is in ruins.”

Speeches during the demonstration had common messaging honoring the movement’s support from and for people of all faiths.

Imam Maha Shahidi stated, “Our gathering is a loud and clear cry for peace, and a demand for the end to the suffering, and a call to action for the dignity and rights that every human being deserves.“

Shahidi continued, “Let the people of Palestine, Muslims, Jews, Christians, and anyone regardless of their beliefs determine their own future. Palestinians have the right to self-govern. This cannot and will not be denied.”

In tandem with this, activist and speaker Zeba Khan addressed the crowd, pointing out the sense of unity in the movement to free Palestine, stating, “This movement, this interfaith, interpolitical, inter-everything coalition. This is actually history in the making. This solidarity for people who need help, no matter where they’re from. We, united, together, will go down in history and we will make the Zionist occupation history.”

The demonstration wrapped around 5 p.m., closing with a prayer in unity.

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Dallas, TX – On Thursday, March 21, members of Palestinian Youth Movement, DFW Anti-War Committee and other Palestine supporters engaged in a 5:30 a.m. noise demonstration outside President Joe Biden’s lodgings at the Fairmont Hotel, lasting until Biden’s speedy departure at 10:30 a.m.

Demonstrators banged pots and pans, blew whistles, set off air horns, and in one case played a harmonium. The crowd of about 100 chanted, “If we don’t get no justice, then you don’t get no peace!” and “Wake up Biden! You can’t hide! We charge you with genocide!”

Banners demanding an end to the siege were tied to metal barricades lining the street, and the barricades also served as a loud surface on which to bang pots and pans. The sound of the demonstration bounced off the tall downtown buildings and was audible from several blocks away.

When Biden’s scheduled departure grew nearer, the demonstration shifted from in front of the hotel to an adjacent public street corner along Biden’s planned route. Police initially told protesters they would have to move further down the sidewalk, but the demonstration ultimately remained at the location along Biden’s route. Police responded by lining the street in front of the demonstration with police cars.

Police rearranged themselves and the barricades several times leading up to Biden’s exodus from the hotel, and Biden ultimately left an hour later than his scheduled departure. As his car sped away, the crowd’s shouts of “Shame on you” rang after him.

“Every single place Joe Biden goes, he should be afraid to be confronted by people like us,” said Nidaa Lafi of Palestinian Youth Movement. “He should be afraid to be confronted by people of conscience, people who will stand right in his face and say he is a genocide supporter! He is a child killer!”

In the last 150 days, the Biden administration has used a congressional loophole to make over 100 weapons transfers to Israel without notifying Congress. Two of those deals bypassed Congress when they would have otherwise required its approval. On the day the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel must do more to prevent civilian deaths and allow aid to starving Palestinians in Gaza, the Biden administration cut hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to the UN organization charged with providing such aid. The U.S. has been the sole veto blocking all three United Nations ceasefire resolutions.

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