San Jose, CA – On Thursday, May 15, around 50 people gathered in downtown San Jose in front of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library to commemorate the 77th year of the ongoing Nakba.

Chants of “Free Palestine,” “BDS is our demand, no peace on stolen land” and “Stop bombing Gaza!” were heard throughout the streets of downtown.

77 years ago, the Zionist movement began its brutal ethnic cleansing campaign forcefully removing more than 750,000 Palestinians from their homes to make way for the creation of the apartheid state of Israel.

The rally had a program of speakers from organizations such as San Jose Against War, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Muslim American Association, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Santa Clara County Green Party, and Defending Rights and Dissent.

Nassim Nouri of the Green Party reminded the attendees of the U.S. role in the Israel’s ethnic cleansing saying, “No one can deny that it is our tax dollars that are being used to commit genocide.”

Tim West, a member of San Jose Against War, spoke about how AI, which big tech companies such as Microsoft invest heavily in, is also used for, “retrofitting Israeli weapons with guiding capabilities, missile with tracking and radar, computerizes weapons systems used to maximize use of lethal force on kids in Gaza.”

West continued highlighting the connection to the San Jose city’s investments, “All to the tune of $31 million from our very own San Jose city council.”

Musa Tariq of Center for American-Islamic Relations reflected on the repression of students and activists saying, “Even with the undeniable truth of the most well-documented genocide in history, our government is doubling down suppressing and criminalizing voices of peace more aggressively than ever. The louder the truth becomes the harder they press down.”

Tariq continued, “But our resistance will not end, not until we see a free Palestine in our lifetimes in a world liberated from oppression!”

Serena Myjer, of San Jose Against war, highlighted that the 97% of water in Gaza is contaminated and the bombs used to kill people in Gaza also leave the area as a toxic wasteland saying, “Israel is committing genocide and ecocide. the connection is quite clear, Palestinian Justice is environmental justice!”

Myjer also pointed out that a San Jose city council divestment target is Microsoft, which is providing AI and cloud services to Israel, is behind a proposed plan to build an AI data center on the habitat of the beloved burrowing owls.

Myjer continued saying, “There is no adapting to climate change and the biodiversity crisis when there is militarism and unkempt capitalism. If we want a livable future for all, we need to take a hard look at the cruelty and we need to stand up and fight back!”

Fadi Saba, vice president of Defending Rights and Dissent, reiterated to the crowd that our right to free speech is under attack saying, “Without dissent, there is no democracy! We must fight for our right to dissent!”

Donna Wallach of San Jose Against War said to the crowd that we should be filled with rage and to be stirred into action from what is happening in Palestine saying, “The time has come to right the horrendous wrongs done to the Palestinian people! Arms embargo now! End the occupation now! Tear down the apartheid walls now!”

Nuha Khan of the Muslim American Alliance, said, “Silence is simply a way for the media to stay away from the truth. Silence is siding with the oppressor and ignore the cries of our brothers and sisters in Palestine.”

Khan continued saying, “One thing I will ask of you all is to continue to speak up and show up!”

The evening continued with chants and calls onto the crowd to get involved in San Jose Against Wars divestment campaigns targeting Santa Clara County and San Jose city council.

#SanJoseCA #CA #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #NakbaDay #SJAW

Milwaukee, WI – On May 13, two days before the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, over 50 community members and activists from different organizations gathered in downtown Milwaukee to demand an end to the on-going genocide of Palestinians and to put a stop to all U.S. aid to Israel. The assembled crowd chanted things like “Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel’s war crimes!” and “Free, free Palestine! Long live Palestine!” Signs declaring support for the cause of Palestinian liberation were prevalent throughout, and members of the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC) held a 30-foot long banner that read “Long live the popular Palestinian resistance, from Milwaukee to Palestine!”

After a couple of speakers presenting the host group, Milwaukee 4 Palestine, the rally became a march. The people made their way a few blocks down the road, chanting the whole time, before coming to a stop outside U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s office. Johnson is a far-right Republican and ardent friend to the Israelis. The crowd was spirited with their chants directed at the unpopular senator and listened intently to some closing comments before they made their way back to the rally location. Along the way there was a sad lone counter protester carrying an Israeli flag, but whatever he might have been trying to say was drowned out by the chants from marchers.

On Monday, May 15, Milwaukee will welcome Nkosi Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela, the grandson of the great anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela, to speak on the Nakba at 75. The Milwaukee stop is the first in a series of events that will take him all the way to San Francisco and then back to Chicago by May 20. Zwelivelile is the tribal chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and has served as a member of the South African parliament since 2009. Like his grandfather before him, Mandela is a staunch supporter of Palestinian liberation.

Organizations sponsoring the visit in Milwaukee, including the Milwaukee chapter of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, Madison for Palestine, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, MAC, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, and many others.

#MilwaukeeWI #Palestine #NakbaDay #MiddleEast

Milwaukee, WI – May 15 marked the 74th anniversary of the Nakba, the day that Zionist paramilitaries began the violent removal of Palestinians from a majority of their historic homeland. Various organizations in Milwaukee, led primarily by American Muslims for Palestine and Students for Justice in Palestine, hosted a rally near the lakefront downtown to commemorate the tragedy that drew over 100 people. The event was co-sponsored by a variety of faith-based organizations representing Muslims, Christians and Jews.

The speakers also used the time to condemn the Israeli Defense Forces assassination of prominent Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and to call on legislators to end U.S. support for Israeli war crimes. Many of the faith leaders made appeals to the people who follow their respective religions to practice what they preach and stand up for justice.

Leaders from the Milwaukee branch of Jewish Voice for Peace condemned the complicity of some members of the local Jewish community, particularly highlighting the fact that many choose to celebrate the Nakba as “Israeli Independence Day.”

“We know that American Jewish support is the backbone of U.S. support for the criminal, racist, apartheid state of Israel, and without it, Palestine liberation would be closer to reality,” said Lorraine Halinka Malcoe, co-founder of Milwaukee JVP.

Janan Nejeeb of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition gave an impassioned speech uplifting the role of struggle. “Palestine will be free because we have generation after generation that has not forgotten and will never forget,” said Nejeeb. “And to those who are celebrating the racism and the brutality of Israel over on the North Side, we want you to know that Palestine will be free and that we grow like seeds!”

Since the wave of mass actions around the Palestinian struggle in the spring and early summer of 2021, the local branches of both American Muslims for Palestine and Students for Justice in Palestine have been revitalized. Within the last several weeks, the SJP chapter at Marquette University was successful in getting the student government to pass a resolution endorsing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction campaign. The students continue their work to get the university to remove all Israeli products from campus, starting with Sabra hummus.

Like all other things, the movement for justice in Palestine has expanded as the contradictions in the whole system become sharper. More and more people now than ever before are standing up and joining the fight to free Palestine and end Israeli apartheid.

#MilwaukeeWI #Palestine #StudentsForJusticeInPalestineSJP #JewishVoicesForPeace #NakbaDay #MiddleEast

Minneapolis, MN – Around 150 protesters rallied and marched in Minneapolis on May 14 to mark the 74th anniversary of Al Nakba – Arabic for “the catastrophe.” To Israelis, it's a day to celebrate “declaring independence” in 1948. To Palestinians, it's a day of mourning for the ensuing war when at least 750,000 Palestinian men, women and children were ruthlessly attacked, massacred, and driven from their homes by Zionist terror groups, and have never been allowed to return – in violation of international law. The Minnesota Anti-War Committee and American Muslims for Palestine organized the annual Al Nakba march to pressure for an end to the U.S.-backed Israeli occupation and apartheid.

The crowd was filled with Palestinian flags. Signs drew attention to the recent killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by an Israeli sniper and also called for an end to U.S. aid to Israel.

Anti-War Committee member Autumn Lake spoke to the crowd at the opening rally, saying, “At least 47 Palestinians have been killed by Israelis since the start of 2022. This past week, Israeli Occupation Forces violently raided the Jenin refugee camp, killing 18-year-old Ahmad Fathi Masad and 20-year-old Ahmad Ibrahim Owaidat. However, the death that has caught the most news coverage this week is the deliberate murder of Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by an Israeli sniper. Israeli Occupation Forces would go on to raid her home, confiscating Palestinian flags and preventing ‘the playing of nationalistic songs.’ Yesterday these same forces attacked her funeral procession, denying her dignity and rest even in death.”

Lake continued, “The United States gives the Israeli apartheid state around $4 billion in military aid every single year. Aid that is used to raid refugee camps. Aid that is used to hold Palestinian political prisoners. Aid that is used to seize homes and land. Aid that is used to kill journalists. Aid that props up apartheid and genocide. President Joe Biden is on record saying, ‘America’s support for Israel’s security is unshakable, period.’”

Other speakers included Abdul from Youth for Palestine MN, Sana Wazwaz from American Muslims for Palestine, Daniela Kunkel from the Climate Justice Committee, and Sarah Martin from Women Against Military Madness.

After the rally at Bryant Square Park, protesters marched through the Uptown neighborhood in Minneapolis. At the Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street intersection, protesters laid down on the ground adorned in red-stained sheets for a die-in as Wazwaz read the names of Palestinians killed during the first Nakba in 1948. After blocking the busy intersection for 10 minutes, the protesters resumed marching.

One block east, at Lake Street and Girard Avenue, DJ Hooker, a member of the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar, spoke where Winston Smith was murdered by U.S. Marshals on June 3, 2021, and where Deona Marie Knajdek was killed by a motorist ten days later during protests demanding justice for Smith. Hooker connected the Palestinian struggle for national liberation with the Black Liberation movement in the U.S.

The next local Palestine solidarity action will be on Wednesday, May 25 at the Minnesota State Capitol rotunda. Palestine supporters will gather at 8:45 a.m. to pressure the State Board of Investment to divest from Israeli companies complicit in the occupation of Palestine. The Minnesota State Board of Investment recently divested from Russian companies within days of war breaking out in Ukraine, despite years telling local peace groups that it is unable to divest from Israel. The press conference and rally is being organized by MN BDS Community.

#MinneapolisMN #Palestine #AntiWarCommittee #NakbaDay #MiddleEast

The rally was held to commemorate the 74th year of the ongoing Nakba, an event which occurred in 1948 when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced and murdered by Zionist colonizers. The Nakba has continued, as the state of Israel continues to occupy more Palestinian land each year.

At the start of the rally protesters laid flowers in front of a portrait of Shireen Abu Aqleh, the Palestinian journalist who was assassinated by the Israeli Occupation Forces, May 11, while reporting on the Zionist storming of the Jenin refugee camp.

Organizers gave speeches emphasizing the urgency of national liberation for Palestine and a hope that this will be the last Nakba.

Ahmad Daraldik, one of the organizers, is an FSU student who was removed from his position as student government president in 2020 for being unapologetically Palestinian and standing for Palestinian liberation. Daraldik discussed the relationship between U.S. police forces and the Israeli government, stating, “The Orlando Police Department has been trained in the same tactics used by the IOF. You look around in every city and every state in the U.S. and you will see time and time again that trainings are going down, where they’re taking cops all the way across the ocean and saying, ‘Hey, let’s teach you how to put a knee on people’s neck, lets teach you how to kill people.’ That’s what your tax dollars are going towards, I hope you know that, and I hope you’re mad”

After speeches were given the protesters marched twice around Lake Eola, chanting “Hey Joe Biden what do you say? How many kids did you kill today!” and “Not a nickel, not a dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes!” The march was met with support from a number of onlookers. The rally after the march reaffirmed the need to always support Palestine and to tell as many people as possible about the Palestinian national liberation cause.

#OrlandoFl #OrlandoFL #Palestine #PeoplesStruggles #NakbaDay #FloridaPalestineNetwork #MiddleEast

Just the day before, Israel announced a ceasefire, which did not deter the Palestinian community and its allies from still showing up for Palestinian liberation.

This May marked 73 years of Nakba, the brutal relocation of Palestinians by Zionist settlers in 1948. Every year Palestinians commemorate this massacre and fight to return to their homeland.

Last week on May 15, Nakba Day, at Lake Ella Park more than 50 Tallahasseans showed up to commemorate the Nakba massacre and fight against the continuous displacement of Palestinians.

When asked why another event was organized, Trish Brown of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee said, “We need to mourn the lives of those that were taken. We need to respect those stolen lives and need to connect with the Palestinian community to let them know that we are here, and we are a shoulder to lean on. Things that are happening overseas also impact what is happening here in the U.S. with Black Lives Matter. Last week’s event was an attempt to bring all those from our community, from Black-led organizations, faith leaders, students and community members. It is about building a coalition, unification, empowering our communities and continuing the fight. We saw what happened before and after the cease fire. This is horrific, so we stand with the Palestinian community and we will continue build community relations. We are all brothers and sisters.”

Brown led the most recent protest on May 22.

The crowd of protesters held signs that read, “End U.S. aid to Israel, free Palestine” and “From Tallahassee to Palestine, occupation is a crime” and “Defend Palestine, defund Israel.”

Trish Brown of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee emceed the event. Brown led many chants during the rally including “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “When Palestine is under attack, what do we do? Stand up! Fight back!”

Community spiritual leader Laith Jumah, one of the key community members who worked on organizing the event, started off the occasion with a prayer.

Regina Joseph of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Ahmed Rashidi from Council on American-Islamic Relations, Jacob Muldon from Students for a Democratic Society, School of Dance Profesor Hannah Schwadron, also spoke.

Bana Zafer Habash, from Students in Justice in Palestine, spoke, “How long are we going to stand here and let our grandparents suffer looking at their old house keys, knowing that they will never be able to return? How long are we going to sit here and stand for genocide, people kicked out of their homes every single day? It did not stop in 1948, it did not stop in 1967. It is going on currently in Sheik Jarrah. People are being kicked out of their homes.”

As darkness fell, attendees were invited up onto the capitol steps and were provided lit candles to honor the lives of Palestinians stolen by recent bombings, and also throughout the whole of the Nakba – which has yet to end. The event closed out with TCAC’s Trish Brown leading the crowd in a well-known Assata Shakur quote, “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains!

Continuing the fight

Last week on May 15 at Lake Ella Park more than 50 Tallahasseans showed up to commemorate the Nakba massacre with a vigil and fight against the continuous displacement of Palestinians.

Groups like Students in Justice in Palestine are fighting on Florida State University’s campus to push for BDS – Boycott Divestments and Sanctions – a frequent call at both events. The group has also led efforts on campus to reinstate former FSU Student Body President Ahmad Daraldik, a Palestinian-born American. Last year Daraldik lost his position as FSU student president for critiquing the Israeli occupation. Palestine Legal has taken up his case.

When asked about next steps, Regina Joseph of the FRSO said, “We must continue the fight. We have to overthrow the ruling class that oppresses Palestinians and Black people. We have to build a multinational working class fight. Solidarity is the only way we can win.”

#TallahasseeFL #Palestine #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #FreePalestine #NakbaDay

New York, NY – Over 50,000 people gathered on May 15, in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn in honor of Nakba Day. This day is to remember the violent displacement of over 700,000 Palestinians by Israel in 1948. This action also came after recent events in Sheikh Jarrah, and the airstrikes of Gaza that have killed more than 140 Palestinians. The event was organized by Within Our Lifetime.

The crowd flooded the streets and rallied before marching through the neighborhood. The Bay Ridge community is an especially symbolic area for the action due to its large Palestinian population. People came out of their apartments and joined in with the crowd’s chants of “Free, free Palestine!” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”

Even after the march, many people stuck around to continue rallying for Palestine and celebrating their resistance.

#NewYorkNY #Palestine #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #SheikhJarrah #NakbaDay