Atlanta, GA – On Saturday, February 22, over 40 organizations and vendors came together for Community Connect Fest in the West End. Hundreds of community members kept the venue full throughout the time of the event. Attendees got to meet and learn about dozens of the organizations working to make a difference around Atlanta. 

The event, organized by the Atlanta Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, aimed to connect fighting organizations to people who want to get involved. 

“Our movements are important in giving the people a voice. We’re expecting more attacks on working and oppressed people in the coming years. We have to be organized to fight back against these attacks and the Trump agenda,” said emcee David Jones. 

Participants had the opportunity to learn about various organizations focused on mass incarceration, reproductive rights, immigrants’ rights, LGBTQ rights, and other important struggles in Atlanta. Local vendors showcased crafts, food and plants while local artists performed on stage.

In addition to the entertainment, leading organizations gave speeches introducing the work they do to the attendees. David Jones, a member of the Atlanta Alliance, spoke about the campaign to shut down Fulton County Jail and how people can get involved. Community Connect Fest strengthened ties between the community and important local organizations fighting for change.

#AtlantaGA #AtlantaAlliance #AARPR #CommunityConnectFest #Trump #WestEnd

Atlanta, GA – On October 8, Atlanta nearly 200 community members gathered in front of the General Consulate of Israel to show solidarity with the resistance movement in Palestine. The protest came a day after Palestinian resistance fighters launched a massive operation against Israeli settlements and military bases to fight back against the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Bisan Amin from the Palestinian Youth Movement and a host of the protest, stated, “We showed up to send a message, first and foremost to the Palestinian resistance, that we stand in solidarity with them exercising their right to resist the ongoing Nakba, the ongoing occupation of Palestine and daily violence committed by the Zionist entity against the Palestinian people.”

Protesters marched in Midtown Atlanta, a busy downtown area of the city. When protesters attempted to take the streets, police pushed them back to the sidewalk, threatening arrests and taking pictures of protesters.

The protest featured speakers from the Palestinian Youth Movement, the Atlanta Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (AAARPR), Community Movement Builders, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Georgia State University, and SJP at Emory University, as well as others.

“Israel and the U.S. work together, sharing tactics and weapons to oppress Black Americans and Palestinians. One of the ways they do this is through training police in the U.S. using Israeli occupation forces tactics,” Laith Abdel Hader of AAARPR stated in his speech. “The Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange [GILEE] program here in Atlanta works primarily with Israel, teaching police the most brutal repression tactics to use on Black and brown communities here.”

Protesters called for an end to the GILEE program in Atlanta, and an end to all U.S. aid to Israel. They demand an end to the overall occupation of Palestine, and support the resistance fighters.

The rally ended with final remarks from Amin declaring that, “The Palestinian struggle is one of decolonization and total liberation of Palestine from the Zionist entity, and we showed up in support of this struggle. The events we bore witness to on Saturday, October 7 were a testament to the liberation of Palestine that is soon to come. Free, free Palestine!”

#AtlantaGA #Palestine #NationalLiberation #AARPR #PYM #SJP