Tucson, AZ – On April 14, a spirited crowd of around 50 people rallied on the steps of Old Main on the University of Arizona campus to demand an end to U.S. aid to Israel.

The majority of those gathered were students organized by the Student for Justice in Palestine chapter at the U of A. Donning keffiyehs and holding signs that read “Fuck Zionism!” the students roared when chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”

The protest came in response to Israeli occupation forces who recently stormed the Masjid al-Aqsa and brutally attacked and detained hundreds of Palestinians. The Zionists invaded Al-Aqsa during the holiest month of Ramadan, and also carried out airstrikes throughout Gaza.

Palestinian, Arab and Muslim speakers all highlighted the courage and bravery of the Palestinian resistance and condemned the brutality of the Zionist regime. One Student for Justice in Palestine speaker said, “The struggle of my family to get their land back, the struggle of the Palestinian people for liberation are struggles linked with the global struggles for liberation like Black Lives Matter here.”

Members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) in Tucson also helped organize the rally and provided union-made signs that read “Victory to Palestinian resistance!”

Speaking to the group, Jim Byrne, a member of FRSO and a trade unionist, said, “Israel cannot last long without the $3.8 billion a year aid the U.S. gives it. Those of us inside the belly of the imperialist beast must do our part to cut off that lifeline to the Zionist apartheid regime. Unconditional support to the Palestinian resistance!”

After the speakers, the group marched around the U of A Mall chanting, “Not another nickel, not another dime. No more money for Israel’s crimes!” and “Hey Israel, what do you say? How many kids have you killed today?”

The Students for Justice in Palestine-UA and FRSO with the Arizona Palestinian Solidarity Alliance are working to organize a local protest at the upcoming “Israel at 75” celebration occurring on April 30.

#TucsonAZ #AntiwarMovement #Palestine #PeoplesStruggles #alAqsaMosque #MiddleEast

Minneapolis, MN – On April 25, over 130 people came to an emergency protest to show outrage over the recent Israeli military attacks on worshipers at Al Aqsa mosque and missile attacks on Gaza during Ramadan. This protest and others in Chicago and DC this week have been organized to show solidarity with Palestine. The rush hour protest started outside of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office, was followed by a march on Washington Avenue, and concluded with prayers.

Mariam El-Khatib, a board member of American Muslims for Palestine Minnesota, was the first speaker. The crowd, which was overwhelmingly Palestinian, Muslim and Arab, was motivated by her words, “Every day is a day closer to this beautiful future in Palestine where we can all go home to our villages that were ethnically cleansed in 1948. Where we invite you to all and will show you the beauty of Palestine. Israel is in a losing battle. And we are one day closer to a free Palestine. Brothers and sisters, everything that you do goes a long way for the cause.”

Meredith Aby-Keirstead, a member of the MN Anti-War Committee, spoke before the march, “Israel wouldn’t be able to launch this offensive if the U.S. didn’t keep footing the bill. The U.S. funds these ongoing attacks on Palestinians in order to use Israel as the 51st state so that their military can use Israel to control the whole Middle East. By demanding an end to U.S. aid to Israel we are taking a stand against the U.S. domination of the region and the world.”

The protest was organized by the MN Anti-War Committee, American Muslims for Palestine-MN, Council on American Islamic Relations-MN and Youth for Palestine. Protesters were encouraged to come out on May 14 for the Anti-War Committee and American Muslims for Palestine’s annual Al Nakba march through the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #Gaza #Palestine #MNAntiWarCommittee #alAqsaMosque #MiddleEast

Tampa, FL – Over 150 protesters gathered on the corner of 56th Street and Fowler Avenue on April 23 in Tampa, Florida, to show their support for the people of Palestine after Israeli police invaded the holy mosque of al-Aqsa and beat and brutalized hundreds of worshippers who were praying for Ramadan.

The protesters waved Palestinian flags high, gave passionate speeches, and marched for about a mile around one of Tampa's busiest intersections. They came from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), the Resistance of Tampa Bay, (TRTB), the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Florida, the Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and more.

Leali Shalabi, president of University of South Florida SJP, expressed her outrage at the attacks. She pointed out the poignant fact that these attacks were too similar to the attacks last year in al-Aqsa. In that year, the U.S.-backed Zionists and police also invaded the mosques and attacked Palestinians who were praying.

“It's a shame,” Shalabi said, “that when we went to write the press release for this event, we were able to copy last year's press release almost exactly. Even the numbers of the injured were the same. The situation hasn't changed and neither has our commitment to fight!”

Eric Silva-Gomez, an activist in Tampa Bay SDS said, “We need to keep showing up for Palestine because as the Israeli occupation brutalizes its people, there is a lack of coverage in the U.S. They only give widespread coverage when a group disturbs the Israeli occupiers' so-called peace. Showing up to these protests is us saying no to these occupiers.”

These attacks come after a long line of atrocities committed by the U.S.-backed apartheid Israeli government and police to put down the Palestinian people. This is in addition to bombing homes, schools, hospitals and even the blacklisting of Palestinian human rights and charity organizations.

Mirna Abushanab, a lead organizer in SJP, emphasized that the way forward was and still is through hosting demonstrations and actions, uniting organizations, and marching in the streets, along with the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction campaign. “The only way we are going to beat the system is if we work together. We go to the streets and chant, 'The people united will never be defeated,' and this chant itself comes from years and years of organizations working together. Although we are all different, our goal is still the same: we want people to rise and defeat fascist systems.”

Speakers then drew connections between the apartheid Israeli government and its source of power: the U.S. government. In 2020 alone, the U.S. government gave $3.8 billion in aid to the Israeli government, and sends more funds, weapons and military equipment every year.

The city of Tampa itself runs the Florida-Israel Business Accelerator, an outlet for Israeli businesses such as medical companies to set up shop in the U.S. This is why student protesters in SJP call for the Tampa General Hospital, a member of that association, to end their partnership with the Israeli government.

Vaidehi Persad, an activist with Students for a Democratic Society at the University of South Florida, said this was why it is vitally important for students and youth in the United States to call for an end to this aid, funding, and social promotion: “We all have a responsibility to hold the U.S. government accountable, hold our universities and workplaces accountable, and most importantly hold ourselves accountable to unwavering solidarity and commitment to a free Palestine.”

#TampaFL #OppressedNationalities #Palestine #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #alAqsaMosque