Columbia Heights, MN – On Saturday, November 23, over 100 protesters gathered along Columbia Heights’s busy Central Avenue to protest U.S. support for Israel’s slaughter of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians. The protest called for solidarity with the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine, an end to U.S. aid and weapons shipments to Israel, and for the state of Minnesota to divest from Israel.

Lina Jebara, a member of the Minnesota Anti War Committee gave a moving speech, “The aggression in Lebanon has left over 3600 Lebanese dead,” and “hearing the stories of Lebanon’s latest martyrs has made something very clear: that in the eyes of Israel and its imperialist benefactors, Lebanon and Palestine are one and the same. The tactics that Israel has been using in Lebanon – the means of collective punishment, the deliberate targeting of civilians, journalists, aid workers and critical infrastructure – are not foreign tactics for all of us who have been watching what’s been happening in Palestine.”

Israel’s violence against Lebanese and Palestinian civilians escalated in recent months. The Israeli military tried to annex northern Gaza and attempted to invade southern Lebanon. This was a futile attempt to push Hezbollah back to the Litani River.

In Gaza, Palestine, the Israeli forces cut off all aid shipments to the north in an attempt to starve out the people living there. Israel is intentionally destroying the civilian infrastructure necessary to maintain life, such as hospitals, bakeries and civilian shelters.

Low estimates of the death toll in Gaza say 44,000 are dead with 108,000 wounded by the Israeli military. Many bodies are buried beneath rubble and go uncounted. The thousands of bombs that Israel has dropped on Gaza, the most densely populated area in the world, are equivalent to two nuclear bombs in terms of destructive power.

The protest also heard from Taher Herzallah, a member of America Muslims for Palestine. Herzallah was a recent victim of a Zionist smear campaign spearheaded by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and the Jewish Community Relations Council, a Zionist organization. The smear campaign was intended to prevent Herzallah from speaking to the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) Local 59 about the genocide in Palestine.

Taher responded to Mayor Frey’s attacks, “On Tuesday I woke up to some messages from some folks, saying the boy-mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, had made a video condemning me personally. Typically, I would be concerned about such things, but considering this is the George Floyd murder mayor, considering this is the [homeless] encampment destroyer mayor, considering this is the union-busting mayor, I really didn’t feel a sense of worry.” The teachers union event proceeded as planned despite Zionist attempts to shut it down. 

MFT 59 is one of a number of Minnesota unions whose pensions are invested via Minnesota’s State Board of Investment. The investment board allocates approximately $5.4 billion of that fund to Israel, Israeli corporations, and other corporations that are complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its occupation of Palestine. Rank-and-file union members around the state are increasingly speaking out against their hard-won pension funds being used to fund Israel’s crimes in Palestine.

The Minnesota Anti-War Committee is holding a Human Rights Day march at Washburn Fair Oaks Park in Minneapolis at 1 p.m. on December 8, both to mark the annual holiday and as part of a statewide week of action demanding that the Minnesota State Board of Investments eliminate all its investments in apartheid Israel.

#ColumbiaHeightsMN #MN #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #Lebanon

Columbia Heights, MN – On May 21, over 100 members of the Palestinian community and supporters held a spirited bannering and rally to draw attention to the dire situation in Gaza. The action was organized by the Free Palestine Coalition in response to the ongoing bombing of Rafah and slaughter of over 100 people in Gaza in their tents in a supposed “safe zone.” The event took place at a busy commercial intersection during rush hour.

On the pedestrian bridge spanning the busy highway, Palestinian flags blew in the strong wind. The banners read, “No U.S. aid to Israel,” “End to the occupation,” “Ceasefire now” and “Divest Minnesota from apartheid Israel.” They were clearly visible to passing motorists who responded with non-stop honks and fist pumps.

Demonstrators filled the median in the busy highway as well as lining both sides of the streets below the bridge. Protesters chanted for two hours expressing their anguish and outrage.

Many who were present will take buses to the DFL state convention in Duluth on June 1. They will take part in a demonstration organized by Duluth Palestine solidarity activists outside the convention center as U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar will be nominated for a third term. Klobuchar has remained silent on the U.S. supported Israeli genocide and protesters will hold her accountable for her complicity, demanding she call for an immediate end to the bombing.

#ColumbiaHeightsMN #MN #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #MNFreePalestineCoalition #Klobuchar

Columbia Heights, MN – On Monday, February 26, the city council of Columbia Heights voted 4-1 to pass a resolution calling for an end to Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza. The Columbia Heights community packed the room, as it did at a previous city council meeting to provide public comment and encourage the council to vote in favor of the resolution.

The Columbia Heights resolution is just one example of a wave of historic resolutions adopted by cities across the country. Minneapolis has passed the most progressive ceasefire resolution in the U.S., which calls for an end not only to the genocide in Gaza, but also to all military aid to Israel. Columbia Heights’ resolution cites the International Court of Justice’s ruling against Israel and demands an immediate halt of all weapons shipments that may be used in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

The Free Palestine Coalition, a Twin Cities-based coalition of Palestine activist groups like the Minnesota Anti-War Committee, American Muslims for Palestine-MN; Faculty, Librarians, Alumni, Graduate Students, and Staff for Justice in Palestine (FLAGS-JP), and many others, organized several call-in campaigns and turned out community members to city council meetings to make an impact on the council.

Brandon Veal, a member of the Minnesota Anti-War Committee, states, “All of [the council members’] statements focused on how this was very much a local issue. Many of the members pointed out that they received more calls and emails from members of the community about this issue than any other as long as they’ve been on the council.”

Veal continued, “As the final vote was made, the crowd erupted in applause for the successfully passed resolution. There were many moments of warm embraces from community members. Both the meeting two weeks ago and Monday’s felt like times of collective grieving and healing. At the previous meeting, community members stepped up to the podium one by one to express why this resolution was so important to them, something that went on for nearly three hours.”

Over 70 cities across the U.S. have now passed resolutions demanding a ceasefire. The Free Palestine Coalition is currently campaigning to get a similar resolution passed in Saint Paul. Dr. Sima Shakhsari, a member of FLAGS-JP, stated “It was heartwarming and refreshing to see the Columbia Heights city council take the time to listen to their constituents and vote for a ceasefire. As a Saint Paul resident, I hope that my city council members join Columbia Heights and stand on the right side of history by voting to stop this genocide.”

#ColumbiaHeightsMN #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #CityCouncil #Ceasefire #MNAWC #AMP #FPC #SJP

Columbia Heights, MN – On February 12, the Columbia Heights city council heard public testimony for a resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as well as ending U.S. aid to Israel. The Twin Cities-based Free Palestine Coalition organized community members to pack the council chamber in support of the draft resolution.

The Columbia Heights resolution comes on the heels of Minneapolis city council’s passage of a similar resolution, touted as the most progressive in the country. That resolution faced a veto from Mayor Jacob Frey, which was overturned on February 8 by the council supermajority.

If passed, Columbia Heights would join Minneapolis in a wave of U.S. cities now calling not only for a ceasefire in Gaza, but for ending military aid to Israel. Like the Minneapolis resolution, the Columbia Heights draft characterizes Israel’s campaign in Gaza as genocidal, citing the Genocide Convention case brought by South Africa to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). On January 26, the ICJ ruled that there was plausible evidence of Israel committing genocide against Palestinians.

The Columbia Heights draft goes beyond the Minneapolis resolution, calling for an end to Israeli apartheid and Israel’s occupation and blockade of Palestinian land.

Taher Herzallah, a Columbia Heights resident and leader in American Muslims for Palestine spoke at the city council meeting. He explained the significance of the turnout, “Tonight was a historic night in Columbia Heights as we gathered to discuss the ceasefire resolution. It was incredible to see a diverse group of residents and neighbors come together unequivocally condemning the barbaric Israeli genocide in Gaza and demanding that their elected officials take a principled stand against it. The unity and passion of the community gives me strength as a Gazan to continue these efforts to shed light on my people's suffering on a local level.”

Donia Abu Ammo, Columbia Heights resident and student leader in Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of MN agreed, “It was inspiring and powerful to witness so many community members attend the council meeting to discuss the ceasefire resolution brought by Columbia Heights residents. I hope I can proudly say that my city stood on the right side of history and voted to end the genocide occurring in Palestine. The resolution's language is of the strongest and most assertive language in any resolution, and if approved, it will serve as an incredible stance against Zionism, and will set a significant precedent for other cities and states.”

The Free Palestine Coalition is also campaigning for Saint Paul to pass a ceasefire resolution. Over 70 U.S. cities have passed ceasefire resolutions, including Minneapolis, Hastings, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Saint Louis and others.

#ColumbiaHeightsMN #FreePalestineCoalition #Gaza

Columbia Heights, MN – On April 8, over 250 people marched on Central Avenue in Columbia Heights to demand an end to Israeli violence against Palestinians and an end to U.S. aid to Israel.

This week Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on multiple days, firing stun grenades and violently attacking Palestinians as they gathered for Ramadan prayers.

Palestinian health officials report the start of 2023 to be the deadliest for Palestinians in at least 20 years. Nearly 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the occupied West Bank since the start of the year.

Nick Tolliver, a new member of the MN Anti-War Committee, participated in the march, “Today’s march was important because international pressure and attention limits Israel’s ability to violate the human rights of Palestinians. As U.S. citizens whose taxpayer dollars fund Israeli apartheid and human rights abuses, we must voice our opposition to Israeli apartheid and pressure politicians to stand with the Palestinians.”

The protest was initiated by the MN chapter of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP). Organizers invited participants to attend AMP’s iftar on April 14 at 6pm at the Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Rd, Maple Grove and to participate in the upcoming Al Nakba march on May 20 starting at Bryant Square Park in the Uptown neighborhood in Minneapolis.

#ColumbiaHeightsMN #Palestine #FreePalestine #MiddleEast

Columbia Heights, MN – Just outside city limits from Northeast Minneapolis, Central Avenue was awash with Palestine flags during Friday rush hour as Palestinian-Americans and solidarity activists commemorated Al-Nakba. Nakba Day, held each year on May 15, remembers the 1948 ethnic cleansing of hundreds of thousands of indigenous Palestinians from their national homeland by Zionist settlers. Around 60 cars and dozens of families drove in a long caravan through the heavily Arab-American neighborhood, with chants of “From the river to the sea…” echoing for blocks. The protest was one of many actions that happened internationally.

The event was organized by the Anti-War Committee (AWC) and American Muslims for Palestine-Minnesota (AMP-MN), and endorsed by Jewish Voice for Peace-Twin Cities, Women Against Military Madness, and the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition. Demands included the right of return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants; an end to U.S. aid to Israel, and a free Palestine.

Drivers and pedestrians along the busy commercial strip honked horns and flashed victory signs in solidarity with the car rally. Palestinian-Americans residing in the northern Twin Cities suburbs have held Nakba Day rallies in various forms for years.

“When you’re Palestinian, you’re fighting for Palestine from the minute you’re born,” said Mariam El-Khatib of AMP-MN in a speech as cars gathered for the rally. “Al Nakba happened 72 years ago but we live the Nakba every single day as Palestinians in the West Bank, as Palestinians in Gaza, as Palestinians in the diaspora like myself and many of the Palestinians here today.”

“There’s 72 years of Nakba but there’s also 72 years of resilience,” El-Khatib continued. “We’re going to continue to fight and we’re going to continue to resist until Palestine is free.”

Christine Hauschildt of the AWC spoke about the situation in Palestine in relation to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, explaining, “We are living in a time where most people are experiencing restrictions and isolation in order to protect our communities against the spread of COVID-19. Many of us have never felt restrictions to our movement and what we have access to, which is something the Palestinian people have suffered through for 72 years without the comforting knowledge of some kind of return to normal or living a life of safety and freedom.”

“For Palestinians, COVID-19 poses a greater threat to their health and safety than before,” she said. “Palestinians had an extremely under-resourced health system with many people unable to access adequate health care. Now that the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza have seen their first cases of COVID-19, their health systems are challenged with an even greater burden.”

About a dozen reactionaries calling themselves 3% United Patriots of Minnesota attempted to provoke the demonstrators with a counter-protest, calling Palestinian people “cockroaches,” “terrorists” and “jihadis.” The group also had recently participated in so-called ‘Liberate Minnesota’ protests against a scientific approach to the state’s pandemic response. At the Nakba Day rally, they waved Israeli flags and loudly applauded President Trump while condemning as “cowardly” the wearing of pandemic face masks. They attempted their own car caravan but after circling the parking lot with only seven cars they retreated instead to holding flags at the corner away from the parking lot.

“It’s no surprise that the same people who reject basic public health measures to control a pandemic are also bigoted supporters of a racist apartheid state like Israel,” Kent Mori of the AWC told Fight Back!. “Oppressors everywhere see the pandemic as an opportunity to go on the offensive. We see this in Palestine where Israel is poised to expand its territorial claims in the West Bank, and we see this in Minnesota where these racists thought they could drive us off the streets. On Nakba Day we showed them they’re wrong.”

#ColumbiaHeightsMN #AntiwarMovement #OppressedNationalities #Palestine #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #AntiWarCommittee #alNakba #AmericanMuslimsForPalestineMinnesotaAMPMN

Columbia Heights, MN – Nearly 400 people protested along Central Ave on September 22 to demand an end to the atrocities being committed against Muslims in India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his right-wing government.

On August 5, the Indian government announced its decision to revoke Article 370, which guaranteed the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir special status, which allowed the region to govern its affairs autonomously in all areas except defense, communication and foreign policy.

Currently, Kashmir is under media blackout, with the cutting of phone, internet and TV access with very little information getting out of the human rights violations being committed by India’s military.

Richa Nagar, a University of Minnesota professor, spoke on these violations. “There have been continuous incidents of abuse and torture in prisons and in night raids. People are afraid to leave their homes. Violent processes of othering, hatemongering, criminalizing, disenfranchisement, dispossession, and displacement including brutal incidents of lynching are reported regularly from one part of India or another. The targets of this violence are Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis or indigenous people, Christians, journalists, civil rights workers, and others deemed 'anti-national'”

The speakers also expressed concern about Modi's expanding anti-Muslim policies including the setting up of detention camps and requiring Muslims to prove their citizenship.

Meredith Aby-Keirstead of the Anti-War Committee explained the connection between Islamophobia in India and the oppression being inflicted on immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. “As people of conscience we cannot be silent about the concentration camps on the U.S.-Mexico border or in India. And we need to understand that when we let Trump cage children on the border we are sending a message internationally that this is acceptable. As international solidarity activists we call on both governments – the government of the U.S. and India – to stop their repressive policies targeting Muslims.”

Imam Asad Zaman, executive director of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, spoke on some of the atrocities that have been committed thus far. “Churches have been burned, mosques have been confiscated, people have been arrested, people have been disappeared, minorities have been killed, and lynchings are occurring on a weekly basis. For all of these reasons we gather here to bring the world's attention to these problems.”

After the speeches, protesters marched down the sidewalks of Central Avenue, which stretched out a half a mile. Chants heard throughout the march included “Stop genocide in Kashmir, right now, right now!” and “Hey ho hey ho, Modi needs to go.”

Signs seen across the protest included: “Allow media in Kashmir,” End human suffering in Kashmir,” End military presence in Kashmir,” and “Why is the media silent? The atrocities are real.”

This action was organized by the MN chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the MN Anti-War Committee and the Muslim American Society of Minnesota.

#ColumbiaHeightsMN #OppressedNationalities #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #AsianNationalities #India #Antiracism #Antifascism #kashmir #NarendaModi

Columbia Heights, MN – About 40 Palestinian-Americans, Palestine solidarity activists and immigrant rights activists rallied in Columbia Heights on May 16, to draw attention to the U.S. negative role in Palestine. Central Avenue in Columbia Heights is a main street for the Arab and Muslim community in the suburbs north of Minneapolis. The protest got a significant response from people returning home after work and shopping for food for their upcoming iftars.

The protest was the week of the 71st anniversary of Al Nakba, which is marked in Palestine and throughout the Palestinian diaspora every year.

Reem Salem, from American Muslims for Palestine – Minnesota, explained the significance of Al Nakba to the crowd, “The foundation of Israel on May 14, 1948 meant hundreds of thousands of them fled or were expelled from their homes. More than 750,000 Palestinians were pushed from their homes and into refugee camps in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza strip, and neighboring countries, creating a refugee crisis that is still not resolved and its legacy remains one of the most intractable issues in ongoing peace negotiations. Palestinians’ Nakba didn’t end well in 1948, and it continues to affect more than 12 million Palestinians around the world that remain without a state, rights, or voice to defend themselves. A core Palestinian demand in peace negotiations is some kind of justice for these refugees, most commonly in the form of the ‘right to return’ to the homes of their families fled in 1948. So we demand our right to return.”

Wyatt Miller, a member of the MN Anti-War Committee, tied in the demand of the right of return to Trump’s recent claim to propose a peace plan, “The details are still unclear of Trump’s plan, but we already know what it will mean. Weakened sovereignty for Palestine. More stolen land. The same pattern where previous ‘peace plans’ like the Oslo Accords are never implemented, and ultimately replaced by even worse ‘peace plans.’ Nothing for the millions of Palestinians in the diaspora who live in exile. And it will all be backed by a threat of U.S. sanctions and military force. Does that even make it a ‘peace plan’? No. This plan is just the terms of surrender that Trump will try to force onto the Palestinian people. So let’s call it what it really is: a pretext, for further occupation, more land theft, more refugees with no right of return, and no end in sight.”

All the speakers and protesters had a fiery spirit in hopes that Israeli apartheid will fall. Sara Olson, a board member of Women Against Military Madness, ended her speech, “But, like apartheid in South Africa, I believe Israeli apartheid too will fall. There are growing signs that the people of the United States are slowly coming out of their long stupor of support for an apartheid regime in Israel, just as they did for the one in South Africa. Despite attempts by both major American political parties to suppress opposition, American campaigners are refusing to bow to the truth of Israel’s increasingly far right government to further permanently steal and occupy Palestinian land, to kill Palestinians at will, and to foment regional wars in the Middle East. Israel’s leaders will continue to experience some success with their machinations in the near future, but they will one day fall and not only the Palestinians, but the rest of the world, will be better off for it.”

The protest was co-sponsored by the Anti-War Committee, American Muslims for Palestine – MN, Students for Justice in Palestine – U of MN, and Women Against Military Madness. The next action for the Minnesota Palestine solidarity movement will be at the state legislature in room G23 at 10 a.m. on May 30, to advocate for the state of Minnesota to divest from Israeli bonds.

#ColumbiaHeightsMN #AntiwarMovement #OppressedNationalities #Palestine #US #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #AntiWarCommittee #alNakba #DonaldTrump

Columbia Heights, MN – On May 23, 45 people gathered with banners and signs at the intersection of 43rd and Central in Columbia Heights to show solidarity with Gaza. Hundreds of cars honked their support as they drove by.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reports that Israeli soldiers have killed 112 Palestinians, and injured 13,190 since the Great Return March protests started on March 30, Palestinian Land Day.

Shauna Armstrong stated that this was her first Palestine protest. She said, “I’m part Native American so I kind understand their point of view. I came because I was just interested in participating to learn more about Palestine.”

#ColumbiaHeightsMN #Palestine #PalestinianLandDay #MiddleEast

Columbia Heights, MN – On Oct. 9, 75 people gathered on Central Avenue here to protest the killing of four Palestinian youth, Huthaifa Sulaiman (18), Fadi Alloun (19), Abdul-Rahman Shadi Mustafa (13) and Mohannad Shafiq al-Halabi (19), by Israeli occupation forces on Oct. 4 and 5.

The Anti-War Committee (AWC) organized the protest as an emergency response to the murders. The AWC issued a statement which says, “These clashes have come in response to weeks of escalating attacks, where the Israeli military and settlers in the West Bank have injured hundreds of Palestinians with live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets and beatings. Hundreds more people have been injured by tear gas, and scores have been arrested. Israeli soldiers have also reportedly shot at more than a dozen Palestinian ambulances and assaulted paramedics. Under Israeli police protection, settlers have set fire to countless Palestinian homes and fields, while the Old City of Jerusalem is on lockdown and Muslim men under 50 are barred entry to attend prayer at holy sites. According to the Palestinian Prisoners Society, ‘Israeli soldiers kidnapped 562 Palestinians, including dozens of children, mainly in occupied Jerusalem, in September,’ and the mass arrests are ongoing.”

The statement continued, “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to use an ‘iron fist’ against Palestinians, saying, ‘There are no limits on the activities of security forces.’ He plans to speed up the demolitions of Palestinian homes and expand the use of administrative detention. These attacks on basic human rights aim to deliver collective punishment to the Palestinian people, and extend the military occupation of Palestinian land. International law recognizes the right of Palestinians, like any occupied people, to resist.”

The killing of Abdel-Rahman Obeidallah was the 1952th child killed by Israeli forces since 2000.

The protest was organized by the Anti-War Committee and it was endorsed by U.S. Palestinian Community Network-Minnesota Chapter, Students for Justice in Palestine – U of MN chapter, MN Break the Bonds Coalition, and Women Against Military Madness.

#ColumbiaHeightsMN #AntiwarMovement #AntiWarCommittee

Columbia Heights, MN – 175 people gathered here Sept. 5, in the heart of the Twin Cities Arab community, for a rally and march in solidarity with Palestine, organized by the Twin Cities-based Anti-War Committee (AWC). Just a week after a ceasefire agreement ended Israel’s 51-day assault on Gaza, community members demanded that Israel be held accountable for war crimes and that there be an end to U.S. aid to Israel. They also called for a renewed commitment to a Boycott Divest Sanctions (BDS) movement that can help bring an end to Israeli occupation and apartheid.

According to Palestinian officials, the Israeli assault on Gaza had a terrible toll: More than 2200 Palestinians died and 11,000 were injured. 540,000 Palestinians were displaced and many of those have since seen their homes destroyed. “Hospitals, apartment buildings, schools and mosques were all targeted by U.S.-made bombs dropped by the Israeli military in their latest offensive. The Israeli military went after Gaza's water treatment center and power plant. Israel receives $8.5 million in military aid every day from the U.S. government that enables such atrocities,” said Sabry Wazwaz, a longtime Palestinian activist with the AWC.

According to Jennie Eisert, organizer with the AWC, “The siege failed to kill the spirit of the people of Gaza. Israel was forced to make concessions it had been unwilling to consider previously.” She added that Palestinians continue to need international solidarity. “Israel must be held accountable for the war crimes carried out this summer. They must be held to the terms of the ceasefire agreement, and the U.S. government must also be held accountable for giving political cover and monetary aid to the massacre. We will stand with Palestine until there is an end to the Israeli occupation and apartheid, and every Palestinian is assured the right to return.”

Mariam Al Khatib, of American Muslims for Palestine-MN and University of Minnesota Students for Justice in Palestine, addressed the crowd first, “I would like to turn this gathering into a celebration of victory. Yes, Gaza won! Palestine won! And all the nations and people that supported justice and freedom for Palestine have won. This was a battle and a struggle against this occupation. Gaza is wounded – the death, injuries and destruction. We need to carry on and go beyond the demonstrations and expose the reality and the evil nature of the Israeli Occupation. Long live Palestine! Free free Palestine!”

Ashraf Abuhadid reported on his recent visit to the West Bank, where he witnessed repression, racism and mob violence against Palestinians. He described the resilience of Gazans he met, who were in West Bank hospitals, recovering from horrific injuries caused by Israeli bombing of Shuja’iyya and other Gaza neighborhoods.

Jess Sundin spoke for the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, to demand justice for Chicago’s Palestinian community leader, Rasmea Odeh. She described the immigration charges against Odeh as unbelievable, and urged those present to join her in Detroit, for an Oct. 2 hearing, and later, for the trial which is set to begin on Nov. 4. “It is shameful that the U.S. government would prosecute her for the crimes committed against her by the Zionist state of Israel. When we stand with Rasmea, we are standing with Palestine. When we fight for Rasmea, we are fighting for Palestine.” The crowd then chanted, “Justice for Rasmea, drop the charges now!”

Elizabeth Geschiere of Minnesota Break the Bonds called for renewed efforts to isolate Israel through boycott, sanctions and divestment. Break the Bonds is working to end Minnesota state investments in Israel. A protest on the morning of Sept. 9 will target a State Board of Investments meeting at the State Capitol.

Mel Reeves is a community activist who has led some of the local efforts against police killings as well as the movement to demand justice for Mike Brown, killed by police last month in Ferguson, Missouri. Well aware of expressions of between protesters in Ferguson and the besieged people of Gaza, the crowd cheered his speech.

Two incredible poets, Iraqi Humom Asamarai and Palestinian Tala Alfoqaha also contributed their inspiring words to the program.

After the rally, protesters took to the streets, and marched down Central Avenue, where they slowed traffic and were seen by thousands.

The Anti-War Committee plans another rally for Palestine on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 1:00 p.m., in Loring Park, Minneapolis.

#ColumbiaHeightsMN #Palestine #Israel #TwinCitiesAntiWarCommittee #FreePalestine #MiddleEast

Columbia Heights, MN – More than 1500 people joined a massive rally and march here, July 18, to stand in solidarity with Gaza and to demand an end to Israel’s attacks. Crowds lined the sidewalks for blocks and then took the street, marching down Central Avenue, one of the busiest thoroughfares in the Twin Cities.

According to a statement from protest leaders, the demonstration was held “to give voice to growing opposition to Israel’s inhumane attacks, and to build pressure on the Minnesota’s congressional delegation to end U.S. military aid to Israel.”

Grassroots call-in days and meetings with members of the state’s congressional delegation have targeted Representatives Ellison and McCollum and Senators Klobuchar and Franken, urging them to vote against continued U.S. support for Israel.

Sabry Wazwaz, of the Minnesota Anti-War Committee, urged protesters to learn from the spirit of Malcolm X in challenging U.S. support for the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Anh Pham, of the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression demanded the federal government drop the trumped up charges against Palestinian leader Rasmea Odeh and called on people to pack the court room at her trial Sept. 8, in Detroit.

Meredith Aby-Keirstead, a spokesperson for the Anti-War Committee, who traveled to Gaza in 2002, explains, “Israel is bombing Gaza, one of the most densely populated places on the planet, and claiming everything as a military target. In fact, they have targeted mosques, schools, hospitals, infrastructure like electrical lines and nearing 1000 homes. Last Saturday, Israel bombed a center for the disabled, killing both patients and nurses. And last weekend every single building operated by the UN for Palestinian refugees in Gaza were bombed. Israel receives over $3 billion in U.S. aid every year. Our tax dollars are paying for this massacre.”

Aby-Keirstead told demonstrators, “It is hypocritical for the president to criticize Palestinians for fighting back with rocks or rockets or whatever when Israel has been occupying, land grabbing, starving, beating, jailing and killing Palestinians for over 50 years. Palestinians are an occupied people have the right to resist.”

The protest was initiated by Anti-War Committee and Coalition for Palestinian Rights, with support from Al-Aqsa Institute of Minnesota, American Muslims for Palestine – Minnesota, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Minnesota Break the Bonds, Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAc) Socialist Action, Students for a Democratic Society at UMN, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP UMN), Welfare Rights Committee and Women Against Military Madness (WAMM).

A large turnout is expected for the July 23 Peace Bridge Vigil, which will focus on Palestine. The action will take place 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., on the Lake Street and Marshall Avenue Bridge, which spans the Mississippi between Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

#ColumbiaHeightsMN #AntiwarMovement #Palestine #Israel #AntiIsraeliApartheid #Minnestoa #ColombiaHeights #MiddleEast