Seattle, WA – On October 14, over 1000 people rallied in Westlake Park to show support for the liberation of the Palestinian people.

Since the successful offensive by the Palestinian Resistance only a week before, many organizations in Seattle and across the world have held massive demonstrations showing support for Palestine. Amid calls by the Israeli minister of defense for “total war on Gaza,” calling Gazans “human animals” and making plans to treat them as such, the Seattle community has been made it clear that they support the right for Gaza to defend itself.

The rally began in Westlake Park, and then marched through the heart of downtown Seattle. Protesters chanted “One, two, three, four! Occupation no more! Five, six, seven eight! Israel is a terrorist state!” and “Palestine is our demand, no peace on stolen land!” as they took to the streets.

The International League of People’s Struggle, joined by Freedom Road Socialist Organization-Seattle, formed a contingent and gave speeches during the march.

Carly Brooks, a member of Resist US-Led War, spoke, “This movement does not come from a position of comfort. It comes from the most impoverished area of our people, under siege, on the front lines confronting Israel. This is the time to support the Palestinian armed forces and the Lebanese resistance. The time is now to take a position, to be clear, to stand for justice. Do not wait until after the battle is done.”

Riqui Castellanoz, a member of the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, weighed in, “The police is an entity that is made to oppress people. That’s what they do. It goes hand in hand with what Israel is doing in Palestine. I joined the Seattle Alliance because of the repression I saw all around me. It is our duty to fight for everyone, especially the oppressed, all over the world.”

As the rally came to a close after nearly three hours, Bissan Barghouti of Samidoun Seattle took to the stage and echoed the powerful words of the Palestinian poet Samih Al-Qasim:

You may build walls of hatred around me, You may glue my eyes to humiliations, O enemy of the sun, But I shall not compromise, and to the last pulse in my veins, I shall Resist!

#SeattleWA #Palestine #Samidoun #Poetry #SAARPR #ILPS #FRSO

Today, I am proud to be Latin American. Today I will not complain about injustices. Today I will not cry. Today, in addition to celebrating our heritage, we must reflect and begin to love our America, just as José Martí, to really love her! It is time to be proud, to raise your forehead high and not be afraid. It is time to feel the pride of coming from a land where the cosmic race was born, where people from all over the world were merged into a clash where there was death, blood, conquest and colonialism. But from this brutal change, hope was born ... a new culture, with strong roots, mixed with earth, mud, stone and full of life. Today I want to tell all of you, old, young and children to discover your roots! This way you can have the pride of being who you are and want to fight for what is yours.

Mexico – I mount an eagle to devour the injustice above a cactus, inspired by the rebellion of Emiliano Zapata. Earth and freedom!

Guatemala – A quetzal flies towards the volcanoes, carrying the message of Rigoberta Menchú to defend indigenous law and its great Maya past.

El Salvador – In the company of Monsignor Romero to seek God, union and freedom.

Honduras – My “catracho” friends still mourn the loss of Berta Cáceres, an environmental and indigenous rights activist.

Costa Rica – The Ticos, they know how to take care of the coffee land and not let the ancestral Turtle die. Costa Rica, Pura vida!

Nicaragua – Land of Sandino, revolutionary, idealist who rose to fight against the greatest and defend his land, with spirit and freedom.

Panama – The punchbowl was formed at the Panama festival, dancing on its channel that connects the Atlantic with the Pacific.

From there we go to the Caribbean,

Cuba – Land of Celia Cruz and José Martí. Land of my friend Fidel, idealist and revolutionary of America, full of courage and courage against the grip of oppressive capitalism.

Puerto Rico – Taino Island, where rhythm and talent sprout with the wind. I get on the bus and the hurricane god takes me to you.

Haiti – Land of rebels, fighting slavery and colonialism when no one dared. That is value.

Dominican Republic – full of music: Merengue, Bachata and baseball.

South America we begin with Colombia,

Colombia – How cool is life in Colombia, with coffee and a good cumbia. Walking through Cartagena, Medellín and Bogotá, passing 100 Years of Solitude.

Venezuela – Land of Simón Bolívar, the liberator of America, born in Caracas. Without fear to overthrow the Spanish empire.

Brazil – Land of the Amazon, the lungs of the planet, where I hope they don't forget who Chico Mendes was.

Ecuador – Where the pink dolphin swims in the Galapagos Islands, a World Heritage Site and what to say about Quito, the center of the planet, the perfect place to discover my essence.

Perú – Land full of history, from Cusco, to Lima, I was inspired by Machu Picchu. The condor passes and will continue to fly through the Inca land where Tupac Amaru once stood.

Chile – Land of poets, how to forget Pablo Neruda and his Twenty Love Poems and a Desperate Song, the ideals of Salvador Allende, and the guitar of Víctor Jara .. from your capital Santiago de Chile I look at the Andes.

Bolivia – Although in your land I hear “Lamento Boliviano”, your wealth is within your Heart. With two capitals Sucre and La Paz you only have one flag and one Heart.

Paraguay – Your official language is Guaraní, but some speak Spanish. Don't let a few dominate everyone. Clap and don't knock on the door.

Uruguay – Beautiful, progressive, liberal land, where José Mujica reminds you of the phrase “Freedom or Death”, from your capital Montevideo you can see the Río de la Plata and I can surely kick the soccer ball to your heart.

Argentina – Where you can dance tango, or rock in Spanish, but yes ... you will go on a motorcycle, as well as Che Guevara, an icon of revolution and social equality. Strength and even victory always! Say no to dirty war.

This is my Latin America…our America.

I hope one day to meet you from end to end, from California, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona to Patagonia, may God give me license, and so be it!

#UnitedStates #PeoplesStruggles #LatinAmerica #poetry

Hoy, me siento orgulloso de ser latinoamericano. Hoy no me voy a quejar de las injusticias, hoy no voy a llorar. Hoy, además de celebrar en una Buena fiesta, es tiempo de reflexionar y empezar a querer a nuestra América, como lo hizo José Martí, ¡a quererla de verdad! Es tiempo de tener orgullo, de levantar la frente en alto y no tener miedo. Mejor sentir el orgullo de venir de una tierra donde nació la raza cósmica, donde se fundieron gente de todo el mundo en un choque donde hubo muerte, sangre, conquista y colonialismo. Pero de este cambio brutal nació la esperanza… una cultura nueva, con raíces fuertes, mezcladas con tierra, lodo, piedra y llenas de vida. ¡Hoy quiero decirle a todos ustedes, viejos, jóvenes y niños que descubran sus raíces! Y así podrán tener el orgullo de ser quienes son y querrán luchar por lo suyo.

México – Me subo en una águila para devorar la injusticia arriba de un nopal, inspirado por la rebeldía de Emiliano Zapata. ¡Tierra y libertad!

Guatemala – Un quetzal vuela hacia los volcanes, llevando el mensaje de Rigoberta Menchú para defender el derecho indígena y su gran pasado Maya.

El Salvador – En compañía de Monseñor Romero para buscar a dios, unión y libertad.

Honduras – Mis amigos catrachos todavía lloran la pérdida de Berta Cáceres, activista ambiental y del derecho indígena.

Costa Rica- Los ticos, ellos si saben cuidar la tierra del café y no dejar morir la Tortuga ancestral. Costa Rica, ¡Pura vida!

Nicaragua- Tierra de Sandino, revolucionario, idealista que se levantó para luchar contra el más grande y defender su tierra, con espíritu y libertad.

Panamá- Se formó la ponchera en la fiesta de Panamá, bailando sobre su canal que conecta el Atlántico con el Pacífico.

De ahí nos vamos al Caribe,

Cuba –Tierra de Celia Cruz y José Martí. Tierra de mi amigo Fidel, idealista y revolucionario de América, lleno de coraje y valor ante las garras del capitalismo opresor.

Puerto Rico- isla del Taíno, donde el ritmo y el talento brota con el viento. Me subo a la guagua y el dios huracán me lleva hacia a ti.

Haití- Tierra de rebeldes, luchando contra la esclavitud y el colonialismo cuando nadie se atrevía. Eso es valor.

Republica Dominicana – llena de música: Merengue, Bachata y el béisbol.

Sudamérica la empezamos con Colombia,

Colombia – Qué chévere es la vida en Colombia, con un café y una buena cumbia. Paseando por Cartagena , Medellín y Bogotá pasando 100 Años de Soledad.

Venezuela – Tierra de Simón Bolívar, el libertador de América, nacido en caracas. Sin miedo para derrocar al imperio Español.

Brasil – Tierra del amazonas, los pulmones del planeta, donde ojalá no se olviden de quien fue Chico Mendes.

Ecuador – Donde el delfín rosado nada en las Islas Galápagos Patrimonio Natural de la Humanidad y que decir de Quito el centro del planeta, el lugar perfecto para descubrir mi esencia.

Perú – Tierra llena de historia, desde cuzco, a lima, me inspiro en Machu Picchu. El cóndor pasa y seguirá volando por la tierra Inca donde una vez se alzó Tupac Amaru.

Chile- Tierra de poetas, como olvidar a Pablo Neruda y sus Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada, los ideales de Salvador Allende, y la guitarra de Víctor Jara.. desde tu capital Santiago de Chile miro los Andes.

Bolivia- Aunque en tu tierra escuche Lamento Boliviano, tu riqueza está dentro de tu Corazón. Con dos capitales Sucre y La Paz solo tienes una bandera y un solo Corazón.

Paraguay- tu lenguaje oficial es el Guaraní, pero algunos hablan español. No dejes que unos pocos dominen a todos. Aplaude y no toques la puerta.

Uruguay – Tierra bella, progresista, liberal, donde José Mujica te recuerda de la frase “Libertad o Muerte”, desde tu capital Montevideo se ve el Río de la plata y seguro puedo patear el balón de fútbol hasta tu corazón.

Argentina- Donde puedes bailar tango, o rock en español, pero eso sí… irás en una motocicleta, así como el Che Guevara, icono de revolución e igualdad social. ¡Fuerza y hasta la victoria siempre! Decir no a la guerra sucia.

Así es mi Latino América, nuestra América.

Espero un día conocerte de punta a punta, desde California, Tejas, Nevada, Nuevo México, y Arizona hasta la Patagonia, que Dios me dé licencia, y ¡que así sea!

#UnitedStates #PeoplesStruggles #poetry