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

Chicago, IL – The Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine led a crowd of close to 1000 people, mostly youth from the Palestinian community in the Chicago area, to protest the attacks on the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, April 18. The Coalition includes the American Muslims for Palestine, United States Palestinian Community Network (UCPSN), Students for Justice in Palestine- Chicago (SJP), Al-Nahda, Palestinian American Community Center, and Palestinian American Council.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam, and repeatedly since Friday, April 15, Israeli soldiers and police have attacked it. They chose a Friday, the night when the largest number of people are there praying. The attack also took place during Ramadan, the most sacred month of the year for Muslims.

“This is unacceptable, Jerusalem’s our capital,” chanted the crowd. The Zionist state has declared Jerusalem as its capital, but it was the center of Palestinian society before the European settles began to arrive in the late 19th century.

The protesters listened to speeches for about an hour, then marched through the Loop, Chicago’s business district, for another hour.

One chant expressed the Palestinian movement’s rejection of the failed two state solution, “There is only one solution, Intifada Revolution.”

Since April 1, which marked the beginning of Ramadan, Israel’s occupation forces went on a rampage, killing 18 Palestinians and injuring several hundred. The occupation army did the same last year during Ramadan.

In addition to Palestinian speakers, a statement was read from Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton, executive director of the Community Renewal Society. She wrote, “I must condemn the violent and fatal use of force upon worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Jumu’ah [Friday] prayers,” and “The inequitable use of force against unarmed worshippers and Palestinians at-large are crimes against humanity, and there must be outrage and denouncement by global leaders, faith communities and all who believe in justice and peace for all.”

She went on, pointing out the hypocrisy of the U.S. government’s calls for solidarity with Ukraine while demonizing those who rally in solidarity with Palestine:

“How do we enforce justice and freeze financial assets to stop Russia from imposing war on Ukraine, but underwrite billions in aid to support Israel’s illegal occupation and imposition of war on Palestine?”

“How do we impose blockades and freeze assets in Russia, while U.S. senators – including Ben Cardin of Maryland and Sherrod Brown of Ohio – rally in support of criminalizing and penalizing anyone who supports BDS [Boycotting, Divesting and Sanctions] against Israeli’s illegal occupation of Palestine?”

#ChicagoIL #Palestine #StudentsForJusticeInPalestineSJP #USPalestinianCommunityNetworkUSPCN #MiddleEast

Tampa, FL – The University of South Florida (USF) student government passed a resolution to divest from Israel Jan. 19. The vote was 32 to 12, with 5 abstentions. Palestine solidarity activists packed the chamber in the Marshall Student Center at USF to support the resolution, which includes divestment from corporations that profit from Israeli apartheid.

Two student government senators, including a member of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), presented the resolution that explained apartheid Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. They also tied it to the historic victories of universities’ divestment from apartheid South Africa, won by student activists in the U.S. in the 1970s and 80s.

Universities across the U.S., including USF, make investments in multi-national corporations like Hewlett Packard (HP) that profit from Israeli apartheid. This reflects the larger relationship between the U.S. government and apartheid Israel. The U.S. funds Israel with over $3 billion a year in military aid. Without this military and financial aid, the Israeli occupation of Palestine could not be sustained.

Just as they did with the divestment from South Africa movement in the 1980s, USF administrators worked to silence, block, and frustrate the students demanding divestment from Israel. At the same time, Zionist student groups like USF Hillel and Bulls for Israel attempt to demonize Palestine solidarity activists at USF. However, SJP and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) continue to protest U.S. support for Israel’s wars and occupation in Palestine, as well as USF complicity in supporting apartheid Israel through investments. The student resolution echoes the call for USF divestment from 2014, when SJP collected 10,000 student petition signatures.

“We will continue to build struggle against USF complicity in the U.S. backed Israeli occupation of Palestine. We will mobilize students to cut the contracts between USF and the U.S. military. We will protest all forms of racism or bigotry on campus like the widely opposed homophobic name of the ROTC building,” said Sam Beutler of Tampa Bay SDS.

#TampaFL #Palestine #StudentsForJusticeInPalestineSJP #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #BDS

Gainesville, FL – On March 18, University of Florida Students for Justice in Palestine, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) filled a room with about two dozen students and community members to celebrate International Women's Day. They hosted an educational panel titled, “Celebrating Women's Solidarity and Palestinian Activism,” which addressed the history of the holiday, the Palestinian women’s movement, and the trumped-up immigration charges against Palestinian women's rights activist Rasmea Odeh.

Farah Khan of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) opened the panel with a summary of the history of International Women's Day. She traced back its roots to the socialist movements of the early 1900s and spoke of the huge 1917 strike in czarist Russia. This massive strike, led mostly by women, demanded an end to poverty, war, and the oppression of workers, and cemented a long tradition of militant women leaders fighting for revolution against the ruling class.

Another SJP member, Tesneem Shraiteh, then connected International Women's Day to the crucial role played by women's organizations in the Palestinian liberation movement. She pointed out the existence of feminists who deny the oppression of women in countries occupied by the U.S. or its imperialist agents, such as Israel, and characterized their feminism as limited and damaging: “You have some Israeli women who identify as feminists and want equal rights for women, but not if you're Palestinian. Some feminists don't understand the imperialist borders around the women's movement, dividing women against each other along lines of class and race. But there can be no equality for women without equality for all.”

Michela Martinazzi, of University of Florida SDS, then presented the case of Rasmea Odeh, the Chicago Palestinian leader who is a long-time organizer for ending the occupation of Palestine. She was arrested last year and charged for immigration fraud, but she is only one of a long line of Arab, Muslim, or anti-war organizers facing political repression from the U.S. government. Martinazzi urged the event attendees to sign the StopFBI.net petition to drop the charges against Rasmea Odeh.

Martinazzi stated even though International Women’s Day commemorates the victories of women – from suffrage to legendary workers' strikes – women progressives still face attacks on every front of society and the fight goes on: “This day should be a reminder of the struggles we've won and the challenges we've faced, but it should also be a reminder of the battles we have yet to win.”

#GainesvilleFL #InJusticeSystem #SDS #InternationalWomensDay #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #frso #StudentsForJusticeInPalestineSJP #PoliticalRepression #RasmeaOdeh

Milwaukee, WI – The declaration of a cease fire didn't stop 200 people from marching in downtown Milwaukee, Nov. 22, in response to a week of Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip. Protesters demanded the bombing of Gaza stop and called for an end to U.S. aid to Israel.

A statement by the Milwaukee Committee to Stop FBI Repression read, “We were pleased with the turnout to the emergency call to action to stop the bombing of Gaza and end U.S. funding of Israel. These people understood the importance of coming together to oppose U.S. support for Israel and making a stand for the Palestinian people. Government repression of Palestine solidarity activists from Hatem Abudayyeh to the Holy Land 5 will not stop us. We look forward to meeting with organizers in the next few weeks to plan more antiwar and Palestine solidarity events in the near future.”

The march went up and down Wisconsin Avenue, chanting, “Free Palestine!” and “Palestine will be free.”

A wave of young people from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee joined the downtown protest, a day after their own spirited demonstration on campus.

“We stand here in solidarity with the Palestinians and we will continue to fight until the struggle is over. We must boycott, divest and voice ourselves because we, the people, have the power to make change. As we continue to work towards a free Palestine, our collective efforts will not go unnoticed. We demand the U.S. to cut aid to Israel and we demand the injustice to be ceased,” said Jameela Asmar of SJP.

As the march approached the old downtown Federal Building, protesters gathered together for a speak-out. Organizers from SJP, SDS, Occupy Milwaukee, Youth Empowered in the Struggle, American Muslims for Palestine, Iraq Vets Against the War, Friends of Palestine Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Committee to Stop FBI Repression rang out their support for the struggle for a free Palestine and vowed to continue the fight.

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiwarMovement #Gaza #SDS #Palestine #StudentsForJusticeInPalestineSJP #OccupyMilwaukee #MiddleEast

Tampa, FL – On Nov. 17, nearly 100 people stood against Israel's ongoing bloodbath in Gaza. Students for Justice in Palestine organized the demonstration. Black-clad protesters waved Palestinian flags, held signs and stretched banners as thousands of cars drove through the intersection separating Tampa from Temple Terrace – a city with a large Palestinian community. The large contingents on all four corners of Fowler Avenue and 56th Street rotated when the lights changed, making sure that motorists got a long look at banners adorned with statistics on the brutality of occupation and its financial dependence on the U.S. government.

The air filled with supportive honks and the sense that a vibrant solidarity movement is emerging, as cars with no connection to the demonstration waved Palestinian flags. Catherine Lim of Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) said, “Being at the protest was incredibly energizing. You could really feel the support from the community.” Although many attendees had family and friends at risk of being struck by Israeli bombs, the atmosphere reflected optimism in the people's capacity to stop this bloodbath.

Ahmad Hussan of Students for Justice in Palestine pointed out, “We need people to know that our money is funding this entire situation. We need to take action and pressure our lawmakers and congressmen to cut money to Israel's military and condemn Israel for their war crimes against humanity.”

A smaller but sizable demonstration was held the day before in downtown Tampa. Students for a Democratic Society and Students for Justice in Palestine are working together to ensure that our city's streets are filled with red, green and black until Israel withdraws.

#TampaFL #AntiwarMovement #StudentMovement #Gaza #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #Palestine #StudentsForJusticeInPalestineSJP #MiddleEast

Gainesville, FL – A massive Palestinian flag with the words “Free Palestine” was raised in Turlington Plaza Nov. 15 as 40 students gathered to condemn the massacre in Gaza. Gainesville Area Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) organized the protest in response to the latest wave of brutal Israeli attacks, which claimed the lives of dozens of Palestinians.

SDS leaders chanted “Free, free Palestine!” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” They carried signs that read, “Stop the massacre in Gaza” and “Occupy Wall Street, not Palestine.” Several protesters wore duct tape over their mouths to symbolize the suppression of Palestinian voices in the corporate media. As crowds of students walked by on their way to class they heard the chants, saw the signs and decided to join the protesters, doubling the size of the demonstration.

Speakers talked about the long history of oppression and brutalization suffered by the Palestinian people. “This is not an isolated incident,” said Pamela Maldonado, an organizer with Students for a Democratic Society. “Palestine has been under occupation for more than half a century. We demand freedom, justice and self-determination for the Palestinian people!”

Other speakers commented on the insidious role played by the U.S. government in providing billions of dollars of funding, weapons and political support for the Zionist regime. Skye Schmelzer from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression said, “Not only does our government provide material support for Israel but they arrest Palestinian solidarity activists here at home.” She cited the case of the Holy Land Five political prisoners and the bogus investigation of Hatem Abudayyeh, one of the 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists raided by the FBI and subpoenaed to a grand jury in Chicago. The 23 solidarity activists refused to testify at the grand jury and have built a broad fight back campaign.

The rally closed with everyone pledging, as the Israeli invasion continues, to make every effort to organize another protest in solidarity with Palestine and oppose U.S. funding for Israel.

#GainesvilleFL #AntiwarMovement #StudentMovement #Gaza #SDS #Palestine #attacksOnGaza #StudentsForJusticeInPalestineSJP #UniversityOfFlorida #MiddleEast

Minneapolis, MN – Around 100 people protested Israel’s war on Gaza today, November 16, at a midday march on the University of Minnesota campus initiated by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The protesters carried signs that said “Free Palestine”, “Hands off Gaza” and “End Aid to Israel”. They rallied in front of Coffman Union then led a spirited march that looped several times around the Northrop Mall before returning back to Coffman Union. A small group of pro-Zionist counter-protesters chanted pro-Israel slogans, waved Israeli flags and tried to provoke the crowd at various points during the march.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #Gaza #Palestine #attacksOnGaza #StudentsForJusticeInPalestineSJP #MiddleEast

Gainesville, FL – On Sept 14, the University of Florida chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) rallied together in favor of Palestine’s United Nation’s bid for statehood. About 30 students came together in Turlington Plaza to chant and hold signs supporting the Palestinian liberation struggle.

Led by SJP President Mohammad Tina, thunderous cries of “Free, Free Palestine!” and “Gaza Gaza, don’t you cry! Palestine will never die!” echoed across the Plaza as students changed classes.

“SJP stands for peace and justice for all oppressed people, but particularly those in the Middle East,” said Tina in a speech about the purpose of his organization on campus.

In bold red, white, and green – the colors of the Palestinian national flag – student activists held signs reading “United Nations 194th member: Palestine,” and “Stop illegal settlement-building in Palestine.”

In between the militant chants, several student activists gave speeches explaining the reason for the rally.

“Palestine deserves the same inherent rights that every nation does – the right to self-determination,” said SDS activist Dave Schneider, “which is just the right to chart out their own collective destiny.”

This demonstration arrived on the heels of a reactionary Zionist resolution passed in the University of Florida Student Senate the night before.

Although the Greek-dominated Student Government is overwhelmingly Zionist, SJP’s rally was met with no organized opposition. As the hour-long rally progressed, interested students stopped and joined the event by holding signs and chanting along.

#GainesvilleFL #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #Palestine #GainesvilleAreaStudentsForADemocraticSocietySDS #StudentsForJusticeInPalestineSJP #PalestinianStatehood

Students for Justice in Palestine condemns US government witch hunt

Students for Justice in Palestine

The following press release was issued by the Students for Justice in Palestine (US) on 29 December 2010:

“For if they take you in the morning, they will be coming for us that night.”

- James Baldwin, in an open letter to Angela Davis, 19 November 1970

As students at over fifty American universities, we unequivocally condemn the abuse of grand jury subpoenas to chill the exercise of First Amendment rights by university students and anti-war activists speaking and organizing against Israel's continued oppression of the Palestinian people. Since 24 September 2010, the FBI has served at least 24 grand jury subpoenas on students and activists in a secret investigation that many have called a witch hunt. We call upon Attorney General Eric Holder and United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald to respect the civil rights and free speech of all those who support the Palestinian struggle for freedom by immediately withdrawing grand jury subpoenas which threaten the First Amendment rights of students and activists around the country.

The government's assault on organizations and individuals who support the Palestinian struggle for freedom has become increasingly authoritarian. The abuse of laws criminalizing “material support for terrorism” is unprecedented and, had they been implemented at the time of South African apartheid, would have effectively criminalized broad American support for the anti-apartheid movement. At the apparent behest of US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, the government today has cast a net so wide that it has entangled journalists, college students, and peace activists. We know that a campaign so indiscriminate will seriously impinge on the First Amendment and other civil rights of people living in the United States. This will, in particular, affect active and outspoken students on university campuses, especially those of Palestinian descent.

It is not only our right but also our moral duty to speak and act against American foreign policy and its destructive impact on innocent people around the world. Today, America unfortunately stands behind Israel's oppression of the Palestinian people with money, weaponry, and diplomatic support. We seek to reverse this situation so that American foreign policy stands on the side of people who work towards justice. We reject the government's efforts to isolate the Palestinian people by severing them from their non-violent supporters abroad. Therefore we stand in solidarity with the victims of our government's campaign both in America and around the globe.

If Attorney Fitzgerald's campaign marks the morning of a new day, then we are certain of what awaits us in the night. Like Baldwin before us, we live in an age in which silence is not only criminal but suicidal — we shall, therefore, make as much noise as we can.

Signed:

1. American University, Students for Justice in Palestine
2. Arizona State University, Students for Justice in Palestine
3. Bard College, International Solidarity Movement
4. Benedictine University, Students for Justice in Palestine
5. Boston University, Students for Justice in Palestine
6. Brandeis University, Brandeis SJP
7. Brooklyn College CUNY, The Palestinian Club
8. Columbia University, Students for Justice in Palestine
9. Cornell University, United for Peace and Justice in Palestine
10. DePaul University, Students for Justice in Palestine
11. Eastern Washington University, SLAC
12. Florida International University, Students for Justice in Palestine
13. George Mason University, Students for Justice in Palestine
14. George Washington University, Students for Justice in Palestine
15. Georgetown University, Students for Justice in Palestine
16. Hampshire College, Students for Justice in Palestine
17. Harvard Law School, Middle East Law Students Association
18. Harvard University, Alliance for Justice in the Middle East
19. Harvard University, Harvard College Palestine Solidarity Committee
20. Harvard University, Harvard Law School Justice for Palestine
21. Hunter College, Students for Justice in Palestine
22. Loyola University, Middle Eastern Student Association
23. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Palestine@MIT
24. New York University, Students for Justice in Palestine
25. Northeastern Illinois University, Students for Justice in Palestine
26. Northwestern University, Students for Justice in Palestine
27. Ohio State University, Committee for Justice in Palestine
28. Pennsylvania State University, Students for Justice in Palestine
29. Rutgers University – New Brunswick, BAKA: Students United for Middle Eastern Justice
30. San Diego State University, Students for Justice in Palestine
31. School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Students for Justice in Palestine
32. Temple University, Temple Students for Justice in Palestine
33. Tufts University, Students for Justice in Palestine
34. University of Arizona, Students for Justice in Palestine
35. University of California, Berkeley, Students for Justice in Palestine
36. University of California, Berkeley Law, Law Students for Justice in Palestine
37. University of California, Davis, Students for Justice in Palestine
38. University of California, Irvine, Students for Justice in Palestine
39. University of California, Los Angeles, Students for Justice in Palestine
40. University of California, Riverside, Students for Justice in Palestine
41. University of California, San Diego, Students for Justice in Palestine
42. University of Chicago, Students for Justice in Palestine
43. University of Florida, Students for Justice In Palestine
44. University of Illinois at Chicago, Students for Justice in Palestine
45. University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Students for Justice in Palestine
46. University of Michigan, Students Allied for Freedom & Equality
47. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Palestine Solidarity Committee
48. University of Pittsburgh, Pitt Students for Justice in Palestine
49. University of South Florida, Students for Justice in Palestine
50. University of Southern California, Students for Justice in Palestine
51. University of Texas at Austin, Palestine Solidarity Committee
52. University of Washington, Students for Justice in Palestine
53. Vermont Law School, Law Students for Justice in Palestine
54. Wellesley College, Justice for Palestine
55. Yale University, Yale Students for Justice and Peace in Palestine

#UnitedStates #StudentMovement #Palestine #September24FBIRaids #StudentsForJusticeInPalestineSJP