Seattle, WA – A crowd gathered around Seattle's World Trade Center for a February 9 protest against the U.S.-backed genocide in Palestine.

Chants of “Not another nickel! Not another dime! No more money for Israel's crimes!” could be heard not only from and within the building, but for blocks around. The protest called attention to the continued support of Israel's genocidal campaign by the U.S.

Speakers decried U.S. capitalists, some of whom do business inside the World Trade Center, for materially supporting a campaign of extermination in the pursuit of extracting further profit.

This event was organized by the Progressive Students’ Union, the University of Washington's chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, in collaboration with the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. It was one of many protests happening all across the country for in response to a call from the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and National Students for a Democratic Society.

“We see the hypocrisy in these institutions and are committed to use the voice that we have to challenge the forces that silence the masses,” said a member off the University of Puget Sound SDS. “Palestine is our cause, and the cause that ties us to every other struggle. I encourage us all to see the horrific conditions that have been live streamed for almost four months now, to inspire the action you can take from our positions within the belly of the beast.”

After several speakers, cars driven by activists moved to block entry to the lot in front of the World Trade Center. “We cannot allow business to continue as usual!” rang out the voices of student organizers. Chants and speeches continued, even as Seattle police grouped around in an attempt to intimidate protesters and break up the blockade, their attempts repeatedly foiled by the crowd.

Powerful speeches continued even still. “The Seattle World Trade Center is where the imperialists get together to carve up the world amongst themselves, and we are here today to say no more to imperialist profit and plunder!” said Clio Jensen, a rank-and-file union member and organizer with the FRSO. “We know that any movement of the oppressed that weakens imperialism is a good thing. It deserves our support and solidarity.’”

During the blockade and speeches, a banner drop was performed on the bridge overlooking the World Trade Center, a powerful image of solidarity visible across the dense area. After nearly two hours of disruption, well past the operating hours of the World Trade Center, the blockade began to clear out. This did not stop Seattle Police from attempting additional repression. A video caught one officer slashing tires as vehicles left the lot, a tactic used both in Seattle's 2020 George Floyd protests and those in Minneapolis.

Israel Vasquez, a member of the PSU, said, “As members of a democratic society, we cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities. We must stand in solidarity with the oppressed and demand an end to the violence and injustice in Palestine and Yemen. This means holding accountable those who perpetuate these crimes, including governments and corporations that profit from the suffering of others!”

Shortly after the vehicles were moved, all the while surrounded by demonstrators chanting of “From the river to the sea!” and “SPD! KKK! IDF you're all the same!”, the police charged into the crowd without warning, tackling or throwing several protesters to the ground. One hit her head as she fell and was brought to the nearby Harborview Medical Center. Nearby members of the crowd were hit with clouds of pepper spray fired by officers without any sort of warning.

Once the crowd dispersed, an emergency rally was immediately organized. The crowd that before attended the rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people went to do the same for their comrades who had been wrongfully arrested. Chants and further speeches went on for several more hours, while SDS rapidly organized a national call-in demanding the immediate release of all four jailed activists. Other community members came out in support, providing food and drinks to the organizers and activists who had been out on the streets for hours and hours uninterrupted.

As of the time of this article, only one of the arrested protesters has been released. Charges are pending for the other three.

#SeattleWA #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #SDS #PSU #USPCN #NAARPR #WeekOfAction4Palestine #SAARPR #StudentMovement

Milwaukee, WI – On Friday, February 9, students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee staged a sit-in at the UWM administrative building, Chapman Hall.

Led by Students for a Democratic Society, the event began with a rally in front of the Zionist-named Golda Meir Library, followed by a march to Chapman Hall, where students entered the building and occupied it for six hours.

Protesters rallied behind SDS’s campaign to divest from Israel, end all study abroad trips to the occupation, and to change the name of the Golda Meir Library. Furthermore, the students demanded that the Chancellor, Mark Mone, meet with them, after months of him evading requests.

“Our chancellor talks about diversity and integrity. Claiming to be there for students’ needs, to listen to our concerns, yet he avoids us at every turn. We have tried time and time again to secure a meeting, to make our voices heard and we are met with nothing but avoidance, and we will not stand quietly,” said Sania Syed, a member of Un-Pac, during a rally before the sit-in.

Around 45 protesters gathered in front of the university library, among them were students, community and elected officials. Frustration was clear as protesters chanted, “Chancellor Mone, you can’t hide, end the ties with genocide” during the short march to Chapman Hall.

Once at the administrative building, Robby Knapp of SDS gave a call to students to sit in: “Mone likes to hide from his students, and not do his job, and because of this, we have decided there is only one way in which he will listen to our demands to meet with him! In line with SDS’ motto of ‘Dare to struggle! Dare to win!’ we will be staging a sit-in on Chancellor Mone’s office until he talks to us and listens to our demands!”

After calls for the sit-in, it was discovered that the doors to the building were locked during open hours. Regardless, an SDS member found a side entrance to the hall and opened the doors. More than three dozen protesters entered Chapman Hall and occupied the top floor. Chants of “meet with us” echoed throughout the building.

Police immediately escalated after taking position at all entrances. They denied students access to bathrooms, physically prevented students from returning to the group if they tried to leave the occupied area, and threatened to arrest students if they did not leave the building. Despite threats, protesters remained put and occupied Chapman Hall for approximately six hours.

Kayla Patterson of SDS and the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression said, “We aren’t the first to protest this, and if this continues, we won’t be the last. This change is inevitable, and it’s high time for UWM to stop skirting around and pick a side. This campus prides itself on inclusion and progressive values. We have a lounge named after Martin Luther King Jr., an Electa Quinney Institute for Indigenous Studies, and a Roberto Hernandez Center for Spanish-Speaking outreach that was founded after student-led protests – all nothing short of hypocrisy to recognize these people in name without recognizing their respective struggles against the same oppressive systems that UWM upholds.”

In response to students demanding a meeting with their school’s chancellor, ten different police departments appeared: UWM University Police and Marquette University Police, along with police departments from Milwaukee, Shorewood, Fox Point, Cudahy, River Hills, Whitefish Bay, Saint Francis, and the Wisconsin State Fair Park Police.

Partway through the sit-in, a student was left bruised after being violently restrained and removed from the building by an officer.

During the sit-in, Audari Tamayo of SDS and Freedom Road Socialist Organization gave an inspirational speech: “Us as students, young people, and people with a conscience within the belly of the beast have an utmost duty to fight for change,” Tamayo said. “After all, it is this government that is giving the settler army the green light for genocide. Without the billions of dollars and the illegal arms the U.S. gives Israel to enact U.S. foreign policy, Israel would crumble. It is not a secret that Israel exists on stolen land borrowed time.”

Around 20 protesters remained after the building officially closed at 5 p.m. when police were given the order to remove the remaining students. Four protesters were restrained, with one student being thrown to the ground and kneed in the back by two officers simultaneously.

The restrained protesters were released at around 6 p.m. after being processed. Each one left in high spirits and chanting things like “Dare to struggle, dare to win!” to the cheers of the community outside of the building.

The occupation of Chapman Hall was a historic moment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee of student power, resilience and bravery. As the university administration ignores student calls to end funding and ties to the Israeli occupation and genocide of Palestinians, students are taking matters into their own hands and taking up militant actions to demand change be made now.

The events were organized by Students for a Democratic Society and endorsed by the Muslim Student Association, Students for Justice in Palestine, Un-Pac, Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, Milwaukee Anti-War Committee, Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, United States Palestinian Community Network-Milwaukee, Reproductive Justice Action-Milwaukee, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. It coincided with the National Week of Action for Palestine called for by the National Students for a Democratic Society, National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and United States Palestinian Community Network.

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiWarMovement #StudentMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #SDS #NAARPR #USPCN #WeekOfAction4Palestine

Green Bay, WI – On February 10, four months into the Zionist occupation’s genocidal assault on Gaza, dedicated activists braved the wintry cold and wind to demand an end to U.S. aggression in the Middle East.

The mood was energetic yet somber as people shared their personal stories about how Israeli-trained forces and American weapons have destroyed families and lives around the world, from occupied Palestine to Guatemala to here in the US.

Aodhan Bowman spoke for Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and called attention to the fact that Israel’s ability to wage war on Palestinians is entirely dependent on U.S. support. “Israel has zero legitimacy – all they have is American weapons. But the rest of the world is coming together against this genocide. It is only a matter of time before the resistance is victorious.”

Younis Zaiden, a Palestinian community member and Muslim leader, expressed gratitude at the gathering and gave a speech about his experience living as a Palestinian Muslim in the Fox Valley.

Zaiden stated, “A coworker asked me recently what I thought about Palestine and Israel and October 7. I had to ask him back: ‘How much time do you have?’ Because you can’t explain October 7 without understanding the rest of the 75 years.” He finished his speech with, “I know Palestine will be free!” and the crowd chanted “From the river to the sea!” before marching through downtown Green Bay.

The action was a part of a national week of action being put on by the US Palestinian Community Action Network, the National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression, and Students for a Democratic Society.

#GreenBayWI #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #FRSO #GBAWC #USPCN #NAARPR #SDS #WeekOfAction4Palestine

Washington, D.C. – On Saturday, February 10, hundreds of pro-Palestine protestors gathered across the lawn from the White House in Lafayette Square.

The action, hosted by the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DC Alliance) alongside Palestinian Youth Movement, was held for the National Week of Action in solidarity with Palestine.

Their demands included an end to U.S. aid to Israel and bombing the Middle East, an end to the political repression of Palestinian organizers, “Hands off Yemen,” and community control of the police.

Merawi Gerima, the co-chair for the Campaign to Free Incarcerated Survivors of Torture (CFIST) from the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression also spoke at the event.

The DC Alliance organizing co-chair spoke about the interconnectedness of struggle between oppressed people in the United States and the Palestinian struggle for national liberation, stating “Your struggle is my struggle. The same cops who repress us domestically were trained by the IDF in Israel. MPD, IOF, KKK they’re all the same.”

“What’s the most beautiful thing in the world?” Merawi Gerima, of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression asked the crowd during his speech. “Solidarity. What’s the most powerful force in the world? Solidarity!”

“We believe in the power of the collective will of the masses,” said a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization “Only through the united front that is led by the oppressed and working masses will we be able to achieve victory. “

Between chants of “In our millions and our billions, we are all Palestinians,” and “Biden Biden you can’t hide! We charge you with genocide!” community members read poems from heralded Palestinian authors. Additionally, some organizers read excerpts from Palestinians in Rafah.

The demonstration ended with “Assata’s Chant,” and a call to action to join the DC Alliance, Palestinian Youth Movement, and other Palestinian activist groups in the area. “The only thing we have to lose is our chains!” said a protest organizer, “get organized, get active, and keep fighting!”

Along with the Palestinian Youth Movement, the DC Alliance was joined by representatives and speakers from Claudia Jones School for Political Education, Pan-African Community Action, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

The National Week of Action in solidarity for Palestine was called by the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR), and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

#WashingtonDC #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #NAARPR #USPCN #SDS #DCAARPR #WeekOfAction4Palestine #Feature

St. Paul, MN – On February 9, 60 activists rallied at the weekly Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) Free Palestine bannering to celebrate the historic victory in Minneapolis, On February 8, the Minneapolis city council voted to override the mayor's veto and passed the strongest ceasefire resolution in the country, which included a demand for the U.S. to end aid to Israel. Activists at the rally vowed to continue the work for a similar resolution in Saint Paul. The Saint Paul campaign began this week with a large rally at the Saint Paul City Hall and by packing the city council meeting the next day.

#StPaulMN #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #CityCouncil #Ceasefire #WomensMovement #WeekOfAction4Palestine

Dr. Abdulhadi is the founding director senior scholar of Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies Program at the San Francisco State University. The SFSU site goes onto mention that she is a co-founding editorial board member of Islamophobia Studies Journal, lead editor of book volumes and author of over 80 articles and book chapters in seven languages. She received her PhD from Yale University in 2000 and has many scholarly awards and community honors.

“And I am very happy to be in company with the young generation, the new generation of Students for a Democratic Society and the Palestine Solidarity Committee,” she said. “SDS played a very important role in the 60s in terms of opposing the war in Vietnam and demanding change to the society of connecting with other struggles. There were of course many positive outcomes and there were a lot of challenges as well and we learned from those histories.”

Dr. Abdulhadi spoke on the important work that anti-Zionist organizations here were doing, for example, when they protested the Jewish National Fund conference in Denver this past December. While the Jewish National Fund claims to be an American non-profit that focuses on Jewish advocacy, in reality the organization has a long history of funding the destruction of Palestinian villages and building illegal Israeli settlements on the land.

Dr. Abdulhadi told stories of places she had visited in Palestine that are now parks and illegal settlements funded directly by the Jewish National Fund and built over the ruins of Palestinian owned homes and cities. She spoke on the Jewish National Fund’s tactic of “greenwashing” colonialism, by planting trees and claiming to be pro-environment; the fund seeks to hide the true nature of its purposes in continuing to claim ownership over the land of historic Palestine.

Dr. Abdulhadi also addressed the increasingly desperate situation in Gaza, responding to a student question as to whether what we are witnessing is a “second Nakba.” She said that not only is this a second Nakba but agreed that the first one never really ended. What we are seeing today in Gaza and Palestine is even worse than the 1948 catastrophe where 700,000 to 800,000 Palestinians were forced out of their homes at gunpoint, and permanently displaced with many killed in violent massacres by Israeli forces. She spoke about the over 30,000 Palestinians killed by Israel in the last four months, and more than 66,000 injured.

Throughout the talk, Dr. Abdulhadi continued to emphasize that the Palestinian struggle is not “exceptional.” The narrative is often presented as complex or somehow different from other struggles for justice. She said that each people’s struggles have their own contexts and their own similarities and differences, but she also asserted that all of these struggles stem from the same system that continues to oppress people across the world.

When asked how we can encourage our community to engage in advocacy and what people can do to make a difference right now, she said, “I think people can participate in different kinds of advocacies that are manageable. When people say ‘Call the White House and bombard them with calls,’ call them! I am not saying that Biden is going to change, but it is definitely having an effect because the staff of the White House are resigning.”

Dr. Abdulhadi went on, “When there is a protest, go to the protest. When there is a vigil, go to the vigil. When there is a need for donations for people on bail, do it. When there is a need for donations for the people in Gaza, do it.”

#DenverCO #AntiWarMovement #StudentMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #USPCN #WeekOfAction4Palestine

Brooklyn, NY – A dozen people gathered at Barclays Center on a dreary Sunday afternoon of February 11 to protest the New York Police Department and stand in solidarity with Palestine.

The action was called by the New York Community Action Project (NYCAP) and NYU Students for a Democratic Society. The rally was part of a week of action called by US Palestinian Community Network, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and Students for a Democratic Society.

NYCAP decided to target the Israeli Defense Forces due to the intense collaboration with the NYPD. The NYPD has an office in Kfar Saba and talks about working closely with the Israeli forces. The NYPD has also adapted many tactics from the Israeli Defense Forces and used their technology.

Briony Smith from NYCAP opened the rally and said at the end of the day they only want Palestine to win and “we won’t settle for anything less than that.”

Speakers and endorsers included: Al-Awda, Anakbayan Queens, For Our Liberation, Rasanbleman Pou Ayiti, Struggle La Lucha, Workers World Party.

NYCAP and the organizers will continue to join the chorus of voices around the world demanding a free Palestine and an end to all U.S. aid to Israel.

#NewYorkNY #AntiWarMovement #International #Palestine #NYCAP #MiddleEast #SDS #WeekOfAction4Palestine #USPCN #NAARPR

Tampa, FL – On Monday, February 5, around 35 students gathered in front of the University of South Florida’s Marshall Student Center to participate in a protest held by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) for the National Week of Action in solidarity with Palestine.

The protesters demanded an end to U.S. aid to Israel, hands off Yemen, and that the University of South Florida divest from genocide. Many other student and community organizations were present, including UndocUnited and Tampa Bay Community Action Committee, to give speeches in solidarity with Palestine.

Tampa Bay SDS member Amayrani Neito voiced her concerns with the University of South Florida, stating “While USF remains silent and complicit, Palestinian people are being terrorized.” She went on to demand that the University of South Florida divest from companies that support and profit off the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Students chanted “Rhea Law, you can’t hide! You’re supporting genocide!” to target the University of South Florida’s president, Rhea Law, who has continuously refused her student body’s demands for the University of South Florida to divest from genocide.

This National Week of Action in solidarity for Palestine was called by the United States Palestinian Solidarity Network (USPCN), the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR), and National SDS.

Tampa Bay SDS has said they will continue to participate in this National Week of Action by flyering and tabling with the National SDS statement in solidarity with Palestine.

#TampaFL #AntiWarMovement #StudentMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #SDS #USPCN #NAARPR #WeekOfAction4Palestine

Tacoma, WA – A group of about 30 people disrupted the Tacoma city council meeting Tuesday, February 6, demanding the city issue a statement of support to the Palestinian people and an end to U.S. aid to Israel.

The crowd gathered outside the Tacoma Municipal Building as the council meeting was beginning inside. Demonstrators chanted “Gaza Gaza you will rise, Palestine will never die!” and “Israel bombs, USA pays, How many kids were killed today?” while informational fliers were handed out. The fliers highlighted how over $300 billion in U.S. aid has been sent to Israel since 1948, and that money has been used to kill hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Of those killed in these attacks, 40% were children.

Demonstrator Cosmo Cali described the importance of this fight, saying “These are people's lives. These people have dreams. These people have children. These people have fears, and they are human, they have blood in their bodies, they are living breathing beings who have come here to exist not to be murdered and destroyed.”

Amira White, another demonstrator, pointed out that the city has “been silent about a lot of things. And honestly, it’s all about the power of the community at this point to continue to speak up and raise awareness.”

The crowd then moved into the council meeting. They marched to the front of the meeting, and in a call-and-response style chant made their demands to the crowded room. Mayor Victoria Woodards called a recess, and the majority of council members left the chambers – except the newly elected city council member Jamika Scott. She stayed to hear out the community's demands for a statement of support to Palestine. “Stop bombing Gaza” echoed through the municipal building as the demonstrators then marched back outside.

Once outside, community members rallied and gave speeches, many of which discussed other upcoming actions in Tacoma. This disruption was part of a week of action called by U.S. Palestinian Community Network, Students for a Democratic Society, and National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression. As part of this, there were several more events planned in Tacoma and Seattle including a banner drop and a road blockade later that week.

White also linked the genocide in Gaza to other struggles for liberation around the globe, stating, “It's happening here in the United States, it's happening in the Congo, Sudan, Palestine. It’s happening everywhere. And that’s what this country was based on in the first place – genocide and stealing land.”

The connection between the genocide of the indigenous people in the U.S. and Palestine was a common theme. Apo Skye Cyr described their feelings, saying “I feel angry, and ashamed of this country. As an indigenous person I am furious, frankly, that this country was stolen from my ancestors and abused to the point where now it’s happening again.” They described the connection between Israel and the U.S., “The Israeli people really want to ‘be indigenous’- they want to pretend they’re the original people of the land. But if they did care about the land they wouldn’t be destroying olive trees that were hundreds of years old. And like the same thing happened here, colonizers wanted to be from this land but if they really loved it they wouldn’t have slaughtered the bison. They wouldn't have cut the trees. They wouldn’t have destroyed all of our food systems that we had along walking trails. They wouldn’t have destroyed all the knowledge that let us live in harmony with the land. If they really were from here and really cared they wouldn’t have fucked it up.”

As the sun set, the crowd began to disperse, some even preparing for future Palestine actions by borrowing megaphones, walkie talkies, and other equipment. At time of writing, the city of Tacoma has not responded to the community’s demands. Many people do not find this surprising.

“I do say fuck Israel.” Cyr went on to say, “Colonization is the same everywhere. It relies on the same foundation of abuse of power. It’s just another instance of it that needs to be put down.”

#TacomaWA #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #Feature #CityCouncil #WeekOfAction4Palestine