OVER 35,000 PEOPLE RALLY FOR PALESTINE IN DC
By Nadia B. Ahmad and Faisal R. Khan, Mondoweiss
June 1, 2021 | RESIST!
Above Photo: Palestine march DC Photo: Nuha Maharoof / IG sri.lankan.
'The Landscape Is Shifting'
Over 35,000 protestors converged in Washington DC this Memorial Day weekend
for The National March for Palestine, the largest protest against U.S.
foreign policy in the nation's capital in decades.
Standing atop the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Nuha Maharoof peered over
the crowd at the National March for Palestine on Saturday. To her left, she
saw a man on the ledge set off red and green smoke grenades, signifying the
colors of the Palestinian flag. She described the cinematic moment "like a
scene from a movie, every head in the crowd turned to the sky to watch the
colors dissipate." She pulled out her phone and captured the iconic moment,
saying her heart filled with hope for Palestine. The image has since gone
viral. She had learned of the protest the day before from social media posts
and decided to go with her friends. We tracked her down through a Google
image search.
The scene at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC was a sharp contrast to
the one six months ago when Trump supporters stormed Capitol Hill in an
attempted insurrection. Vexed by white supremacy at home and settler
colonial foreign policy abroad, Muslim, Palestinian, and progressive groups
launched a wide coalition of support in solidarity with Palestine.
Over 35,000 protestors converged in Washington DC this Memorial Day weekend
for The National March for Palestine, the largest nationwide protest against
U.S. foreign policy in decades. More than 100 buses arrived at the Lincoln
Memorial from as far away as Minneapolis, Minnesota and Dallas, Texas.
Organized in less than one week, the event unfurled the potential for Muslim
American and Palestinian activists to lead antiwar mobilizations. The
program was spearheaded by American Muslims for Palestine and the U.S.
Council of Muslim Organizations. The groups urged sanctions on Israel in the
wake of its recent 11 day bombing campaign in Gaza where over 66 children
were killed, including 11 who were recovering from trauma of previous
Israeli government attacks.
This unprecedented gathering on Saturday at the Lincoln Memorial was a clear
sign to President Joe Biden, his administration, and to Israel that public
opinion in the United States is shifting, and people of conscience demand a
tangible solution for Palestinians who have endured decades of
dehumanization, marginalization, and subjugation.
The rally and march were a collective condemnation of two weeks of Israeli
indiscriminate bombing of Palestinian civilians including children and
destruction of infrastructure including homes, schools and clinics. The
storming and attacking of Masjid Al-Aqsa, the third holiest site for
Muslims, during the holy month of Ramadan, and expulsion of Palestinians
from their homes in neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem was the
catalyst that awakened a sleeping giant worldwide demanding President Biden
take bold steps which he failed to deliver.
People from all demographics and professions came together to show support
to the Palestinian diaspora in the U.S. and their families who have
experienced colonial annexation of their land and racism. Partners of the
National March for Palestine included the U.S. Council of Muslim
Organizations (USCMO), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Council on
American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Muslim American Society (MAS), ICNA
Council for Social Jusice, Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), Majlis
Ash-Shura: Islamic Leadership Council of New York, Turkish American National
Steering Committee (TASC) and Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM). Jewish Voice
for Peace, Veterans for Peace, MPower Change, United National Antiwar
Coalition, Progressive Democrats of America, Our Revolution National,
National Lawyers Guild, and Honor the Earth, and endorsed along with over
130 organizations.
The U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations and American Muslims for Palestine
have demanded the placement of an arms embargo on Israel, the cancellation
of the US-Israel free trade agreement, a shut down of 'charitable'
organizations supporting Israeli war crimes, and a ban on the import of
products from Israel's illegal colonies. The groups also sought to end
weapons transfer to Israel, objecting to gross violations of human rights
with US weapons and violations of the Foreign Assistance Act and Arms Export
Control Act.
The National March for Palestine was the culmination of weeks of organizing
protests in solidarity with Palestine, building on the 73 year resistance
campaign to the Nakba. While Israel's bombing campaigns and military strikes
are not new, the wave of Palestinian solidarity has ignited a tsunami wave
of youth activism, fresh from the surge of Black Lives Matter and climate
mobilizations. As members of the National March for Palestine organizing
committee, we sensed the urgency of a nationwide grassroots mobilization
stemming from campaigns in support of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah
and Gaza.
Jinan Deena, who led organizing for more than 100 march volunteers and is
the National Organizer at American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
said, "There's a lot of behind the scenes work that people don't see. But
the renewed energy I get is from seeing all those faces out in the crowd.
People want to help. They want to be there and shout for Palestine. It
brings tears to my eyes and it makes me know that the work I do is not in
vain. And so that is why I wake up the next day, sore and tired, and get up
and do it again. Because the work doesn't stop. Not until we achieve full
liberation."
Overwhelming majority of attendees on Saturday came to show support for
Palestinians and to uphold the universal principles of justice and human
rights. The crowd was very disciplined and it was obvious that they were
deeply disappointed and infuriated by the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians
sanctioned by the U.S. and other allies. People of all religious and
non-religious background were present, and it was impressive to see that
there were no symbols, signs and slogans of hate or antisemitism. The main
focus was on Palestine and its right to exist in peace and dignity. There
were many small group gatherings in the rally that spoke out on the killings
of 67 Palestinian children including three Israeli children.
Secretary General of the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations, Oussama
Jammal said, "The clear diversity of the many thousands who participated in
last Saturday's march sends a strong message that Al-Aqsa Mosque goes beyond
Palestine, it belongs to all Muslims around the world. It was obvious this
time around in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that Israel could not play
the usual innocent victim. Major news agencies are breaking the silence and
reporting the ugly reality of a long deceiving Israeli propaganda. More
importantly, the young generations of Muslims and non-Muslims, Palestinians
and non-Palestinians are in the forefront of activism for Palestine."
Anthony Lorenzo Green, who is core organizer for Black Lives Matter DC,
riveted the crowd, saying "I'm not just an ally. I am a comrade. Our
struggles are connected." He recognized past solidarity of Palestinian
activists at Black Lives Matter speeches in years past.
Altaf Husain, who is a long time supporter of Palestinian rights and an
academic focusing on immigrant and refugee rights recognized what he saw as,
"a clear and growing intersection between the folks organizing around the
world saying Black Lives Matter and those who are organizing around the
world saying Palestine will be free."
"Beyond respecting both movements, there are people who are now showing up
saying they are genuinely part of both movements. And within the U.S. and
Europe, these people increasingly represent a greater majority of young,
non-Palestinians and non-Blacks, who a.) understand that our government is
complicit in the continued persecution of Blacks in America and of
Palestinians in the Occupied territories, and b.) who are demanding that our
government do better. That's heartening," Husain said.
The National March for Palestine was built on years of coalition work and
increased civic engagement within the activist scene. Ismahan Abdullahi, who
served on the organizing committee for the march and is the director of the
Muslim American Society-Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (MAS-PAC) noted
how the conversation is shifting.
"People's eyes are wide open. We, as a community, are demanding more from
those in positions of power. You can no longer be 'Progressive except
Palestine.' You can no longer claim to be against systemic racism,
xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, etc. without standing against the
injustice faced by Palestinians. The landscape is shifting. Those who stand
on the right side of history will be known," Abdullahi said.
Dr. Osama Abuirshaid, Executive Director of American Muslims for Palestine,
said in a statement, "Millions of Americans around the country are joining
to say that there must be an end to this ugly, immoral, and illegal status
quo. We are here to assert that we cannot live another day under the status
quo, which is one of apartheid, ethnic cleansing, occupation, violations of
international law and the Palestinian people's fundamental, inalienable
rights to life of dignity, freedom, justice, and equality. It is
unconscionable that the administration licensed a $735 million weapons sale
to Israel last week despite the historic Congressional opposition in the
aftermath of Israel's cruel and deadly attack on civilians in the Gaza
Strip."
Speakers on Saturday's rally included Haris Ansari, Hatem Bazian, Amani
Barakat, Oussama Jammal, Halil Mutlu, Zeina Ashrawi Hutchinson, Mohammed
Khader, Kayla Kelly, Harun Rashid, Mohamed Mohamed, Lisbeth Melendez Rivera,
Maher Masisis, Fuad Foty, Tahani Saleh, Josh Ruebner, Anthony Lorenzo Green,
Amer Zahr, Dana Abushanab, Laura Albast, Lina Shahid, Raya Hudhud, Nihad
Awad, Phyllis Bennis, Mohsin Ansari, Ayman Hammous, Nouf Bazaz, Raja
Abdulhaq, Lamis Deek, Osama Abu-Irshad, and Omar Suleiman.
Using the hashtag of #March4Palestine, short form content creator and
Palestinian activist Mo Mustafa of Gen Z for Change catalyzed scores of
protestors from his one million TikTok followers.
Maharoof, the student who captured the iconic shot of the protest, said she
was "incredibly inspired" by the protest.
"We channeled the weight of our heavy hearts into our voices as we marched
through the streets of Washington DC," she added. "As I returned home from
Saturday's protest, I felt hopeful for the future of the Palestinian people
- although there's still so much to be done to ensure change is made, the
energy of the thousands of protestors gave me hope that one day Palestine
will be free."