The Urgency of Solidarity and Taking Action NOW
The Urgency of Solidarity and Taking Action NOW
"I would once again like to invite you all to stop invoking history's judgement. We are alive and capable of condemning it now. We must do so with a clarity and conviction sufficient enough to bore into time—that's what *makes* history. Us. Now.” – Omar Sakr @omarsakrpoet (Twitter (X) 11/20/23)
The time is now to stand up for Palestinians and to engage deeply in the history and the NOW of the Palestinian liberation struggle. We are grateful to have Except for Palestine as a resource and an anchoring point to understand why we must act and act ever more boldly and with greater urgency until ceasefire and beyond.
(see Take Action resources below)
As a reminder, our Zoom conversation is scheduled for Wednesday, November 29, at 6pm ET. Share any questions you have as you read in the comments so we can be sure to include it in the discussion. Also, please feel free to share with family, friends, colleagues, and anyone in your circle unaware of the issues undergirding what we have all witnessed since October 7.
It is essential in our freedom struggle to understand and share with those within our spheres of influence the broader connections to liberation for all humanity. To be clear, this historical moment amplifies the consequences of allowing Empire to shape our collective destinies in great, grave detail. Every issue of justice is amplified in the Palestinian struggle broadly and absolutely in this current moment of death and destruction inflicted upon a population the world has deemed disposable for the last 75 years.
We must understand that at any moment, any of us can be deemed disposable, and many of us already live within degrees of that reality. Yet, the Palestinian struggle exemplifies, historically and NOW, what can and will happen if we do not insist upon and fight for the liberation of us all.
To highlight this point, we draw upon the work of those committed to documenting this moment, actively pushing back against the propaganda and language of Empire that obscures, obfuscates, and flat-out lies to push its deadly agenda. We share the following in the spirit of all that is being deliberately documented to tell the story in solidarity and truth; we must not look away from this devastation. We must see the interconnectedness of these issues. And finally, may these efforts propel us to act in all the ways available. And may we find more avenues to protest and stand in solidarity with Palestinians.
Disability Justice:
"You must think about the disabled people that live there. We talk about walkability in American streets and how we need more sidewalks. Imagine trying to get a wheelchair through rubble. So either people have to leave you or you have to find someone who will carry you. Not only carry you but carry you after forty days of starvation." @SarahSchauer, TikTok
Labor:
"The genocide in Palestine is a labor issue. It is OUR LABOR that enables the US to continue aiding and abetting this ongoing crime against humanity."
– Grad Employees' Org UMich @geo3550 (Twitter (X) 11/20/23)
Propaganda:
"They promote unproven stories of beheaded babies, and ask what monsters can do that, then send proven rockets to incinerate proven thousands of proven babies." – Rafael Shimunov @rafaelshimunov (Twitter (X) 11/19/23)
The Palestinian Exception:
"Context: Obama bombed ONE Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan and was condemned by the org, investigated by NATO three times, issued an apology and paid restitution to the families. Israel has bombed EVERY hospital in Gaza including DWB and UN schools with impunity." – El Norte Recuerda @Vanessid, Twitter (X) 11/19/23)
Death
"Israel has killed more Palestinian children over the last 40 days than the total number of Israelis killed by Palestinians since the creation of the state of Israel." Rema Kanazi @Remroum Twitter (X) 11/18/23
"In less than 45 days, Israel has massacred more than 13,300 Palestinians. 6,000 Palestinians remain trapped under rubble. More Palestinians die each day because of lack of access to medical care. The death toll will surely escalate. This is what US taxpayer dollars are funding." Rema Kanazi @Remroum Twitter (X) 11/20/23
“The children’s bodies come to us broken and in pieces,” he said. “It’s chilling. We’ve never seen this number of children killed,” he added. “We cry every day. Every day, we cry while we’re working to prepare the children.”
The War Turns Gaza Into a 'Graveyard' for Children* – New York Times, 11/18/23
NOTE: We reject the descriptor "war" for what has transpired since
October 7, 2023. "War" connotes a battle of equals and fails to convey
the imbalance of power and military might.
Resistance to Genocide
"In this moment we must live in resistance to genocide. There is more to this work than protest. But right now marches and direct action are crucial." – Vigil for Palestine: We Mourn and Consider What Solidarity Demands of Us – Movement Memos, A Truthout Podcast with Kelly Hayes
Hope:
"We are Palestinian. We carry the resilience in our hearts and deep in our bones. We raise our voices high past the walls of occupation." -@imanabid
Take Action!
Shut It Down for Palestine: November 24 - An International Call to Action
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights: Join the movement for Palestinian rights!
Send an email: Tell Congress: End Your Complicity with Biden's Genocide
We look forward to seeing you on Zoom and in the meantime will be doing our part to take action and stand in solidarity.
Take good care,
Alan & connease