Palestinian Community Shows Solidarity in Ferguson
This month, the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation was honored to help bring together a strong Palestine Contingent to the Ferguson October Weekend of Resistance. Participation meant joining a movement challenging the national epidemic of racial profiling and police militarization, brutality, and impunity. It is important to know that one cannot advocate an end to Israeli state violence while ignoring state violence against communities of color here at home, as part of our commitment to confronting racism and bigotry in all forms.
The weekend was a phenomenal success with countless unforgettable moments.
First, contingent members joined more than a dozen acts of civil disobedience, shutting down St. Louis City Hall, blocking the doors to a fundraiser for local complicit politicians, taking part in a shopping mall flash mob and the people’s occupation of St. Louis University, shutting down three Walmarts (in solidarity with recent police victim John Crawford), and much more.
A diverse group of more than 100 joined a national march of thousands holding signs saying, “From Palestine to Ferguson”: “Resistance Is Not a Crime,” “End Racism Now,” and “Justice for All.” The march culminated in a rally where St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) and US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) member Suhad Khatib and Palestinian-American Dream Defenders organizer Ahmed Abuznaid spoke eloquently of the importance of joint struggle, bringing tears to many eyes.
Palestinian poet Remi Kanazi performed at the Hip Hop and Resistance concert along with Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Tef Poe, and others.
PSC members Suhad Khatib, Hedy Epstein, and US Campaign Steering Committee member Sandra Tamari joined Kanazi on stage with Civil Rights leader Dr. Cornel West for a dynamic panel. When local Ferguson youth took to the stage asking to be heard, Khatib and Tamari immediately ceded their spots in solidarity.
Contingent members stood with courageous St. Louis and Ferguson community members to challenge the local militarized police presence in the streets night after night. USPCN member Zena Ozeir and PSC member Bassem Masri were arrested along with more than a hundred others. Thankfully, Ozeir and Masri are both safely home.
Day after day, Palestinians sent photos from across the globe to show their solidarity with Ferguson.
Even more moving than the presence of the Palestine contingent, however, was the breathtaking, spontaneous outpouring of solidarity shown to the contingent by the people of St. Louis, Ferguson, and the broader movement for justice for Mike Brown. Ferguson youth took to the rally stage and thanked the people of Palestine for being the first to send their support through tweets after Mike’s killing. Dr. Cornel West decried the Israeli occupation of Palestine, which was met by deafening cheers from the crowd of thousands. These and countless other moments of connectedness and solidarity throughout the weekend were deeply humbling and spoke to our collective power when we work together for justice for all.
The US Campaign was proud to organize the contingent with an extraordinary coalition of member organizations and allies made up of the PSC, Organization for Black Struggle, USPCN, Muslims for Ferguson, Council on American Islamic Relations – St. Louis, Palestinian BDS National Committee, National Students for Justice in Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), American Muslims for Palestine, and African Americans for Justice in the Middle East and North Africa.
Visit the #Palestine2Ferguson web section to see photos and hear recordings from the weekend.
US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation