News and Views from the People's Struggle
Brooklyn, NY – On Saturday, October 21, over 10,000 people gathered in Brooklyn, the heart of the Palestinian community in NYC, to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people against Israeli apartheid.
By Sarah Martin and Kim DeFranco
St. Paul, MN – On October 20, over 150 people rallied at the weekly Palestine vigil of the Women Against Military Madness’s (WAMM) Middle East Committee. The people filled each part of the intersection of the busy streets of Snelling and Summit Avenues. The bannering called for an end to the genocidal Israeli bombing of Gaza, to let Gaza live and end U.S. aid to Israel. Protesters also came to stand with Palestinians in their struggle for liberation.
Chicago, IL – On October 14 and 15, roughly 180 members and affiliates of the New Students for a Democratic Society(SDS) from over 20 campuses met for their annual National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
The students came from all over the U.S. to unite under the slogan of “Students Defend Education, Unions Strike Back!” to highlight both the attacks of education, especially ethnic studies such as Black studies and American Indian studies, and the increased level of union activity in 2023. Attendees listened to panels and gave workshops over a variety of topics, sharing strategy and tactics with SDS chapters from across the country.
Milwaukee, WI – On October 20, dozens of healthcare workers joined a press conference to condemn the unprecedented public health crisis being caused by Israel's criminal siege and bombardment of 2.3 million civilians in Gaza.
“As healthcare workers in the Milwaukee area, we are deeply disturbed by the current Israeli war on Gaza, and the large toll of civilians that have been killed and injured, particularly children,” said Dr. Hashim Zaibak, a Palestinian-American doctor from Gaza.
By Sadie Carlson and Tavyan Dorsey
Tallahassee, FL – On October 18, more than 350 community members and students protested at Cascades Park, marking the second demonstration for Palestine’s liberation in Florida’s capital city since the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation on October 7.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The American and European cover and partnership in the Zionist aggression, especially after the Al-Maamadani hospital massacre, allowed this enemy to escalate the war crimes of extermination against our people, affecting more hospitals, bakeries, and shelters affiliated with UNRWA.
Our people have suffered from a clear Arab betrayal that allowed the American administration and the enemy to reach a climax in their crimes and terrorism against civilians, which would not have been possible without this Arab official weakness and decline.
Confronting this genocidal war is no less essential than confronting the dangers of displacement, and the shaky, official Arab stances are unacceptable while our people are being exterminated.
The resistance forces in the region, with their brave stance alongside the Palestinian people with all their means, what they have achieved in confronting decisive strikes against the enemy, and what the Arab masses and free people of the world do and are doing daily in support of Palestine, only confirms that standing against this aggression is a possible and achievable duty. The peoples and active forces will continue to stand by this people until they achieve victory over the brutal Zionist project.
Milwaukee, WI – On October 18, a 20-person delegation from the newly formed Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine (CJP), which represents nearly 30 different organizations across the southeastern part of the state, delivered a letter to the office of U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore. Moore, a Democrat, who has joined the chorus of condemnations aimed at the Palestinian resistance for their efforts at fighting against genocide and occupation.
St. Paul, MN – On October 18, more than 8000 people demonstrated on the steps of the Minnesota Capitol building to show solidarity with Palestine and to highlight the U.S. role in endorsing and funding the ongoing Israeli war on Palestine.
The protest was organized by American Muslims for Palestine – Minnesota, Students for Justice in Palestine – University of Minnesota , and the Minnesota Anti-War Committee.
New York, NY – Around 300 students and community members gathered outside the steps of the CUNY grad center in Midtown, October 18, to protest CUNY's involvement with Israel and to support the Palestinian resistance.
Organized by CUNY 4 Palestine, the energetic crowd was loud in their chants and vocal in their support for the Palestinian cause.
Jacksonville, FL – Over 500 people took the streets, October 14, to march in support of the Palestinian liberation movement against Israeli occupation. Demonstrators held Palestinian flags and chanted “Free free, Palestine.”
While the crowd was majority Arab, people from all backgrounds and ages joined the fight. The crowd was energetic and steadfast in their demands to end the occupation. During the march, cars honked in support and displayed Palestinian flags and keffiyehs.
Salt Lake City, UT – Over 100 people gathered at the Utah State Capitol on October 15 to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. The crowd recited chants such as, “Not a nickel, not a dime! No more money for Israel’s crimes!” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”
Minneapolis, MN – Over 15,000 demonstrators shut down the main arteries of Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood on Sunday, October 15, marching in solidarity with Palestine. The crowd was overwhelmingly Palestinian, joined by the city's Somali community, anti-Zionist Jews, and members of all swathes of the multinational working class.
Orlando, FL – On October 14, nearly 1000 people gathered at Lake Eola to demand an end to the violent occupation of Palestine and urge U.S. representatives to end U.S. aid to Israel.
Fight Back! is circulating the following statement by the United States Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) concerning the heinous and hateful murder of Wadea Al-Fayoume, a Palestinian-American child.
USPCN statement on the hate crime murder of baby Wadea Al-Fayoume
On October 15th, 2023, in Plainfield, Illinois, Hanaan Shahin and her six-year-old son Wadea Al-Fayoume were mercilessly attacked by their landlord, 71-year-old Joseph Czuba, in a hate crime targeting their Palestinian-Muslim identity. Hanaan is in critical condition in the hospital, and we are heartbroken to report that the precious Wadea died after being stabbed 26 times by Czuba. Hannan and Wadea had lived on the ground floor for two years with no previous notable issues.
Grand Rapids, MI – Hundreds gathered in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan on October 15 in the afternoon to support the Palestinian resistance against Israeli apartheid. They joined a worldwide solidarity movement in response to the Israeli government's retaliation against the Palestinian resistance launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
Dallas, TX – Since the most recent bombardment of Gaza by the U.S.-backed Israeli military began over a week ago, Filipino communities across Texas have stood up alongside Palestinians. Leaders want to underscore the connections between the two liberation movements. Filipino community members joined massive rallies over the weekend of October 14-15 in Dallas, Austin and Houston, carrying flags of the Philippines and signs expressing their solidarity with the people of Gaza. During the marches, people began chanting “From Palestine to the Philippines, stop the U.S. war machine!”
New Orleans, LA- On October 15, around 250 protesters in New Orleans gathered at the Hale-Boggs Federal Building, waving Palestinian flags and signs in solidarity. With heavy downtown foot traffic surrounding them, they yelled chants like “Resistance is justified when people are occupied!”
Seattle, WA – On October 14, over 1000 people rallied in Westlake Park to show support for the liberation of the Palestinian people.
Since the successful offensive by the Palestinian Resistance only a week before, many organizations in Seattle and across the world have held massive demonstrations showing support for Palestine. Amid calls by the Israeli minister of defense for “total war on Gaza,” calling Gazans “human animals” and making plans to treat them as such, the Seattle community has been made it clear that they support the right for Gaza to defend itself.
Seattle, WA – On October 12, several hundred people gathered on the University of Washington’s campus to hear speeches in solidarity with the ongoing Palestinian struggle for self-determination and the right to return.
Los Angeles, CA – On Saturday, October 14, over 10,000 people rallied for Palestine outside of the Israeli Consulate in West Los Angeles. The protesters carried Palestinian flags and signs reading, “End U.S. aid to Israel” and “Victory to the Palestinian resistance!”