New York protesters demand freedom for Ahed Tamimi, urge boycott of HP

Photo: Bud Korotzer/Desertpeace

Dozens of New Yorkers gathered on Monday, 15 January to demand freedom for Ahed Tamimi and fellow Palestinian child prisoners. The enthusiastic crowd gathered outside the Best Buy electronics store, where they urged shoppers to boycott Hewlett-Packard (HP) products until the corporation stops profiting from Israeli imprisonment, apartheid and colonialism.

The action was organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network. Protesters chanted, carried signs and distributed leaflets about the case of Ahed, the 16-year-old Palestinian teen and youth activist from Nabi Saleh who has been imprisoned by the Israeli occupation since December, and the other 6,200 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. They also distributed information about the global campaign to boycott HP and demand the corporation end its complicity with Israeli colonialism and occupation, including its contracts with the Israel Prison Service.

Photo: Bud Korotzer/Desertpeace

The protest came on the same day as Ahed’s hearing in military court and followed several large actions in New York City in support of Ahed, her jailed mother Nariman, and their fellow Palestinian prisoners. Ahed’s next hearing before the Israeli military court will take place on 31 January, also her 17th birthday, and there is a global call to action for protests in advance of the hearing; a New York action by many groups is planned for 30 January.

Photo: Bud Korotzer/Desertpeace

Samidoun organizers and other New York City activists will be participating in a number of events and actions in the coming days. On 18 January, they will join the #DaysofRage protest in Union Square against US war and imperialism organized by the International League of People’s Struggle.

Photo: Bud Korotzer/Desertpeace

On 20 January, they will join in two actions, including a contingent at the Women’s March for Ahed Tamimi and fellow Palestinian women prisoners on 20 January. Later on the same day, activists will join the Rally against Trump and Capitalism at Grand Central Station.

Photo: Bud Korotzer/Desertpeace