Massive Brooklyn march demands justice and liberation for Palestine

Photo credit: Joe Catron/Flickr

Thousands of people joined a massive rally and march for Palestine in Brooklyn, New York, as part of the “Day of Rage” against Israeli annexation, colonization and Zionism in Palestine on Wednesday, 1 July. The rally was led by Within our Lifetime • United for Palestine and organized by the NY4Palestine coalition, of which Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is a member alongside WOL, Al-Awda NY, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition; American Muslims for Palestine – NJ; and several Students for Justice for Palestine chapters throughout New York City.

Photo credit: Joe Catron/Flickr

The rally gathered in Bay Ridge, a major center for the Palestinian and Arab community in New York, at the corner of 5th Avenue and 72nd Street. Over 40 speakers representing a wide range of community organizations and movements, including Dequi Kioni-Sadiki, longtime fighter for the freedom of U.S. political prisoners; representatives of Bayan, the Filipino community organization; a recorded message from political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal; and many more.

Photo credit: Joe Catron/Flickr

Speakers from The Red Nation, Decolonize this Place, Struggle La Lucha, NY Boricua Resistance, Stand With Kashmir, the Party for Socialism and Liberation and many more, as well as the Neturei Karta religious Jewish anti-Zionist organization also participated in the protest.

Photo credit: Joe Catron/Flickr

“Thanks to the initiative of our comrades in the Samidoun Network in occupied Palestine, as well as the hard work of our partners in Within our Lifetime • United for Palestine and the rest of the NY4Palestine coalition, New York held the strongest, most energetic demonstration for Palestine I’ve seen here in years,” said Joe Catron, U.S. coordinator of Samidoun.

Photo credit: Joe Catron/Flickr

Multiple speakers highlighted the necessity of common struggle to fight for Black liberation and the liberation of all oppressed nations and communities alongside the struggle for justice, liberation and return in Palestine. The lead banner of the protest read, “NYPD=KKK=IDF: One Struggle for Liberation.” Indeed, many speakers focused on the centrality of struggling for Black liberation as a necessary condition for the liberation of Palestine.

Photo credit: Joe Catron/Flickr

The rally lasted for nearly two hours as the crowd continued to grow, full of energy and militant spirit to struggle for Palestine. The march was widely attended by young people and by the Palestinian community in New York, and slogans like “Not just annexation – Not just occupation, Palestine won’t take it, Bring the whole thing down!” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “There is only one solution! Intifada revolution!” filled the air.

Photo credit: Joe Catron/Flickr

“Yesterday’s action was one of the most militant inspiring actions i have ever been to. It was full of youth and community who thought there could never be this many people in a Palestinian community chanting for full liberation, for all Palestinians’ land, and not just against occupation. This is the kind of empowerment that makes us and all those who attended believe we will truly free Palestine within our lifetime!” said Nerdeen Kiswani, co-founder and chair of Within our Lifetime • United for Palestine.

Photo credit: Joe Catron/Flickr
Photo credit: Joe Catron/Flickr

After the rally, a lengthy march continued for hours through Brooklyn, with chants for Black lives and Palestinian liberation reverberating through the streets before finally coming to an end in front of Barclays’ Center with dabkeh and chants, the militant mood of the day never faded.

Photo credit: Joe Catron/Flickr

The Day of Rage protest came alongside protests in occupied Palestine, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Toulouse, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Baltimore, Albuquerque, Portland, Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia, Toledo, Columbus, Rancho Cucamonga, Claremont, Halifax, St. Catherines, San Jose, Costa Rica, Oldham, Bedford, Saint-Denis, Amsterdam, The Hague, Frankfurt, Madrid, Berlin, Granada, Valencia, Valladolid, Bilbao, Athens, Sevilla, Istanbul, Johannesburg and Seoul.

Photo credit: Joe Catron/Flickr

Many more were organized the prior weekend and more to come in the following days, including upcoming actions in Berlin, North Bergen, Amman, Toronto, Copenhagen, Mississauga, Dublin, Derry, Lyon, London, Nelson, Auckland, Detroit, Cleveland, Hamilton, Lisbon and more.

Photo credit: Joe Catron/Flickr

Videos from the demonstration: