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10 September, San Jose: Solidarity with Rasmea Odeh

Join the South Bay Committee Against Political Repression (SBCAPR) in protest against attempted railroading of respected Palestinian-American activist Rasmea Odeh.

WHERE: MLK Library, 150 E San Fernando St, San Jose, CA 95112 (corner of San Fernando and 4th Street)
WHEN: Thursday, September 10, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
WHAT: Banners and flyering in solidarity with Rasmea Odeh
SPONSOR: SBCAPR

WHY: On October 22nd, 2013, Rasmea Odeh was arrested by the Department of Homeland Security and charged with Unlawful Procurement of Naturalization, for allegedly failing to disclose that she had been imprisoned by the Israelis in Palestine over 45 years ago. The wrongful conviction in Palestine was the result of vicious physical and sexual torture by the Israelis. Rasmea Odeh was not given a fair trial in a Detroit, and her case will be appealed in Cincinnati in October.

Like so many other victims of political repression in this country, especially African Americans; Puerto Ricans; Mexicans, Latinos, and other immigrants; Arabs and Muslims; and peace activists; she has committed no crime, and is only under attack because she is a Palestinian activist who dedicated over 40 years of her life to the empowerment of Arab women, first in her homes of Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon, and then the past 10 years in Chicago.

For more information, contact Masao Suzuki 408-373-0817

10 September, Minneapolis: Bannering to demand justice for Rasmea Odeh

Thursday, September 10
4:30 PM
Mayday Plaza
301 Cedar Ave S
Minneapolis
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/851205241624377/

Rasmea Odeh is a heroic 68-year-old Palestinian American community leader who is currently facing prison and deportation on a trumped up immigration charge. She is an icon of the Palestinian struggle. In 1969 she was jailed and tortured by the Israelis.

Join us September 10 as we stand in solidarity with her, and against the continuing wars and political repression of the U.S. government. Later this fall we will be mobilizing to attend the Federal appeal hearing in Cincinnati to challenge her unjust conviction. Help to build this campaign to keep her free. Justice for Rasmea!

Organized by the MN Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

11 September, Houston: Protest to Demand Justice for Rasmea Odeh

Friday, September 11
4:15 pm
Mickey Leland Federal Bldg
1919 Smith St, Houston, Texas 77002
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/917609338304334/

support-rasmea

Come join us in front of the Mickey Leland Federal Building to demand justice for Rasmea Odeh.

Rasmea Odeh is a 67 year old Palestinian American community leader who was tortured by the Israeli government in 1969. On November 10th in front of supporters in the courtroom, Rasmea was found guilty of one count of Unlawful Procurement of Naturalization and faces sentencing on March 12. Though Rasmea has been unjustly convicted, her struggle is far from over.

Rasmea’s case is part of a larger campaign against Palestinian leaders, institutions, and community members; as well as an example of government repression waged against oppressed nationalities, anti-war, social justice, and international solidarity activists.

Let your voice be heard and demand justice for this remarkable Palestinian activist. This protest is part of the national week of action around Rasmea. We will protest until 5:30 PM.

We suggest that you park a few blocks away (around St Joseph and Fannin (about 5 or 6 blocks), or take the rail (get off at Bell station).

We hope to see you there!

8 September, Houston: Solidarity with Rasmea Odeh

Tuesday, 8 September
7:30 PM
6733 Harrisburg Blvd
Houston, TX 77011
United States
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1022361324463326/

rasmea-houston

Rasmea Odeh is a 67-year-old Palestinian-American community leader who was tortured by the Israeli government in 1969. On November 10th, in front of supporters in the courtroom, Rasmea was found guilty of one count of Unlawful Procurement of Naturalization and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on March 12th, 2015. She is free on bail while she appeals her conviction. Though Rasmea has been unjustly convicted, her struggle is far from over.

Rasmea’s case is part of a larger campaign against Palestinian leaders, institutions, and community members; as well as an example of government repression waged against oppressed nationalities, anti-war, social justice, and international solidarity activists.

Part of a national week of action, we will be giving a presentation on Rasmea, providing all the facts of her case and how you can get involved in the campaign to free her. After the presentation, we will have a Q&A and a discussion to follow. We will be selling hand painted Palestinian flags and other Palestine art, the proceeds of which will be donated to Rasmea’s defense. There will be snacks and refreshments.

You can find more information about Rasmea and the campaign to free her on the Free Rasmea Now Facebook page. We hope you will join us!

Photos and report: Toulouse protest demands freedom for Palestinian prisoners

On Saturday, 5 September 2015, a rally was held in Toulouse, France, calling for the release of all Palestinian prisoners, with the participation of approximately 100 protesters.

The anti-imperialist collective, Coup Pour Coup 31, made the following statement (see original report on Coup Pour Coup 31 website):

We note that today, when we express our solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, we also recall that an entire people, the people of Palestine, are imprisoned. Imprisoned by a racist and colonial ideology, Zionism. Whether under siege in Gaza for over 8 years, whether in the West Bank or in Occupied Palestine ’48, the Palestinian people is locked up, violated and robbed.

Among these prisoners is Khalida Jarrar, a leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). A Palestinian parliamentarian, she has been imprisoned since 2 April 2015. Military officials accused her of membership in a prohibited organization, the PFLP, active support for Palestinian prisoners and other political activities. During her hearing on 24 August, the military prosecution called two witnesses, both of whom said they confessed under torture.

toulouse2Among the many Palestinian leaders imprisoned by the occupation is Ahmad Sa’adat, General Secretary of the PFLP. He was imprisoned in 2002 in the prisons of collaboration of the Palestinian Authority, under U.S. and British guard, until his abduction by the Israeli occupation forces on 14 March 2006 following a military raid on the Jericho prison. On 25 December 2008, he was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment. He has been repeatedly isolated or prohibited from family visits. On Monday, 27 July 2015, the special forces of the Israeli prison administration broke into the prison where he is held, following the actions of the prisoners against their conditions of incarceration. Faced with the resistance of the prisoners, the military brigades invaded cells, transferred some prisoners and wounded approximately 30, including Sa’adat.

And finally, among the numerous Palestinian prisoners, one has been held in France since 1984. His name is Georges Ibrahim Abdallah. Lebanese, he struggled alongside Palestinian refugees in the 1970s and 1980s. He has been imprisoned for almost 32 years by the French state for having resisted Zionism and imperialism, despite being eligible for parole since 1999 under French la.

We are here today to support all of the struggles of Palestinian prisoners in protest against their conditions and their imprisonment. We are here today to demand their immediate and unconditional release. And we are here today to demand the liberation of Palestine, all of Palestine, on the whole historical land, from the river to the sea!

toulouse3

Français:

Aujourd’hui samedi 5 septembre 2015 s’est tenu à Toulouse un rassemblement pour la libération de tous les prisonniers palestiniens. Environ 100 personnes ont répondu à l’appel.

Notre collectif anti-impérialiste Coup pour Coup 31 a fait une déclaration que nous retranscrivons ici :

Nous voulions rappeler que si aujourd’hui, nous exprimons notre solidarité avec les prisonniers palestiniens, nous rappelons que c’est tout un peuple, celui de la Palestine, qui est emprisonné. Emprisonné par une idéologie raciste et coloniale, le sionisme. Que ce soit à Gaza, sous blocus depuis plus de 8 ans, que ce soit en Cisjordanie ou dans les territoires occupés, c’est tout un peuple qui est enfermé, humilié et spolié.

Parmi ces prisonniers, Khalida Jarrar, dirigeante du Front Populaire de Libération de la Palestine (FPLP). Parlementaire palestinienne, elle est enfermée depuis le 02 avril 2015. Les autorités militaires lui reprochent son appartenance à un groupe terroriste, le FPLP, son soutien actif aux prisonniers palestiniens et d’autres griefs d’ordre politique. Pendant son audience du 24 août dernier, le procureur militaire a fait comparaître deux témoins qui ont affirmé avoir avoué sous la torture.

Parmi les nombreux dirigeants palestiniens enfermés par l’occupation, il y a Ahmad Saadat, secrétaire général du FPLP. Il a été enfermé en 2002 dans les prisons des collabos de l’Autorité Palestinienne, sous surveillance américaine et britannique, jusqu’à son enlèvement par les forces d’occupations israéliennes le 14 mars 2006 à la suite d’un raid militaire contre la prison de Jéricho. Le 25 décembre 2008, il a été condamné à 30 ans d’emprisonnement. Régulièrement, les autorités israéliennes le maintiennent en isolement ou lui interdisent les visites familiales. Lundi 27 juillet 2015 au soir, les forces spéciales de l’administration pénitentiaire israélienne ont fait irruption dans sa prison, suite à des actions des prisonniers contre leur condition d’incarcération. Devant la résistance des prisonniers, les brigades ont envahi les cellules, déplacé certains prisonniers et blessés une trentaine d’entre eux, dont Ahmad Saadat.

Et enfin, parmi les nombreux et nombreux prisonniers palestiniens, un se trouve en France depuis 1984. Il se nomme Georges Ibrahim Abdallah. Libanais, il a combattu parmi les réfugiés palestiniens dans les années 70 et 80. Il est maintenu en prison depuis presque 32 ans par l’État français pour avoir résisté et combattu l’impérialisme et le sionisme alors qu’il est libérable depuis 1999 selon le droit français.

Si nous sommes donc ici aujourd’hui, c’est pour soutenir toutes les actions entreprises par les prisonniers palestiniens afin de protester contre leur condition d’enfermement. Si nous sommes ici aujourd’hui, c’est pour exiger, ensemble, leur libération, immédiate et sans conditions. Mais si nous sommes ici aujourd’hui, c’est pour exiger la libération de la Palestine, de toute la Palestine, sur tout le territoire historique, de la mer au Jourdain !

Hunger strikes continue: Protests across Palestine demand freedom, end of administrative detention

 

Nidal Abu Aker, Munir Abu Sharar, Badr al-Ruzza, Ghassan Zawahreh, and Shadi Ma’ali are engaged in the “Battle of Breaking the Chains” for the seventeenth day, continuing in their hunger strike to demand the end of administrative detention. All five are imprisoned by the Israeli military without charge or trial on the basis of “secret evidence” and have launched a hunger strike to demand not only their freedom personally, but an end to the policy that has been used against them.

Several more Palestinian prisoners have joined in the hunger strike and its demands: Bilal Daoud Saifi, who like Abu Aker, Zawahreh and Ma’ali is a Palestinian refugee who lives in Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem, who started his strike on 30 August; Suleiman Eskafi of Al-Khalil, an administrative detainee on strike since 1 September; and Amir Shammas of Al-Khalil, an administrative detainee who previoulsy engaged in a hunger strike, had been promised that his detention would not be renewed, but since has had his detention renewed. In addition, Noor Shoukri Jaber, a Palestinian prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment, began a hunger strike on 2 September in protest of lack of medical care and his arbitrary transfer.

hunger-strikers

All of the striking prisoners have been thrown into isolation in an attempt to pressure them to end their strike and to stop other prisoners from joining the strike.

The “Battle of Breaking the Chains” is sparking actions of support in various cities in Palestine. A permanent tent of support has been set up at the main entrance of Dheisheh refugee camp, where four of the strikers – and three of its leaders – live, and demonstrations of support have been organized in Nablus, Al-Khalil, Bethlehem city, and Ramallah, among other cities.

Nablus:

Al-Khalil:

Bethlehem (Sit-in at Red Cross headquarters):

Ramallah:

Dheisheh tent:

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network expresses its strongest solidarity with the striking prisoners, and calls for international actions, mobilizations and events to demand their freedom. We cannot wait until these brave strugglers are facing death to act and demand not only their freedom as individuals, but the abolition of administrative detention – on the road to freeing every Palestinian prisoner held in Israeli occupation jails. It is not the case that Israeli military courts are any more legitimate, fair or acceptable than administrative detention – they are just as arbitrary, racist and illegitimate. But administrative detention is a weapon of mass terror used against the Palestinian people, and it is critical to bring this practice to an end. These Palestinian prisoners have put their bodies on the line in order to end administrative detention – and it is imperative that we act to support them. These prisoners’ struggle is not only about their individual freedom – it is part of their struggle for return and liberation for Palestine.

Take Action!

1. Sign on to this statement in support of the prisoners’ demand to End Administrative Detention. Organizational and individual endorsements are welcome – and organizational endorsements particularly critical – in support of the prisoners’ demands and their actions. Click here to sign or sign below:http://bit.ly/EndAdministrativeDetention

2. Send a solidarity statement. The support of people around the world helps to inform people about the struggle of Palestinian prisoners. It is a morale booster and helps to build political solidarity. Please send your solidarity statements to samidoun@samidoun.net. They will be published and sent directly to the prisoners.

3. Hold a solidarity one-day hunger strike in your area. Gather in a tent or central area, bring materials about Palestinian prisoners and hold a one-day solidarity strike to raise awareness and provide support for the struggle of the prisoners and the Palestinian cause. Please email us at samidoun@samidoun.net to inform us of your action – we will publicize and share news with the prisoners.

4. Protest at the Israeli consulate or embassy in your area.  Bring posters and flyers about administrative detention and Palestinian hunger strikers and hold a protest, or join a protest with this important information. Hold a community event or discussion, or include this issue in your next event about Palestine and social justice. Please email us at samidoun@samidoun.net to inform us of your action – we will publicize and share news with the prisoners.

5. Contact political officials in your country – members of Parliament or Congress, or the Ministry/Department of Foreign Affairs or State – and demand that they cut aid and relations with Israel on the basis of its apartheid practices, its practice of colonialism, and its numerous violations of Palestinian rights including the systematic practice of administrative detention. Demand they pressure Israel to free the hunger strikers and end administrative detention.

6. Boycott, Divest and Sanction. Hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law. Don’t buy Israeli goods, and campaign to end investments in corporations that profit from the occupation. G4S, a global security corporation, is heavily involved in providing services to Israeli prisons that jail Palestinian political prisoners – there is a global call to boycott itPalestinian political prisoners have issued a specific call urging action on G4S. Learn more about BDS at bdsmovement.net.

اوقفوا جرائم الشرطة / ترجمة لكلمة المناضلة الفلسطينية رسمية عودة

2015 شيكاغو – الولايات المتحدة الامريكية . 29 أغسطس

إنه لمن دواعي القوة المدهشة  أن نرى الاف يتجمعوا لرفع الصوت عاليًا لوقف جرائم الشرطة ، و للمطالبة بتأسيس  المجلس المدني لمحاسبة الشرطة ، للاستمرار بالنضال من أجل العدالة لأن لدينا آمال و آحلام واحدة ، و نؤمن بالقيم ذاتها في الحرية و العدالة و المساواة .

نحن الفلسطينيون نُناضل منذ ما يقرب من  70عامًا تحت الاحتلال الكولونيالي العسكري الاسرائيلي اللاشرعي ،  و ممارساته العنصرية القمعية . انهم مستمرون في إرهاب شعبنا و ارتكاب المجازر البشعة . لذلك ، نحن نعلم الغضب و التمرد، و دوافع النهوض لمواجهة فرض القوانين العنصرية التي تدفع بدورها شعوبنا الى هامش الانسانية .

جرائم الشرطة ضد السود في الولايات المتحدة هي تقريبا مُتطابقة  لما نخبره في فلسطين تحت الاحتلال ،  لهذا نحن نتحدث عن النضال المشترك ، و لهذا فإن مهمتنا هي دعم نضال المضطهدين في هذا البلد ، في فلسطين، و في كل العالم .  نحن الفلسطينيون و العرب نقف بشكل حاسم في التضامن مع شجاعتكم ، انتم افراد مجتمعات السود ، الذين تنهضون ضد كل حادثة بشعة بسبب عنف الشرطة في هذا البلد.

بالاضافة الى ذلك ، نحن نطالب بمحاسبة الشرطة و وقف سياسة التمييز العنصري . لذلك نحن هنا ، داعمين للحملة من أجل تأسيس المجلس المدني لمحاسبة الشرطة ، و لهذا نؤيد حملة ” نتحدى ونتهمكم بالابادة ”  ولوقف ما يسمى سياسة ” الوقف و التفتيش”  التي تنتهجها دائرة  شرطة شيكاغو . وعليه،  فإن منظمتي ،  شبكة العمل العربية الاميركية، أطلقت حملة بقيادة الشبيبة لوقف الاضطهاد و التمييز العنصري ضد العرب و المسلمين على حد سواء.

انا مؤمنة أن التحديات صعبة . إن تفكيك العنصرية و الإضطهاد ليست مهمة سهلة ، و وقف جرائم الشرطة لن تكون مهمة سهلة أيضا  ولكن يجب ان لا نخاف من التحديات طالما اننا نؤمن بحقوقنا و بالقيم التي نناضل من اجلها ، و النهوض معا يجعلنا أقوى و أكثر تاثيرًا . حينها فقط ، نستطلع تحقيق أهدافنا ، وأبعد .

نحن نقف من أجل العدالة الإجتماعية و التحرر في هذا البلد ،  تمامًا كما يناضل شعبي ويبذل حياته من أجل تحرير فلسطين . إن النضال من اجل حركة تحرر السود في هذا البلد  و النضال ضد الاستعمار في إفريقيا،  أميركا اللاتينية  و آسيا  ، كان مُلهمًا بالنسبة لنا ، دائمًا . وما زلنا نستمد الإلهام و القوة من تلك النضالات . و اليوم ندرك أن تحرر السود في هذا البلد يعني تحررنا  كلنا .

و أخيرًا , أريد ان اقول : انني فخورة جدًا بأن غالبية الحشود هنا من الشباب ، أنتم تقودون و توفرون لجالياتنا الهواء النظيف حتى نتنفس ، إمزجوا قوتكم مع حكمة الأجيال السابقة ، مع تجربتكم و تجربة حلفائكم و الشعوب الاخرى ، كي تضمنوا انكم حققتم أحلامكم وأهدافكم التي هي ُملككم و هي مُلكنا جميعًا . إستمروا في التنظيم ، اليوم ، و كل يوم ، حتى نُحقق المجلس المدني لمحاسبة الشرطة .

انا أعلم أننا سنحقق هذا الهدف معًا.

أشكركم جميعًا.

 

 

 

 

 

20-21 September, Colorado: Free Simon Trinidad!

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1460169274312532/

Free Simón Trinidad! Support Peace in Colombia!

Join a public informational meeting on Simón Trinidad and the Colombian Peace Process on September 20, 2015 at 6:00 PM at the Pozner Center, 1031 33rd St, Denver, CO 80205.

Join a demonstration and press conference on Monday, Sept. 21st at 11 AM in front of the super max prison on Highway 67 in Florence Colorado where Simon Trinidad is being held.

Free Simón Trinidad! Support Peace in Colombia!

Simón Trinidad, a.k.a. Ricardo Palmera, is a political prisoner, a prisoner of war, and a member of the FARC-EP, who has been held in solitary confinement by the United States government for over 10 years. The Colombian government and the FARC-EP have been locked in a civil war for over 50 years. A former university professor, Trinidad was a FARC peace negotiator who played a key role in peace negotiations in San Vicente del Caguan, Colombia in 1998-2002.

Support Peace in Colombia!

Peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC began in 2012, in Havana Cuba. Substantial progress has been made towards a comprehensive peace agreement. At the beginning of these peace negotiations, the FARC named Trinidad as one of their five top negotiators. Simon Trinidad has been unable to attend any peace negotiations, however, as he is being held in solitary confinement at the super max prison in Florence, Colorado.

The FARC says that they cannot sign any peace agreement without the presence and assistance of Simón Trinidad. The Government of Colombia through one of its chief negotiators, Sergio Jaramillo, said in May, 2015 “If you ask me? If you reach an agreement, should he (Trinidad) be part of that deal? The answer is definitely yes.”

President Santos of Colombia has also indicated that he is favorable to the release of Trinidad.

Trinidad must be freed by the U.S. Government in order for the peace negotiations to succeed.

Demand that President Obama free Simón Trinidad so he can help the peace process in Colombia reach a successful conclusion.

Free Simón Trinidad! Support Peace in Colombia!

For further information contact: Simón Trinidad’s U.S. attorney Mark Burton markburtonlaw@unseen.is 303-517-1187

Tom Burke, National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera info@freericardopalmera.org 773-844-3612

10 September, Tampa: Dabke and Dessert – Fundraiser for Rasmea

Thursday, 10 September
7:00 pm
8052 N. 56th Street, Tampa, FL
Organized by the Committee to Stop FBI Repression-Tampa
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/744638055659169/

The Committee to Stop FBI Repression – Tampa is hosting a fundraising event for Rasmea Odeh, a Palestinian activist from Chicago recently convicted of bogus immigration charges. Rasmea is a crucial leader in the Arab- and Muslim-American community in Chicago, working with women and children as part of the Arab American Action Network.

This fundraiser will raise money for the Rasmea Defense Committee. The event will include a workshop from local dabke groups, speeches about our work, and a raffle to win a t-shirt featuring Rasmea and other women liberation fighters, as well as other prizes. We are asking for a donation of $5-$10 for entry to the event.

For more information about Rasmea’s case, please visit Committee to Stop FBI Repression and stopfbi.net

 

Rasmea Odeh says: Stop Police Crimes!

The following speech was delivered by Rasmea Odeh, Palestinian community activist in the US, former political prisoner and torture survivor, facing political persecution and imprisonment at the hands of the US government, at the August 29 Chicago march, “Stop Police Crimes!” demanding community control over the police. Rasmea’s appeal will be heard in Cincinnati on October 14. For more information, see justice4rasmea.org.

Stop police crimes

It is incredibly powerful to see all these thousands gathered here to raise our voices to stop police crimes, to demand a Civilian Police Accountability Council, and to continue to fight for justice, because we all have the same hopes and dreams, and believe in the same principles of freedom, justice and equality.

We Palestinians have been struggling for close to 70 years under Israel’s illegal colonial military occupation and its oppressive and racist practices. They continue to terrorize our people and commit brutal crimes. So we know the anger, the outrage and the motivation to rise up against racist law enforcement policies that push our communities to the margins of humanity.

The police crimes against Black people in the U.S. are almost identical to what we experience in Palestine from the Israelis. This is why we talk about joint struggle, why our responsibility is to support the struggles of those oppressed in this country, in Palestine, and all over the world. We Palestinians and Arabs stand in unqualified solidarity with brave Black community members like all of you, who are rising up against every instance of vicious police violence in this country.

In addition, we demand police accountability and an end to racial profiling. That is why we are here as endorsers of the campaign to establish a Civilian Police Accountability Council, why we are supporting We Charge Genocide’s challenge to the ‘Stop and Frisk’ policies of the Chicago Police Department, and why my organization, the Arab American Action Network, has launched a youth-led campaign to stop repression and racial profiling against Arabs and Muslims as well.

I believe our challenges are tough. Deconstructing racism and national oppression is not easy. Stopping police crimes will not be a simple task. But we should not be frightened by the challenges, and as long as we believe in our rights and the principles that we stand for, and rise up together, we become stronger and more effective. Then we can achieve our goals and beyond.

We stand for social justice and liberation in this country, the same way my people have dedicated their lives to the liberation of Palestine. The struggle of the Black Liberation movement in this country, and anti-colonial struggles in Africa, Latin America, and Asia have always been an inspiration to us. We continue to find inspiration and strength from those struggles and today’s, and we recognize that Black Liberation in this country will lead to liberation for all.

Lastly, I want to say that I’m very proud to see that most of this crowd is young people. You are leading and providing fresh air that our communities need to breathe. Combine your resources with the wisdom of the older generation; with the experiences of your allies; and with other communities to ensure that you achieve the dreams and goals that belong to you and to all of us. Keep organizing today and every day until we achieve a Civilian Police Accountability Council. I know we will achieve this goal together!

Thank you all.

اوقفوا جرائم الشرطة / ترجمة لكلمة المناضلة الفلسطينية رسمية عودة

شيكاغو – الولايات المتحدة الامريكية . 29 أغسطس

إنه لمن دواعي القوة المدهشة  أن نرى الاف يتجمعوا لرفع الصوت عاليًا لوقف جرائم الشرطة ، و للمطالبة بتأسيس  المجلس المدني لمحاسبة الشرطة ، للاستمرار بالنضال من أجل العدالة لأن لدينا آمال و آحلام واحدة ، و نؤمن بالقيم ذاتها في الحرية و العدالة و المساواة .

نحن الفلسطينيون نُناضل منذ ما يقرب من  70عامًا تحت الاحتلال الكولونيالي العسكري الاسرائيلي اللاشرعي ،  و ممارساته العنصرية القمعية . انهم مستمرون في إرهاب شعبنا و ارتكاب المجازر البشعة . لذلك ، نحن نعلم الغضب و التمرد، و دوافع النهوض لمواجهة فرض القوانين العنصرية التي تدفع بدورها شعوبنا الى هامش الانسانية .

جرائم الشرطة ضد السود في الولايات المتحدة هي تقريبا مُتطابقة  لما نخبره في فلسطين تحت الاحتلال ،  لهذا نحن نتحدث عن النضال المشترك ، و لهذا فإن مهمتنا هي دعم نضال المضطهدين في هذا البلد ، في فلسطين، و في كل العالم .  نحن الفلسطينيون و العرب نقف بشكل حاسم في التضامن مع شجاعتكم ، انتم افراد مجتمعات السود ، الذين تنهضون ضد كل حادثة بشعة بسبب عنف الشرطة في هذا البلد.

بالاضافة الى ذلك ، نحن نطالب بمحاسبة الشرطة و وقف سياسة التمييز العنصري . لذلك نحن هنا ، داعمين للحملة من أجل تأسيس المجلس المدني لمحاسبة الشرطة ، و لهذا نؤيد حملة ” نتحدى ونتهمكم بالابادة ”  ولوقف ما يسمى سياسة ” الوقف و التفتيش”  التي تنتهجها دائرة  شرطة شيكاغو . وعليه،  فإن منظمتي ،  شبكة العمل العربية الاميركية، أطلقت حملة بقيادة الشبيبة لوقف الاضطهاد و التمييز العنصري ضد العرب و المسلمين على حد سواء.

انا مؤمنة أن التحديات صعبة . إن تفكيك العنصرية و الإضطهاد ليست مهمة سهلة ، و وقف جرائم الشرطة لن تكون مهمة سهلة أيضا  ولكن يجب ان لا نخاف من التحديات طالما اننا نؤمن بحقوقنا و بالقيم التي نناضل من اجلها ، و النهوض معا يجعلنا أقوى و أكثر تاثيرًا . حينها فقط ، نستطلع تحقيق أهدافنا ، وأبعد .

نحن نقف من أجل العدالة الإجتماعية و التحرر في هذا البلد ،  تمامًا كما يناضل شعبي ويبذل حياته من أجل تحرير فلسطين . إن النضال من اجل حركة تحرر السود في هذا البلد  و النضال ضد الاستعمار في إفريقيا،  أميركا اللاتينية  و آسيا  ، كان مُلهمًا بالنسبة لنا ، دائمًا . وما زلنا نستمد الإلهام و القوة من تلك النضالات . و اليوم ندرك أن تحرر السود في هذا البلد يعني تحررنا  كلنا .

و أخيرًا , أريد ان اقول : انني فخورة جدًا بأن غالبية الحشود هنا من الشباب ، أنتم تقودون و توفرون لجالياتنا الهواء النظيف حتى نتنفس ، إمزجوا قوتكم مع حكمة الأجيال السابقة ، مع تجربتكم و تجربة حلفائكم و الشعوب الاخرى ، كي تضمنوا انكم حققتم أحلامكم وأهدافكم التي هي ُملككم و هي مُلكنا جميعًا . إستمروا في التنظيم ، اليوم ، و كل يوم ، حتى نُحقق المجلس المدني لمحاسبة الشرطة .

انا أعلم أننا سنحقق هذا الهدف معًا.

أشكركم جميعًا.