Around the world, Nakba Day commemorates the day of catastrophe on May 15, 1948, when Zionist forces began a violent campaign of ethnic cleansing and expulsion of Palestinians from their homes to establish the state of Israel. This May 15 marked 73 years of Palestinian resistance, with the world watching as the Israeli government, military, and their supporters have renewed efforts to violently displace Palestinians in Jerusalem neighborhoods and waged violence and destruction across Gaza.
At SURJ, we condemn Israel’s continued violence against Palestinians and occupation of their land, as well as the U.S. government’s $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel each year. We condemn the settler colonialism that has killed and displaced millions. We understand that critiquing the Israeli government or Zionism is not antisemitic, and we stand with Jewish people around the world demanding human rights and dignity for Palestinians. Palestinian liberation is racial justice. This squares with our own belief in collective liberation and the idea that every person has the right to safety and freedom from persecution.
To learn more, we urge you to read a joint statement on Nakba 73 from Palestinians in North America and a statement from Jewish Voice for Peace. As the joint statement says, “To this day, colonization and dispossession remain ongoing processes, where Palestinians continue to endure land theft and encroachments on their basic rights. Despite the multiple decades of Zionist brutality, our resilient people remain committed to resisting Zionist settler-colonialism and to the liberation of Palestine.”
White supremacy, violence, and oppression impact people around the world. To learn more about how our liberation is intrinsically intertwined with that of our neighbors and oppressed people everywhere, register to join us this Thursday at 8PM ET for the SURJ National webinar “Palestinian Liberation is a Racial Justice Issue.” Leaders from Arab Resource Organizing Center, Friends of Sabeel North America, Catalyst Project, and SURJ-Faith will discuss what’s going on in Israel and Palestine right now, how we got here, and how Palestinian liberation ties into SURJ’s broader vision for collective liberation.
Today is a global day of action in solidarity with the Palestinian uprising and general strike. Palestinians around the world are striking and solidarity actions are planned in cities across the US. You can join in NYC at 1pm at the Israeli Consulate.
From New York to Palestine, this is a time for us to act in solidarity as we work for a world where all people are free and can thrive for generations to come. See below for ways to get involved and take action.
In solidarity,
SURJ NYC
P.S. Did you know we have an emerging immigration justice group? SURJ NYC members are working with the Abolish ICE NY-NJ Coalition, which organizes to free New Yorkers and New Jerseyans from ICE detention—and, ultimately, to end detention and abolish ICE. We’ll be highlighting this work in an upcoming email, but to get involved now, attend the next meeting on May 26 or sign up for a one-on-one chat to learn more. Also join the next Abolish ICE #FreeThemAll phone zap, 12-1pm this Friday, May 21!