#March4Gaza the Largest-Ever in DC In a historic moment this Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend as we marked 100 days of genocidal bombing by the Israeli regime, over 400,000 protesters filled the streets of Washington, DC to call for a permanent ceasefire and a free Palestine.  The protest on Saturday, January 13th was the largest protest of its kind ever in the US, and was featured in The Washington Post, USA Today, MSNBC, the Guardian, Al-Jazeera, among others, and across social media. Speakers like Dr. Cornel West, Dr. Jill Stein, Imam Omar Suleiman, Medea Benjamin, Alana Hadid, Nihad Awad, and Dr. Osama Abu Irshaid emphasized the complicity of US officials in Israel’s bombing and starvation of Gaza. The collective demands included a ceasefire, an end to the blockade of Gaza, the return of Palestinian prisoners, and an end to US aid to Israel.  Led by the American Muslim Taskforce for Palestine, co-founded by American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), and in partnership with the ANSWER coalition, the unprecedented march represented a coalition of over 350 endorsing organizations, spanning diverse voices in both the American-Muslim community and allies of every religion, race, gender, ethnic and professional background. We thank everyone who joined us, especially those who traveled hundreds of miles through the cold and snow to stand with Gaza.  “This was truly a historic moment for the movement for Palestinian rights. The visible shift in awareness and moral rectitude among a rising generation of Americans is deeply moving as Palestinians have faced more massacre and displacement than the Nakba of 1948,” said Dr. Osama Abu-Irshaid, Executive Director of AMP and AJP-Action. “Most Americans demand an immediate ceasefire. This multi-racial and multi-generational coalition of voters will hold our leaders accountable for their positions on Palestinian rights. We will see a free Palestine.” The Middle East Eye reported that 120 other cities hosted protests for Palestinian rights and a ceasefire as part of this global day of action spanning 45 countries.  “Polls show we are not alone. We are, in fact, an unstoppable majority and an unstoppable force for peace, justice, and for an end to genocide now.” said activist Dr. Jill Stein at the march. “We are here because we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Dr. Abu-Irshaid at the March. “We are proud of what we stand for, and we are proud of what we stand against. Every voice here will register in history on the side of justice for all.”  As Americans commemorate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., hundreds of thousands of them honored Dr. King’s legacy by standing with the cause of Palestine and condemning apartheid and genocide this weekend. As Dr. Cornel West said at the rally, “We want equality. We want equality. We want equality.” Signed,
American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) |
