Dear John,

Three days ago Israel started carpet bombing Rafah, the last designated safe zone in Gaza. We’ve seen horrible images from the assault, including small Palestinian children crushed under their houses and little girls asking doctors to reattach their missing limbs. And around the world, mobilization for Palestine has exploded to meet the moment. Activists are responding to Israel’s escalation with escalation of their own. As the movement for Palestinian freedom grows, the U.S. government is increasingly adopting Israeli-style censorship and repression tactics domestically with a nationwide crackdown.

In the U.S. they’ve tried to ban TikTok, in Israel they’ve banned Al Jazeera, and police forces are sweeping student encampments all over the world. Now, the Senate might pass a bill that will equate pro-Palestine protests with anti-semitism, effectively censoring our activism. 

👉 Tell Senator Schumer to NOT bring this repressive bill to a vote! 

The House already passed H.R. 6090 — an anti-free speech bill — and we need to do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t make it through the Senate. 

Zionists understand the impact students are making across the U.S. with their encampments in solidarity with Gaza, and they know their imperialist goals are at risk. This bill is a desperate attempt to silence student activists and anyone who speaks out against Israel. Repression runs rampant on the ground, too, with the encampment at the University of Chicago cleared earlier this week and mass arrests at UCLA and Columbia University, among others. After Israel invaded Rafah, protestors flooded the streets in New York and our movement leaders were arrested. We will not be silenced for opposing genocide and occupation.

👉 First, join in-person actions for Palestine if you are able, then tell Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to Keep the Anti-Free Speech Bill Off the Senate Floor! 

There were 1.3 million displaced Palestinians in Rafah. This seems like the final stage of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. In the words of Rachel Corrie, a 23 year old American who Israel killed in Rafah in 2003 “I think it is a good idea for us all to drop everything and devote our lives to making this stop.”  Whatever action you can take for Gaza, take it. Check out our events page in case there’s an action near you. Check out our resources on the encampments to support the students still demanding their universities divest from genocide. 

👉 Tell Chuck Schumer to Keep Free Speech Protected!

Israeli airstrikes on Rafah this week already murdered tens of Gazans, nearly half of them children. We can’t allow Israel to continue to terrorize Palestinians. We need to show Israel and the U.S. that this time, repression will not work. When one encampment is cleared, another will pop up. When one activist is jailed, three more will rise up in their place. If they take away our right to free speech, we’ll shout our message even louder. 

We are unstoppable. A free Palestine is possible.

👉 Take action today, and every day:

• Sign our Mother's Day petition to tell Congress: Protect the mothers and children in Gaza!
  
• Share the Mother's Day petition on Twitter and Facebook!
• Join us in Congress for Mother's Day!
• Support encampments in solidarity with Gaza!
• Support families in Gaza!
• Join us on 5/20 for "The Missing Peace" Community Call!
• Support our work! 

Towards Peace,

Nour and the entire CODEPINK team