 Record-breaking crowds gather for Palestine in Chicago Dear Email, On Saturday, November 29th, we wrapped up our most energetic and inspiring convention yet with a record-breaking 5,000+ people in attendance at the Tinley Park Convention Center near Chicago, IL! With more than 60 speakers, 40 sessions, a buzzing bazaar, and multiple tracks, this year's convention has been hailed by attendees as one of the best they've ever experienced.   This year's theme revolved around the genocide in Gaza. Our approach to addressing the catastrophe that has unfolded over the last two years was to develop a framework to move beyond survival. Historically, when empires and world powers counted the Palestinians out, the Palestinian people found a way to maintain continuity and ensure their growth as a nation and people, beyond survival. On Thursday, the convention was inaugurated by groundbreaking sessions on political prisoners, lessons learned from the Gaza genocide, and a screening of Watermelon Pictures’ The Encampments, which shed light on the incredible student movement that swept US college campuses in the spring of 2024.  On Friday, important discussions on the Israel lobby and the 2026 election featuring former congressmen Dr. Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush electrified the crowd, and inspiring talks from Dr. Hatem Bazian, Dr. Osama Abu Irshaid, and Dr. Manal Fakhoury grounded us in what matters most: a deep commitment to the just and noble cause of Palestine. Sessions also included panels on divesting from Israeli bonds and the role of social media during genocide. We capped the night with a panel on Gaza and with the captivatingly heartbreaking film The Voice of Hind Rajab, which portrayed the last moments of the life of the little girl in Gaza whose murder by Israeli soldiers shocked the conscience of the world.     On Saturday, the “Gaza is The World” session featuring Dr. Norman Finkelstein and the following panels was the capstone of our discussions on Gaza and its future, which emphasized the communal and global commitment to Gaza and its people. The grand finale at the convention was the Night of Sumud, headlined by Palestinian artist Maher Alatilli.     From our campus activism track to our youth program, the youth and students were front and center throughout the entire convention. Children as young as 1 to students finishing their final year in college were the largest contingent of attendees at our convention this year, marking a turning point in our work for Palestine in America.   The AMP Annual Convention, with all its different facets and programs, has become a flagship event for AMP, making it our largest national educational event, bringing together thousands of people from all over the world. We look forward to seeing you next November at the 19th Palestine Convention! As a matter of fact, we have a special early bird registration offer just for you: a $25 flat rate for all ticket levels, valid until December 7th. Click here to claim your special offer. In solidarity, American Muslims For Palestine (AMP)
18th Palestine Convention Team | 
