Protesters Disrupt Christion Zionist Summit in Washington
(Washington, DC 07/09/2019)—Over 100 protesters from around the country braved heavy rains in the Washington metro area to take part in a direct action against the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) annual summit on Monday. Last month, the Friends of Sabeel of North America (FOSNA), a Christian Palestinian solidarity group, AMP, and other partner organizations launched the #CounterCUFI campaign to challenge the self-proclaimed “largest pro-Israel lobby group in the U.S” culminating in a demonstration outside of its annual conference yesterday. 
On Sunday, AMP co-sponsored a daylong direct-action training for participants taking part in the protest against CUFI. CUFI, whose right-wing agenda has guided much of the Trump administration’s disastrous policies—from defunding UNRWA and denying aid to Palestinian refugees to land annexation in the West Bank and Golan Heights—has become a powerful force driving support for Israel’s oppression of the Palestinian people. With over five million members, CUFI uses its political leverage to ensure ongoing U.S. support for Israel’s colonization and military occupation of Palestine, including imprisoning Palestinian children; bombing homes, schools, and hospitals in Gaza; massacring peaceful protestors; and confiscating Palestinian land. By its own admission, CUFI “led the charge to have the U.S. recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital,” and it continues to push for unconstitutional anti-BDS legislation and illegal settlement expansion.
[READ "Protesters rally as Christian-Zionist leaders heap praise on Trump for Israel support," Middle East Eye 8 July 2019]
Outside of the Washington Convention Center on Monday, protesters from as far as California, Texas, and New York, gathered in protest of the event, singing songs of peace, chanting in support of Palestinian rights, and disrupting the conference inside. Politicians from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the event, with some protesters being hauled out by police officers after disrupting their speeches. 
Protesters, who managed to shut down the main entrance of the convention, broke through barriers enclosing the venue, and blocked traffic in the direct action, also read aloud the names of Palestinian children who were killed or wounded by the Israeli military.
CUFI is a Christian Zionist organization: Its ideology and politics are deeply entrenched in white nationalism, anti-Muslim racism, anti-Semitism, and other systems of oppression. In spite of its strong political influence on Capitol Hill, CUFI has operated largely under the radar and received little attention in comparison with groups like AIPAC...until now.
AMP will continue to protest and challenge the Israel lobby and its influence on politicians in Washington.
American Muslims for Palestine
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