IN THIS ISSUE

• Featured: Memorial Day - "The Catastrophe" 
• Palestine: Tell Your Story
• Legislative Tracker

FEATURED ISSUE

Memorial Day: "The Catastrophe"

By: MPAC DC Bureau
 

Memorial Day emerged in the aftermath of the Civil War, which claimed the highest American casualties from any war. Over time, the holiday expanded to honor American military deaths across every war. The Second World War (WWII) shares a special relationship with Memorial Day: the Allied forces defeated the fearmongering, ethnonationalist Nazi regime on this same month, in 1945, bringing a close to the European theater of the war. As we remember the lives and sacrifices of the American soldiers who died fighting against the perpetrators of the Holocaust, it is important to note another day of remembrance this month--the Nakba--whose existence is inextricably tied to WWII.

Occurring in parallel with the events of WWII was the creation of a condition of the Jewish people leaving Europe, pressed for the need to create the Jewish state of Israel. And thus, one injustice gave birth to another. On May 14, 1948, Israel entered statehood. Less than 24 hours upon inception, Israel instituted an ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people and the violent upheaval of their society, forcing over 700,000 Palestinians to become refugees. Palestinians observe that day, May 15, as the Nakba, which translates to “the Catastrophe”, to commemorate the destruction. The Nakba deserves to be commemorated by giving voice to those who have lost everything and continue to suffer. Without hope for relief from over 70 years of misery, the cycle of violence will only continue. In order to do justice to this commemoration, it is imperative that we equip ourselves with a deeper understanding of the history of the Palestinian struggle. 

LEGISLATIVE TRACKER:

 Review status of  key legislation on issues we're covering — 

The bills below seek to address the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people. 

1. HR.2590 Introduced by Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]

   To promote and protect the human rights of Palestinians living under Israeli military occupation and to ensure that United States taxpayer funds are not used by the Government of Israel to support the military detention of Palestinian children, the unlawful seizure, appropriation, and destruction of Palestinian property and forcible transfer of civilians in the West Bank, or further annexation of Palestinian land in violation of international law.



2. S.Res.225 - Introduced by Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

   A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the value of Palestinian and Israeli lives and urging an immediate cease-fire and diplomatic efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.



3. H.J.49 - Joint Resolution introduced in the House by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [D-NY-14} 

   A resolution calling for congressional disapproval of the proposed direct commercial sale to Israel of certain weaponry and munitions.

What can you do to help?  

Contact your local congressional offices.

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