John,

Last week, an Israeli City Councilmember led genocidal chants in occupied East Jerusalem, shouting: “We want Nakba now.”

The word “Nakba” is used to describe the catastrophe of 1948 when militias uprooted 750,000 Indigenous Palestinians from their homes, demolishing and massacring towns as part of the creation of Israel as a country.

Most Palestinians were made refugees―and those who remained have lived under the oppressive Israeli government and its continued violent displacement campaigns.

In fact, the councilmember was calling for another Nakba while in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, whose residents were expelled from their homes last year as part of efforts to steal even more Palestinian land.

That’s why, when I introduced a congressional resolution last year to formally recognize the Nakba, I noted that the Nakba is ongoing. And last week, as attacks on Palestinians have escalated under the new far-right government, I spoke out on the floor of the House of Representatives to end unconditional funding of Israel’s military. Now I’m facing attacks from both sides of the aisle, once again.

As the only Palestinian-American serving in the U.S. Congress, I feel a strong responsibility to humanize the Palestinian people and to push for liberation. Will you donate $5 today to support our work for Palestinian human rights?

My parents are Palestinian and I still have family in Palestine. I am connected to people who deserve to be seen and heard in halls of power, but too rarely are. (This is also true of my neighbors in Michigan’s 12th district.)

I understand the humanity and the urgency here, which is why I have been calling to end unconditional funding to Israel’s military. Congress sends at least $3.8 billion U.S. taxpayer dollars each year to Israel, and few members of Congress dare to question this.

After I spoke out last week, a former colleague who is now in leadership with the American Jewish Committee—tried to claim that I’m spreading “dangerous lies.” But speaking about Israeli apartheid is speaking the truth… truth which we hear from Israeli officials themselves.

In addition to the councilmember noted above, national parliament (Knesset) members have made their hatred clear out loud and in public.

New National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has been witnessed multiple times in marches chanting “death to Arabs.”

Bezalel Smotrich, who is now serving as Israel’s Finance Minister, told Palestinian members of the Knesset in 2021: “You’re here by mistake. It’s a mistake that Ben-Gurion didn’t finish the job and didn’t throw you out in 1948.” (As part of the Nakba.)

We can also see that the Nakba is ongoing based on the Israeli government’s actions, not just words. For example, the Israeli military has been trying to forcibly displace over 1,300 Palestinian residents of Masafer Yatta from their ancestral homes in the West Bank.

Last year, 90 Democrats in Congress called on the U.S. State Department to stop this ethnic cleansing. The military is demolishing schools, homes, and critical infrastructure like water tanks. And our country is using our taxpayer dollars to help fund this violation of international humanitarian laws.

I won’t stand by silently as our country is complicit in Israel’s apartheid. Will you donate $5 or more today to help me advocate for Palestinian rights and liberation?

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Thank you.

In solidarity,

Rashida