From MN to Palestine – Solidarity on Land Day
Speech given by Leila Abdennabi at the Anti-War Committee’s Land Day protest on March 30, 2018
Today is an important day. It is Good Friday, tonight Passover begins, it is also Land Day for Palestinians and we have already had a massacre in the holy land. At least 14 Palestinians were killed in Gaza today during peaceful land day protests.
Land Day or Yowm Al Ardth was first held in 1976. It was one of the first mass actions of Palestinians since the Nakba. It began with a general strike to protest the continued theft of Palestinian land by Zionist settlers. On that day, 6 Palestinians were murdered by Israeli forces and thousands injured. Since then, Palestinians have continued to commemorate land day and the martyrs lost that day and to remind the world that we will not forget.
Palestinians in Gaza today have begun the Great Return March, which will be a 46 day tent city protest held at the Israeli controlled border with Gaza. Palestinians of all ages, including entire families will be participating. The Great Return March will last from Land Day or today and will end on May 15th, Nakba Day. This year 2018 is an important marker for Palestinians. It marks 70 years since the Nakba and establishment of the Zionist entity, known as Israel. The goal of the Great Return March is bring attention to the internationally-recognized right of return; that is that all Palestinians, whether internally displaced or in external diaspora have a political right to return to their homes and that they have the right to seek to achieve this. This peaceful act of resistance has already been met with Zionist violence. The Zionist Military known as the so called Israel Defense forces is responding with immense force and have dispatched snipers, drones and other military tools on the protestors so far. Reminder- entire families are present and participating in this action. As I mentioned earlier, 14 Palestinians were martyred today in Gaza alone.
We, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network alongside Within our Lifetime • United for Palestine, honor and uplift the just struggle waged by the Palestinian people against their oppressors, the zionist colonizers backed by external imperialist interests. We honor and uplift Palestinians in Gaza who are currently embarking on an act of peaceful resistance against the colonial state, demanding the right of return to their homelands. Palestine will be free within our lifetime, and we recognize the Great March of Return as yet another blow to the zionist state.
As Palestinians continue to put their bodies directly on the line to resist Zionist violence, we emphasize our role in uplifting their actions and building for Palestine in any capacity we can wherever we are in the world. The Great March of return must be supplemented by engaging the diaspora in their right to return, as well as demanding the international community continues to condemn and isolate Israel while extending support to Palestine. Make no mistake, this is a massacre and it is our responsibility to raise awareness, protest, and organize for Palestine in this crucial time. The next 45 days mark a period of extreme urgency and we must act accordingly. Support local Palestine organizations in your area, follow our social media platforms for information on rallies and updates, and email us on how to help and get involved. It is crucial to direct attention to Gaza as israel commits yet another massacre with impunity.
Bil rouh! Bil dam! Nafdeek ya Falasteen!