Organized by Palestinian Women in RI, hundreds of protestors, including members of the Palestinian Feminist Collective, the Islamic Center of Rhode Island, R.I. Calls for Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace Rhode Island massed at the Rhode Island State House on Saturday, February 25, to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as well as an “end to the genocide and bombing of Palestine by Israel and the United States”.
An energized, but peaceful crowd listened to speeches at the steps of the Rhode Island State House, then marched on the main entrance of the Providence Place Mall, to continue chants & additional statements from Community Leaders. Afterwards, Mall Management & Private Security attempted to limit flag bearing protestors to enter the Mall for ordinary commerce, citing Mall Policy
Providence Place Mall – Providence, Rhode Island February 24, 2024
You Cannot Carry an American Flag in the Providence Place Mall-You Have No Right to Public Assembly.
Press Release Issued By Protest Organizers: Palestinian Women in Rhode Island
PALESTINIAN WOMEN IN RI AND THEIR SUPPORTERS RALLIED AND MARCHED FOR PALESTINE
On Saturday, February 24, Palestinian women in Rhode Island led a rally and march of hundreds of people to demand an end to the genocide and bombing of Palestine by Israel and the United States. The demonstrators gathered at the Rhode Island State House for several speeches before marching in the streets and rallying outside of Providence Place mall.
Rally speakers and organizers called attention to the genocidal assault on Palestine since October 7th, which has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, including 14,000 kids, in the past 140 days. As part of the demands to end the genocide and bombing of Palestine, rally attendees also protested the detention of thousands of Palestinians who have been taken hostage, and the United States’ bombing of Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.
Rally speakers and organizers emphasized that Israel and the United States’ killing, and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians since October 7th is just one genocidal escalation in a long history of colonization of Palestine. Excerpts from speeches follow:
“The grief that we are coming to hold after 140 days of this genocide doesn’t belong to the last 140 days. We are holding over a century of grief of genocide in our bodies, our hearts, and our souls. For over a century, we have been brutalized and expelled from our homes and told to be patient. This last genocide has been one of the most egregious, with the number of martyrs reaching nearly 40,000 right now. Is a mass expulsion possible? Is a full annihilation of all the people in the Gaza Strip possible? We will not allow an expulsion of Palestinians from Rafah. We will not allow any more loss of life and land for Palestinians.” said Loubna Qutami of the Palestinian Feminist Collective.
“All those who stand in protest for justice, who stand for what is right, who stand for the well-being of not only themselves but for all who are oppressed on this earth. We have to stand up. We have to remind each other. The nature of the human being is to forget their responsibility of what is right, but it is our responsibility to remind them what they’re doing is not right. We have to stand up and speak up, we have to write and speak to our politicians. We have to ask for more positive changes here.” said Imam Abdul Latif of the Islamic Center of Rhode Island.
“Jack Reed is not listening. Sheldon Whitehouse is not listening. Seth Magaziner is not listening. Gabe Amo is not listening. We are not going to stop. Rhode Islanders make over 1,100 calls everyday, and we are going to make them hear us.” said Reem Said-Awad of RI Calls for Palestine.
“Genocide isn’t complicated. Palestinians want to live free in their homeland. Israel wants the land to be free of Palestinians. The solution is freedom and equality: from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” said Joel Reinstein of Jewish Voice for Peace – Rhode Island.
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