To challenge the barrage pro-war, pro-Israeli news coverage in nearly every media outlet, activists all around the state of Florida have been in close contact in recent days, organizing protests, picket lines and press conference to demand the end of Israeli attack on Lebanon and Gaza.
Many throughout Florida have seen Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Lebanon as criminal acts linked to Washington’s
plans for domination of the
Middle East.
Israel receives billions of dollars in
U.S. aid every year to repress the Palestinian population and threaten its neighbors. There are over 9,800 Palestinian political prisoners in
Israel, hundreds of whom are children.
On July 14, two dozen activists stood with the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) in downtown Ft. Lauderdale in solidarity with the people of Palestine and Lebanon. The crowd received a tremendous response from rush hour traffic.
A few days later on July 18, a handful of young activists held a spirited counter protest against a day-time pro-Zionist rally in Aventura in north Miami-Dade County. The lead banner read “Occupation is illegal.” One of the participants, Stefani Rubino said, “We felt like we had to have this protest. Somebody had to come out tell the anti-Zionist side of the story.”
One July 17, 18 and 19, the Arab American Student Organization at the University of Florida, Gainesville held picket lines in Turlington Plaza. Ayed Ali, an Iraqi student leader said, “What Israel is doing and what is going on in Iraq are two sides of the same coin.” Jewish students also participated under a banner “Jews against Zionism.” The Students for Humanitarian Society linked the struggle for a free Palestine to the struggle to free South Africa from apartheid.
On July 20, the Muslim Student Association from the University of in Orlando joined forces with the Council on
American Islamic Relations to condemn the violence. MSA leader Dena Altassi stated, “Since 9/11, Muslims in
America have been struggling as victims of prejudice, bigotry, and mistreatment, and the current situation of in
Lebanon really highlights this hypocrisy.”
On July 22, St. Pete’s for Peace called a protest to stop the Israeli aggression drawing over 50 protesters to the entertainment complex Baywalk in downtown St. Petersburg. “Shame on Israel,” “Israel: U.S. backed terror” and “War needs capitalism needs war” were some of the signs held by demonstrators. These activists have pledged to return on July 28.
“Many in our community think they’re being intimidated and harassed by law enforcement officials, and speaking on this issue might generate some unwanted attention,” said Altaf Ali in response to the Miami Herald questioning why the state’s 26,000 Arabs have not been more visible organizing against the Israeli attacks. Ali is the executive director of CAIR in Pembroke Pines.
Activists are committed to building for the Aug. 12 National Emergency March on Washington, D.C. to stop this genocidal assault.
