Hundreds protest siege of Gaza, support Palestine

On July 28, more than 200 people came out in Anaheim to protest the U.S.-backed Israeli siege on Gaza, Palestine,

Anaheim, Calif., July 28 Photo: Travis Wilkerson

and to demand an end to the brutal occupation. Families waved Palestinian flags, held signs and banners and chanted on busy Brookhurst Ave. Signs read “Stop the siege on Gaza now! Free Palestine!” “6,000 stranded at Rafah: end the occupation!” and “Palestine will be free!”

The Rafah border checkpoint—the main route for Palestinians in Gaza to access work, food and other basic resources to survive—has been closed by Israel for six weeks straight. Over 6,000 Palestinians are stranded at the checkpoint, unable to return to their homes and families. The conditions are deteriorating each day. These Palestinians, like millions more around the world, want to return to their homes and land.

At the Anaheim demonstration, a spontaneous moving picket line stretched across the entire block, next to Brookhurst Plaza, a bustling shopping center full of Arab American restaurants and grocers. Cars traveling on the street often honked in approval, some displaying Palestinian flags.

Members of the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and various Arab American organizations led chants echoed by the crowd: “Lift the siege on Gaza now!” and “Free, free Palestine! Long live Palestine!”

Muna Coobtee, a member of ANSWER and the Palestinian American Women’s Association, chaired the brief rally that followed. The first speaker was Mustafa Barghouti, leader of Al-Mubadara in Palestine. He spoke to the crowd by phone, expressing his support for the protest. Other speakers included Nader Abuljebain of the National Council of Arab Americans, Lily Karam of the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, Zahi Damuna of Al-Awda San Diego and more.

Coobtee announced the next significant fall mobilization in Los Angeles, October 27, which has been initiated by the

Photo: Travis Wilkerson

ANSWER Coalition. On Oct. 27, thousands will gather at Olympic and Broadway, 12 noon, to end the war on Iraq. Support for the struggle in Palestine will also be a key demand. Coobtee urged the Palestinian movement to mobilize community support for the action.

The emergency protest was a success. It was sponsored by Palestinian American Women’s Association, ANSWER Coalition, Al-Awda-San Diego, Los Angeles and Riverside Chapters, National Council of Arab Americans, Free Palestine Alliance, Palestine Aid Society, Al-Bireh Society, Birzeit Society, Palestine National Initiative (Al-Mubadara), Union of Palestinian American Women. Endorsers included Council on American Islamic Relations-Los Angeles, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Youth & Student ANSWER, Campaign to End Israeli Apartheid, Int’l Socialist Organization-LA, Arab American Community Center of the Inland Empire, Bethlehem Association, United Arab American Chamber of Commerce, Int’l Action Center and Women in Black.

The protest was covered by media outlets including the OC Register. Click here to read the story and see photos.

Click here for more Palestine protest photos from PSL.