On May 10, the Local Nakba Committee and the Al-Awda—Palestine Right to Return Coalition presented “Nakba-60: FREE Palestine, Peace and Solidarity Festival” in the San Francisco Civic Center Plaza. Thousands of Palestinians and their supporters came for a day of resistance, music and cultural programs.
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Local solidarity groups, artists and musicians participated in the program, which included hip hop and Arabic music performances celebrating the decades of Palestinian struggle against colonial oppression. Performers included Al-Juthoor Debke Dance Troupe, DAM, Arab Summit, Abeer, Boots Riley of the Coup and Rebel Diaz.
Noura Erakat, one of the MCs along with Maysoon Ziyad, said it was an inter-generational event with babies, the elderly and everyone in between.
Palestinian hip-hop artist Abeer opened her set by singing an old song, “Helwa Ya Baladi” (“My Beautiful Country”). “Palestinian women never give up,” she shouted, “Free Palestine, free Arab women!”
DJ Fred Wreck played hip hop as well as songs by Arabic greats Oum Kalsoum and Abdel Halim Hafiz. Tony Gonzalez from the American Indian Movement was featured among the speakers.
An educational Nakba tent, mimicking tents found in the Palestinian refugee camps, was set up at the rally site. “Voices of Resistance,” a video by Lara Kiswani edited from Rosemary Sayigh’s documentary of Palestinian women’s narratives, was shown. There were old photographs and prints of Handela cartoons by Naji Al-Ali.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation brought a banner saying “Victory to the People of Palestine and Lebanon.”
In addition to the organizers, sponsors included American Indian Movement, Bay Area ANSWER Coalition, Arab Resource and Organizing Center, Free Palestine Alliance, General Union of Palestine Students (San Francisco State University), Middle East Children’s Alliance, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
