In the midst of beautiful, building resistance disrupting agendas of racism, bigotry, and Islamophobia, the White House announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be coming to DC to meet with Trump on February 15. We can expect that this meeting will result in an even more open US support for Israeli policies that deny Palestinian rights and land, including the building of illegal settlements, and a further cementing of the "shared values" of racism and hate.
We must seize this opportunity to say loud and clear -- from US to Palestine: #BuildMovementsNotWalls. Come out with your signs and voices to continue the resistance to Trump.
Palestinians have for decades been fighting the systems and policies that are bringing so many people out in the streets in cities across the United States. Israel has long denied and banned Palestinians, tearing apart families and keeping millions of refugees from returning home.
Trump says the wall he wants to build on the US-Mexico border is modeled on the walls Israel has built. Netanyahu himself made this point in recent tweets and Israeli companies are even bidding to construct it.
And with Trump's promise to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, it is important to highlight that as people are advocating for their cities to become sanctuaries for those most directly targeted, the reality in this sacred city is a stark contrast. Israel's brutal military occupation has now lasted 50 years and has included the forced displacement of Palestinians, the stealing of their land, and a purposeful policy to divide people based on their nationality and religion.
This local event is part of a National Day of Action: February 15 called for by US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, American Muslims for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, Friends of Sabeel - North America FOSNA and more. It is an interfaith, family friendly event.