In photos: PennBDS

Diverse PennBDS conference attendees. (Photo: Sara Jawhari)

On February 4th, 2012, hundreds of students, professionals and academics gathered at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia for a national BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) conference, organized by the University’s PennBDS student group.

The conference gained plenty of attention in the weeks leading up to it from local and nation-wide pro-Israeli groups and individuals. In speaking to some of the PennBDS leaders, some had doubts the conference would occur, due to all the built-up controversy. Luckily, the determination of the PennBDS organizers and supporters outweighed the slanderous accusations and malicious bullying of opponents of the conference. More than 60 organizations nationwide signed on in support of the conference, including Palestinian, Jewish, and Israeli groups. As one of the speakers stated after graciously congratulating the organizers, “If a conference was put on, and it didn’t receive any controversy or attention, did it really happen?”

The conference kicked off with an inspirational address by award-winning Palestinian American author, Susan Abulhawa, and Omar Barghouti, a human rights activist and co-founder of the 2005 Palestinian civil society boycott call. Barghouti sent in a special video message in support of the conference, “Our South African moment has arrived… we shall prevail over apartheid.”

Due to the expected high security at the conference, media was not allowed into all lectures/panels, but I am honored to present to you some highlights of the conference through photos I took over the course of the weekend. Neither photos, nor any amount of words could possibly describe the inspiration and wisdom gained from the wonderful speakers, but I hope to convey some of these stimulating moments through the following photos. Enjoy and, as always, “join us on the right side of history.”

A number of vendors sold shirts that read “Un-occupy Palestine,” “Freedom,” and other popular sentiments, with proceeds going to non-profit efforts on the ground in Palestine.
(Photo: Sara Jawhari)

Ali Abunimah, Palestinian American journalist and co-founder of the Electronic Intifada, gives keynote speech. Despite threats and malicious attacks of speaker leading up to the conference, not one person stood to oppose anything Abunimah said: “We’re here for Khader Adnan, a Palestinian who was jailed without charge and has been on hunger strike for 49 days and can die any second. Thirty five babies and five mothers have died at Israeli checkpoints… we are here for them too.” (Photo: Sara Jawhari)

“Lessons from the South African Struggle” with speakers Helena Cobban, Bill Fletcher, Jr., et al., with moderator Professor Amy Kaplan. “Was the Montgomery bus boycott a boycott against buses?”  (Photo: Sara Jawhari)

Journalist and author Max Blumenthal and professor and journalist Sarah Schulman lead the “Zionist Response to BDS” panel. Schulman recently authored a groundbreaking New York Times op-ed on the “pinkwashing” of the Israeli human rights abuses, in which she described submitting hundreds of research documents leading up to the eventual publication of the article. Blumenthal read a humorous chapter out of an up-coming book he is currently penning. (Photo: Sara Jawhari)

PennBDS organizers speak to a curious passerby. New attendees were welcomed to speeches so long as there was room left in audience. (Photo: Sara Jawhari)

Max Blumenthal, Helena Cobban and Philip Weiss lead a workshop titled “Palestine and the Media.” Here, Weiss is given a round of applause on being number one on the Anti-Defamation Leagues hateful list of the “Five of the Most Anti-Israel Individuals.” Cobban was number three on the list. (Photo: Sara Jawhari)

Dina Omar, Remi Kanazi and Susan Abulhawa lead one of the final sessions of the conference, titled “BDS and Literary Expression.” The speakers spoke on the place of literature, poetry and spoken word in Palestinian resistance. “Art, poetry, literature are powerful weapons/tools to break down the lies, myths, racist stereotypes that are spread,” Abulhawa says. “We don’t need to fight them, we just have to tell the truth.” (Photo: Sara Jawhari)

Conference opener and author of the International best-selling novel Mornings in Jenin Susan Abulhawa sits at a booth for “Playgrounds for Palestine,” an NGO she founded dedicated to upholding the Right to Play for Palestinian children. Palestinian olive oil from various villages is sold to benefit the organization. (Photo: Sara Jawhari)

Attendees kept activists worldwide updated throughout the conference by live Tweeting during every session using the hashtag #PennBDS. (Photo: Sara Jawhari)