The Shift: The biggest Palestine protest in US history

I was in DC last Saturday for the massive ceasefire protest.

The crowd was diverse. Multiple “Jews for Palestine” signs. A contingent of people passing out water on a truck with a huge “Sikhs for Palestine” sign. The flags of various countries were waved in solidarity with the struggle. Lots of families. Crowds cleared out to allow Muslim protesters to pray. There was naturally a lot of grief and anger, and the memory of the dead was consistently invoked, but everyone who attended presumably witnessed moments of joy. Friends hugging upon meeting up, the sacred joy of solidarity. “We love you,” declared a group of Palestinian women as they marched passed a line of anti-Zionist Jews.

“For the past four weeks we have witnessed the horrific slaughter of our people in Gaza by the Israeli occupation take place with complete support of the Biden administration. This massacre must end today, and we are here to ensure that Israel and its partners in genocide are held accountable,” the Palestinian Youth Movement’s Yara Shoufani told the crowd in Freedom Plaza.

It was surreal to see the rapper Macklemore take the stage, but his words highlighted how straightforward the current situation is. “They told me to do my research, that it’s too complex, to be silent,” he explained. “In the last three weeks, I’ve gone back and I have done some research, I don’t know everything, but I know enough to know that this is a genocide.”

Nearly everyone I spoke to identified U.S. complicity as the major reason they chose to attend. Multiple speakers directed their anger at the president. A chorus of boos rang out each time Biden was mentioned. “BIDEN BIDEN YOU CAN’T HIDE, WE CHARGE YOU WITH GENOCIDE,” was a popular chant. I watched one small child yell toward The White House, “GENOCIDE JOE, YOU DON’T SCARE ME!”

“We will not let them tell us that the only refuge we have from right-wing Republicans are two-faced liberals,” imam and professor Omar Suleiman told the crowd to cheers. “HEY, HEY! HO, HO! GENOCIDE JOE HAS GOT TO GO!,” is a refrain I heard more than once.

Recent polls indicate that this could turn out to be a prescient chant. The Arab American Institute released a stunning poll last month: Arab-American support for Biden has dropped from 74% in 2020 to just 17%. A new poll from Lake Research Partners just dropped today with more bad news for the Democrats. Around two-thirds of Arab and Muslim Democrats say they probably won’t vote to reelect the president. Three-quarters say they are open to voting for a third-party candidate.

Over the weekend Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) tweeted a video highlighting recent protests, accusing the administration of supporting a genocide and issuing a warning to Biden. “Mr. President, the American people are not with you on this one,” the congresswoman tells the camera. “We will remember in 2024.”

The video depicts some protesters chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Tlaib explained the phrase in a follow-up tweet: “From the river to the sea is an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate. My work and advocacy is always centered in justice and dignity for all people no matter faith or ethnicity.”

Tlaib was promptly attacked by members of her own party, including a number of local lawmakers: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, state Senate President Pro Tem Jeremy Moss, and Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)–who is running for Senate. She’s also the target of a new ad from the lobbying group Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI). The TV spot, which is running in the Detroit area, takes Tlaib to task for voting against additional Iron Dome funding and a pro-Israel resolution that omitted any mention of the attacks on Gaza.

“The people in the Detroit area deserve to know the facts about her positions,” said DMFI President Mark Mellman in a statement. “Our ad clearly shows her wanton disregard for the safety of the citizens of one of the United States’ closest allies, Israel.”

Tlaib enduring attacks from fellow Democrats is nothing new, but this time around her detractors are also ignoring a warning. We are witnessing the biggest anti-war protests in 20 years, but perhaps also the birth of a massive, long-term movement. It could have a profound impact on the 2024 election and beyond.

The mainstream media is predictably dropping the ball here. Saturday was easily the biggest Palestine protest in U.S. history. I spoke with a family outside a hotel that were assessing the news coverage from their phones. The daughter rolled her eyes and smiled when she learned that CNN reported it as 40,000 people. The Palestinian Youth Movement estimates it was 300,000.

The seismic nature moment was palpable across the nation’s capital. Every street was emblazoned with Palestinian flags and punctuated by chants. Every coffee shop you ducked into was full of keffiyehs and protest signs. There was a consistent buzz in the air. Maybe it was the sound of a new world being born.

Nonstop protests

It’s become a real challenge to keep up with every Palestine protest and action happening in this country, but I am going to round-up some of that have occurred in recent days in case you missed them.

• Over 75 activists shut down and blocked all entrances to Boeing Building 598 in Saint Charles, Missouri. The facility manufactures the Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs) and Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs that Israel is using Gaza. “We are joining millions of people across the United States and around the world in demanding an end to Israeli’s brutal assault on Gaza and its decades-long occupation of Palestine,” said Ellie Tang, a member of the anti-war organization Dissenters, in a statement. “We urge Congress and Biden to hear the calls of millions of us living in this country, and push for a ceasefire. Until Congress blocks the bombs, we will.” After shutting operations down for 2 hours, the facility canceled its deliveries for the day.

• 500 protesters with Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) took over the Statue of Liberty’s platform, dropped banners, held a sit-in, and chanted for a ceasefire. “HAPPENING NOW AT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY: Hundreds of Jews and allies are holding an emergency sit-in, taking over the island to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. We refuse to allow a genocide to be carried out in our names. Ceasefire now to save lives! Never again for anyone!,” tweeted the organization.

• Oakland protesters blocked a ship from leaving its port for hours. The boat was headed to the Port of Tacoma to pick up arms destined for Israel. Hundreds of protesters are currently occupying that port and at least one worker is refusing to take the cargo after learning about its use.

• At a Get Out the Vote rally, Democratic candidate Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) was confronted by a protester calling for a ceasefire. “4,000 plus dead children in Palestine. 9,000 plus dead civilians, get off the stage. … Get off the stage. I don’t care … get off the stage,” he yelled before being escorted out of the building by police.

• Tens of thousands gathered in San Francisco to demand a ceasefire. “I can feel the momentum of it and that’s why we had to get out today,” one told the local CBS station. “My son’s in Trafalgar Square right now or he was earlier today. Same deal. People who just feel the injustice of the world.”

• A speech by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in New Jersey was interrupted by activists calling on him to back a ceasefire. He quickly exited the stage.

• Rhode Island Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse were disrupted at event by protesters calling for a ceasefire.

• Rep. Grace Meng was confronted by protesters asking when she will back a ceasefire. She remained silent and her staff told them, “There’s a time and place for this.”